Highlanders 2024
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2024:
Where's Ale Aho now? Injured? He is still young but he has some size for a lock.
He is listed as being apart of the high-performance programme, but didn't play for the U20s this year, and is not eligible next year. I guess we will see how he goes in club rugby.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
but I suspect Tele'a was probably signed some time ago (as I say, hence the Telea rumours, think people probably got the two of them confused).
Remember it was initially one of Telea, Clarke or Rieko haha
If you have got Tanielu Tele'a it might turn out good. His biggest problem has been trying too hard because he's constantly coming back from an injury.. even when fit his chances were limited because he had established options ahead of him. So he would force passes, get himself offside etc etc
On the positive side he is ridiculously strong for a midfielder and will run hard and straight
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@Duluth said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
but I suspect Tele'a was probably signed some time ago (as I say, hence the Telea rumours, think people probably got the two of them confused).
Remember it was initially one of Telea, Clarke or Rieko haha
If you have got Tanielu Tele'a it might turn out good. His biggest problem has been trying too hard because he's constantly coming back from an injury.. even when fit his chances were limited because he had established options ahead of him. So he would force passes, get himself offside etc etc
On the positive side he is ridiculously strong for a midfielder and will run hard and straight
I think they questions for Tele'a is will he work well outside a distributing 12 like Gilbert. Is he likely to be able to put away his outsides in Nareki, Tavatavanawi etc and can he be trusted to defend well. If he can nail those tasks, yeah he sounds good.
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Highlanders squad is basically locked in!
We failed to close the deal for Slater, Ricky Jackson will be the third hooker. We are now incredibly weak in that position from a depth perspective.
Matt Whaanga is the injury replacement for Thomas Umaga-Jensen as was long rumoured. Josh Timu is expected to be fit for the start of next season also.
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@Chris No names have been mentioned, and as there are literally no options locally it could be interesting. There is the potential they bring Stodart through a year early and just use Hicks there, but I think it is more likely they will look for someone like a Shalfoon.
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HIGHLANDERS SQUAD FOR 2024 AT A GLANCE:
Props:
Ethan de Groot
Ayden Johnstone
Daniel Lienert-Brown
Jermaine Ainsley
Saula Ma'u
Luca InchHookers:
Henry Bell
Ricky Jackson
Jack TaylorLocks:
Pari Pari Parkinson
Fabian Holland
Will Tucker
Mitch Dunshea (Injury Replcement TBC)Loose Forwards:
Max Hicks
Oli Haig
Billy Harmon (c)
Sean Withy
Hayden Michaels
Tom Sanders
Nikora Broughton
Hugh RentonHalfbacks:
Folau Fakatava
Nathan Hastie
James ArscottFirst Fives:
Cam Millar
Ajay Faleafaga
Rhys PatchellMidfielders:
Sam Gilbert
Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Matt Whaanga)
Tanielu Tele'a
Josh Timu
Jake Te HiwiOutside Backs:
Jona Nareki
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Jonah Lowe
Connor Garden-Bachop
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Martin Bogado -
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2024:
Locks seem to be the position that most teams need to fill, but there are a lack of experienced locks available.
If Dunshea was fit, I actually think that is a fair set of locks, but yes, the injury throws a spanner into the works.
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby how true is it that we signed Ricky Jackson? Or are u just guessing?
Signed.
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The goal for this team next year is to win more than they lose and at least get home wins against other nz teams. Looking at the squad 2024 will be the last years foe DLB, a loosie to make room for Stodart, Patchell, Umaga-Jensen, Timu, Lowe, Garden-Bachop and may be Bogado. The forward pack is building really nicely. The backs are a shitshow.
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Probably Pari Pari Parkinson as well
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
The goal for this team next year is to win more than they lose and at least get home wins against other nz teams. Looking at the squad 2024 will be the last years foe DLB, a loosie to make room for Stodart, Patchell, Umaga-Jensen, Timu, Lowe, Garden-Bachop and may be Bogado. The forward pack is building really nicely. The backs are a shitshow.
- DLB is signed until 2025, so he will be back.
- Hicks is the only loose forward off contract I'd think, so will be intriguing to see how they work Stodart in.
- Patchell is a stop gap... no clue who they are looking at there longer term
- Timu is looking offshore I believe, and I think the writing is on the wall for CGB, Bogado will also depart you would think
- For TUJ and Parkinson, I think it will largely depend on how they go next year. Not inconceivable that with a huge season Parkinson cracks the ABs, TUJ's injury probably means he will look to the land of the rising sun.
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In terms of prop I'm wondering how they work Wingham in. Hicks could get a choice of play at lock or bugger off. We don't want to lose Stodart. Hicks is the weakest of the loosies. The third 10 will be fascinating post Patchell
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby oh gosh 🤦 this always happens with the Highlanders, a couple of huge signings in JRK, Tavatavanawi, ect, to guys like Ricky Jackson and Telea 😅
Still hoping there’s a chance we’ve signed Meihana Grindley…
Pretty hard to sign 15 world-beaters... if you'd offered me this squad to start this season at the end of last I'd have bit your hand off. Massively upgraded in the outside backs, and I don't think we have got considerably worse anywhere except for depth at halfback... Smith only played about half our games last year anyway.
Our hookers last year were rubbish, so at the very least these guys are going to be on par.
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@frugby it’s exciting in some areas, but unfortunately the reality is we are going to be looking at a very similar season to last season, if not worse.
An injury to one of the very few key players we now have left and we are in trouble.
In saying that, I am excited by what is being built and the key here is making sure we retain the young talent being invested in. Sprinkled with a signing here and there and who knows where we could be in another year or 2. Let’s hope!
