Highlanders 2024
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@Kiwiwomble Despite the flack he gets, Irish Paul is generally pretty good IMO... but this article is a load of fluff. It doesn't say anything, and is nothing we couldn't really work out for ourselves. Only thing, is the other outside back. If we have indeed poached one from another franchise, I reckon all roads lead to Tavatavanawai, which I'd absolutely adore.
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I think a big positive with the way the squad is shaping up, is we are on track to have 38 players who are fully committed, want to be in Dunedin, but most importantly, are actually wanted by the coaches.
Reckon with the squad last year, coaches didn't really want Thwaites, Apisai, Banks, Koroi and Dawai (and probably a few others) but simply had to contract them because there was nobody else.
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@frugby thats probably why almost every coach needs a few years before they can truly be judged, it takes time to shape what can really be considered "their" squad, people like razor and even joseph (who took a while to win he made noticeable improvements straight away) are the exception i think
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Highlanders announce three new signings. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Dunshea and Sanders.
Not sure about Sanders. On reflection, I'd say that Sanders will probably be in on a one year contract holding the fort before Will Stodart takes the spot in 2024.
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surely we could have photo shopped them into highlander kits or even just send them a jersey and get them doing a selfie ?
dont mind those, thats some good experience coming into the forwards without being too old
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@SBW1 Highly highly doubtful. Wise lives in Dunedin, and is still playing club footy, that's why he made Otago. I wouldn't be surprised if he is around as a part-time skills guy though.
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All three players have penned two year deals.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Not sure about Sanders.
He looked like a journeyman for years then he a strong game in the North v South match. The last year he was in NZ he looked quality.. although he didn't get enough starts at the Crusaders
Might be a good signing if he gets back to that 2020/21 form
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i think we're never going to sign some huge name...BB was never coming to dunners when he left the canes. so im going to try very hard not to judge new signings too much based on the past or expect them to win games on their own...thats just not the kind of player we'll get, so im just hoping that guys like sanders and dunshea just click into place and contribute to the whole squad being slightly better
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From the Stuff article -
The Highlanders have four more spots to fill in their squad – a third No 10, another outside back, a midfielder and a hooker.Experience is likely to be an important consideration in all of these roles as they prepare to enter 2024 with 10 players aged 22 or under.
The Highlanders have indicated that they are prepared to be patient in their search for the hooker and midfielder, with overseas acquisitions a possibility.
The need for experience in the No 2 jersey means a move for Ioane Moananu, who impressed as injury cover for the Crusaders this year, is unlikely.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/132484443/highlanders-sign-jacob-ratumaitavukikneepkens-tom-sanders-and-mitchell-dunshea -
but we think PUJ is likely the midfielder?
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2024:
The need for experience in the No 2 jersey means a move for Ioane Moananu, who impressed as injury cover for the Crusaders this year, is unlikely.
Coaches and their obsession with experience. That's how you end up with Leni Apisai.
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Hmmm Sanders and Dunshea? Two very injury prone players there, not sure about those signings.
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@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
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this is going to get tedious if every time we sign a fit young guy someone comes in and just points out theyre inexperienced...but when we sign and older more experienced player with some question marks over their injury history that gets pointed out
can we all just agree and understand that if we could attract perfectly fit top level players with loads of experience...we wouldn't have finished last?
to get people to move to dunners and play for the bottom team we have to make some compromises...we're not oblivious to that
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2024:
@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
A strong chance TUJ comes off the bench in that side. I would bet on a Gilbert PUJ midfield should be head down to Dunedin. TUJ becomes the 30 minute player against a tiring team. With Dunshea and Sanders. They will be strong squad members. Do they start each week? Who knows. Will they be injured. Again, who knows. They are players who will compete well for a spot each week
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2024:
@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
A strong chance TUJ comes off the bench in that side. I would bet on a Gilbert PUJ midfield should be head down to Dunedin. TUJ becomes the 30 minute player against a tiring team. With Dunshea and Sanders. They will be strong squad members. Do they start each week? Who knows. Will they be injured. Again, who knows. They are players who will compete well for a spot each week
Yes that sounds likely. But I'm actually quite interested in how a TUJ-PUJ midfield would go, hope to see it at least once or twice.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2024:
@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
A strong chance TUJ comes off the bench in that side. I would bet on a Gilbert PUJ midfield should be head down to Dunedin. TUJ becomes the 30 minute player against a tiring team. With Dunshea and Sanders. They will be strong squad members. Do they start each week? Who knows. Will they be injured. Again, who knows. They are players who will compete well for a spot each week
Wow. I must 100% underrate Gilbert.
I’d have an UJ midfield for the landers in fucking heartbeat.
But, if I’m wrong, that’s likely 1 reason why you can’t attract players with AB caps.
