Highlanders 2024

[MN5]

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[NateHill74]

@Chris If we look at it, Midfield is most likely PUJ but could be Chay Fihaki as he used to play there but ofc can play wing and full back. Hooker, last year there was in the crusaders Ioane Moananu, Quentin MacDonald, Brodie McAlister are all options i think

[frugby]

McAlister is contracted + we have not yet signed the hooker in a literal sense.

Won't be Fihaki. The claim was PUJ was a done deal, and am wondering partially if they are doing a 3,2,1 countdown, with PUJ to be announced next week. I mean if we got him, he would probably be the biggest signing of the bunch?

[Kiwiwomble]

@frugby you think PUJ would be the biggest? largely sidelined by the canes and we already have one UJ

[frugby]

@Kiwiwomble Capped All Black. I am more excited about JRK, but PUJ would be a great get... at his best, he would start for the Canes IMO. Big call sure, but reckon he is equal to Procter.

[frugby]

Honestly, reckon a fun little competition would be guess the Highlanders third hooker.

Hika Elliot is the first one I'm going to throw out there, just because it would be quite funny. Heck, Shota Horie. He went solid for the Japanese XV in the weekend.

[Kiwiwomble]

@frugby Horie already has a small connection to Dunedin....

[SouthernMann]

A third hooker; needs to be fairly experienced. A total of about 20 minutes of Super Rugby between the other two squad members. Needs to be better than Apisai, Makalio and Marshall - otherwise no point letting them go. Probably aiming to keep them around for a year or two, max. Not an out and out 'third hooker', but someone who can be a level headed player and start.

NZ Names

Coltman
Elliot
Dixon

Otherwise we will probably be looking at someone from the Northern Hemisphere again.

[Bovidae]

I'm not sure why the Highlanders let Marshall go. He didn't play poorly and would only be 31 at the start of SR next year.

[Kiwiwomble]

i would kill to get Dixon back, a true leader and really well rounded hooker, perfect to help raise up the young guys

Coltman is a true club man but if he couldnt sort out his own line out throwing he's not exactly going to be awesome at helping the young guys come through

[frugby]

@Bovidae It is my understanding Rhys Marshall wanted to stay, but we chose to get rid, so I would expect this player to have a level of pedigree (+ Age, particularly if a NZ) and be better than Rhys, who I always thought was quite handy.

[frugby]

Here is an exhaustive early list of candidates...

• Hika Elliot (37 - NZ)
• Quentin MacDonald (34 - NZ)
• Thomas Gallo (24 - ARG)
• Kirby Myhill (31 - WAL)
• Paul Ngauamo (33 - TGA)
• Dan Sheehan (24 - IRE) - Seems to be off-contract...
• Ken Owens (37 - WAL)
• Jamie George (32 - ENG)
• Nic Dolly (24 - ENG)
• Grant Stewart (28 - SCO)
• Jake Kerr (27 - SCO)

[frugby]

@SouthernMann Dixon seems to be contracted, Coltman was explored but he wants to honour his contract. Hika Elliot would be bizarre, but hilairious.

[SouthernMann]

A bit of a problem around the world with hookers at the moment. They are either well over 30 or under 25. Not many inbetween.

[Bones]

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[Bones]

@Yeetyaah that's how it's done.

Bit more informative than saying it's not Will Jordan.

[MN5]

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[Stargazer]

The problem with Hika Elliott is that he's played an awful lot of games in the backrow, the last few years. He's also been injured quite a bit.

[frugby]

@Stargazer And the fact he is about 100

[SouthernMann]

Highlanders have re-signed Daniel Lienert-Brown and Hugh Renton until the end of 2025.

DLB could easily be one of the highest capped Highlanders of all time after he finishes up. Pretty cool for a guy who has spent the majority of his career on the bench.