Highlanders 2024
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@Kiwiwomble closer than what a lot of people think hence the JRN’s signing , it would have been a superb pick up .
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@Steven-Harris Really? So are we allowed to ask, is Akira Ioane actually signing for the Highlanders, or was the All Black actually Mark Telea.
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble closer than what a lot of people think hence the JRN’s signing , it would have been a superb pick up .
So it was Telea and then a fallback of JRK or were we after both?
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@frugby from what my source had told me it was an outside back , negotiations were on the table Akira is likely to stay with the Blues
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@Duluth Respectfully, no thanks. The last thing we need is a 30 year old winger who can't get a game elsewhere. I'm expecting we'll pick up Hurley, and if that isn't the lot, it will purely be a pick up based off the NPC - unless of course there is legs to the Coombes-Fabling rumour.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Update on Coltman... Highlanders did indeed contact him, but he has decided to return to France to see out his contract - but he will do it alone, returning his family to NZ. Does suggest we are firmly looking for a hooker.
The third hooking spot, presuming they take Henry Bell and Jack Taylor will. Be fascinating. Do they pick one of this year's guys just to hold the fort. Do they chase someone like Brodie McAlister or another mid 20s bench player from another franchise. If Jack is the future, we should think he is an off again/on again bench player next year, before a bench player in 25 and starting in 26. A starter is needed for the next couple of years. Ricky Jackson is also coming back from injury, but never took his chances when playing behind Coltman and Dixon.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Update on Coltman... Highlanders did indeed contact him, but he has decided to return to France to see out his contract - but he will do it alone, returning his family to NZ. Does suggest we are firmly looking for a hooker.
The third hooking spot, presuming they take Henry Bell and Jack Taylor will. Be fascinating. Do they pick one of this year's guys just to hold the fort. Do they chase someone like Brodie McAlister or another mid 20s bench player from another franchise. If Jack is the future, we should think he is an off again/on again bench player next year, before a bench player in 25 and starting in 26. A starter is needed for the next couple of years. Ricky Jackson is also coming back from injury, but never took his chances when playing behind Coltman and Dixon.
I think they rate both Taylor and H Bell quite highly. I'd be stunned if Taylor isn't in the main squad next year, and Bell is there. McAllister is contracted to the Crusaders till 2025, which could prove a silly move on his part because I expect G Bell to go past him, not to mention the presence of Codie Taylor. Will the Highlanders chase Thompson? I think we would have heard a rumour by now if that was the case. I guess it is possible that Rhys Marshall is returning there, and we have snagged him, but to me, that is the only hooker from another side we'd be keen on. Moananu is an option, but I believe they are still looking for the third one, hence the Coltman enquiry. This might well be filled after the NPC, because I think we have learnt our lesson about sorting everything too early.
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I think that big powerful Counties lad could be a goer, if we could get him down. I think Jack Taylor's being impacted by ineffectual props alongside him with NZ U20s
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
I think that big powerful Counties lad could be a goer, if we could get him down. I think Jack Taylor's being impacted by ineffectual props alongside him with NZ U20s
currently have some of our best props (which as saying something as we've had some great)...so yeah, give him a shot with degroot and ainsley and see how he goes
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I have a huge amount of faith in our front row stocks from the starting lads in de Groot and Ainsley. Through to the likes of Inch and potentially Wingham. Some really talented lads. An area where we are likely to have proper depth next year
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so, Lentjes is gone, thats more leadership gone
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Given they had Michaels signed for 2024. It was always highly likely Lentjes was out at the end of this year. Openside is covered by Harmon, Withy and Michaels. Will be interesting to see whether Lentjes retires or if he goes overseas.
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i fear i may be in the minority but the season before he left he looked very comfortable, would have him over paea or gregory
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NPC yes. SR no
Maybe he’d do better at SR in the midfield but he was genuinely awful at the Blues. It got so bad the crowd was laughing at a him
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He is just so slow. Looks like he is running in mud.
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@Duluth yes, sorry, thought it went without saying, not an outside back...very much a midfielder only, i thought he was good in his stint with the Highlanders, maybe not as a headliner but squad members...and definately in the midfield
@SouthernMann felt faster than paea
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