Highlanders 2024
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Could be a good move this for Plummer. If he performs, he would be all but certain to be offered a contract the following year I would think. Parkinson & Tucker are both off-contract, and we only have four contracted at current anyway (Holland & Dunshea).
On Smith, seems an interesting move on his part. I suppose he sees Southland as a good chance to be guaranteed game time in the NPC, and with the shortage of 10s he could springboard into pretty much any of the three squads.
On Patchell, I could see a world where this season goes well and he gets offered an extension and takes it. Depends really what motivates him, but at 30 not inconceivable he stays for 2025, then heads somewhere for more money (Japan).
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I'd be surprised if Patchell comes back again. His partner is a prominent broadcaster in Wales. Back home to Wales or to a shorter season in Japan seems more likely. I'd say it is about leading the charge this year, as well as mentoring the younger players in Millar, Faleafaga, Smith and Hurley. I'd put a fair bit on Smith being in the Highlanders in 2025.
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From All.Rugby, I guess it is for after this super season.
Martin BOGADO, Fullback, leaves the Highlanders (NZL) to sign with Oyonnax (FRA) for 2 years until 2026 , source Le site officiel d'Oyonnax
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2024:
Martin BOGADO, Fullback, leaves the Highlanders (NZL) to sign with Oyonnax (FRA) for 2 years until 2026 , source Le site officiel d'Oyonnax
Let's see who the next 21-year-old will be to jump into the younglanders next year. Hopefully they don't try to do something strange like give a spot to Finn Hurley or bring Josh Whaanga in as an outside back.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2024:
Martin BOGADO, Fullback, leaves the Highlanders (NZL) to sign with Oyonnax (FRA) for 2 years until 2026 , source Le site officiel d'Oyonnax
Let's see who the next 21-year-old will be to jump into the younglanders next year. Hopefully they don't try to do something strange like give a spot to Finn Hurley or bring Josh Whaanga in as an outside back.
Not sure about Hurley, but you'll be seeing Whaanga in 2025. I assume Timu will head off sure + TUJ is off-contract.
On Hurley, depends how highly they rate him. They have Kyan Rangitutia too, so there is competition in that department. I suspect they worry about Hurley's size.
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I agree that Whaanga is straight in for next year. Taking one of TUJ's or Timu's spots.
Kyan Rangitutia's a bit of a gun isn't he? Sad Hurley is so limited size wise. One thing coaching can't fix.
Sadly we know that Lowe gets one more year in 2025 as well.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Irish Paul also said on twitter/X that Byron Smith will be playing NPC for Southland. I'm happy to see that locked in. Hopefully he goes well down there. Then we can have three young 10s at the landers.
Southland have also lured Wyndham Patuawa down south. He was the Hamilton BHS 1st 5 last year, and while still young, will likely be involved with the Highlanders U20s this year or next.
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Luca Inch withdraws from Super Rugby 2024. Rohan Wingham added to the squad. Solomone Tukuafu (never heard of the bloke) in as a training squad member. https://thehighlanders.co.nz/news/squad-update-rohan-wingham-elevated-into-full-squad/
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Solomone Tukuafu
Waikato backup TH prop. He has been part of the Chiefs WTG and played a few games in 2022.
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I guess there's not much rugby news at the moment:
The (double-barrelled) name game
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens will be the 14th Highlander with a double-barrelled surname. How do the others rate? Hayden Meikle offers his...
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@Duluth To be fair to my good mate Meiks, it was just a sidebar to his profile on JRK.
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Fair enough. Presented as it's own story on the website
I generally like his stuff, he actually tries to make his content enjoyable to read. Not just a list of events. His criticism of an NPC game last year was excellent (Northland v Southland I think)
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And I love his consistency in his hatred for the Crusaders (or "the enemy" as he referenced in that list re: Christian Lio-Willie). It winds up a few readers no end.
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Considering the proposed cuts to Stuff. Highlanders fans are really lucky with thr ODT. I just hope Paul Cully isn't a victim of the proposed Stuff cuts. He is a very talented sports reporter. Currently, we get strong coverage from both the ODT and Cully.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Considering the proposed cuts to Stuff. Highlanders fans are really lucky with thr ODT. I just hope Paul Cully isn't a victim of the proposed Stuff cuts. He is a very talented sports reporter. Currently, we get strong coverage from both the ODT and Cully.
Agree about Cully, but can't lie I often find the ODT coverage lacking. That Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens interview was good, but I'd like more of that. I often feel their coverage of the Highlanders these days is a lot of telling me what I already know, rather than actual journalism.
Bit of a contrast in quality between Meikle, and Adrian Seconi who used to do the Landers. His work on the Volts for example, is outstanding.
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The ODT isn't perfect. But it is a shit tonne better than a lot of other publications around the country. Without in depth knowledge of its newsroom @Smudge might know, but there is about four fulltime sports reporters. It still covers local and club rugby well. I think both the ODT and the Highlanders could be better to use eachother. Profiling what weeks look like, talking to the young and new players and what the plan is for 2024 ans beyond. As such a young squad with a lot of change there are a lof of angles to hit. You can do content on the competition between the hookers. Talk to the development guys on what they have learnt. Find the lads who are straight out of school and moved down, talk to them. There is a gold mine. But it requires the Highlanders to be open past their weekly media sessions and requests. It is what I would be doing if I was both leading comms for the Highlanders or as an ODT reporter. Seconi has been around the traps for a long time. Not sure if he is a bit tired by the repeattivness of it all.
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Difference between Cully and the ODT is that Cully seems to be 98% on the Highlanders round and covers almost nothing else. Whereas the ODT covers every sport under the sun. So it stands to reason that Cully is going to scoop a few more yarns on the Landers when that's all he's focused on.
And when you have an organisation that is as utterly hopeless and useless at media relations as the Highlanders, it's amazing how much coverage they actually do get.
ODT is down to three full-timers in the sports department, including Hayden as sports editor. They have stringers galore though for club sport. The fact they still cover South Otago club cricket and North/Central Otago rugby and the like is impressive, and I hope the good people of Kaitangata, Roxburgh and Duntroon never take that for granted.
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And SM, a lot of those things you suggest, the ODT would be open to, I'm sure. But you need both sides to buy in for that to work. As you and I have discussed in the past, the Highlanders don't have media relations high on their priority list.
