Hurricanes 2024
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2023 was a topsy turvy year and it ultimately ended in disappointment after the Canes looked like they were getting a roll on. Despite losing Dane Coles and Ardie Savea for next year's campaign, the Hurricanes, with a maturing side will look to take that momentum into next season.
Looking ahead to 2024, we've got a new coach in Clark Laidlaw which should bring plenty of fresh thinking into the side and we also have Brad Shields coming back in which should offset some of that experience lost.
The following roster has been formulated thus far:
Signed players:
Props:
T Lomax
X Numia
S LauakiHookers:
A AumuaLocks:
I Walker-LeawereLoose Forwards:
D Flanders
D Kirifi
P Lakai
B ShieldsHalfbacks:
NoneFirst Fives:
A MorganMidfield:
B Sullivan
B Proctor
R Higgins
J BarrettOutside Backs:
H Godfrey
J Moorby
R LoveConfirmed as leaving:
Hookers:
D ColesLoose forwards:
A Savea (Japan for 2024, back in 2025)Unknown contract status:
Props:
P Rakete-Stones
T Mafileo
O Franks
P TosiHookers:
J DeveryLocks:
J Sangster
J Blackwell
D BirdLoose Forwards:
T Howden
R Prinsep
C Delany
B IoseFirst Fives:
B CameronMidfielders:
P Umaga-JensenOutside Backs:
S Rayasi
K Naholo
J Savea
D Sinkinson -
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@Bovidae yeah it's likely that he will go overseas but I've heard that because of the way things ended up for him this year he may look to play one more season (if the Canes want him).
Not taking anything away from Savea, because he's a Canes legend but I really think it's time for him to move on. The Canes showed how much more threatening they are out wide when he's not on the park.
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From the uncontracted list above the key players for the Hurricanes to sign on for me are:
- C Roigard - a key playmaker for this club going forward, he should be offered a long term contract.
- T Mafileo - an important signing for me. He's a solid, young, up and coming prop with size. He's a must.
- B Iose - with A Savea playing in Japan next year, B Iose will be an important cog to this Hurricanes setup.
- T Perenara - having his experience sitting behind Roigard will add a explosive one-two punch for the Canes next season.
- B Cameron - we are short on experience at 10 so B Cameron's signature will be close to the top of Laidlaw's list.
- K Naholo - the Fijian flyer made the 11 jersey his own by the end of the season and started to look comfortable at Super level. May we sign him up to see what he can do next season.
- J Sangster - a hard-nosed young lock with height, a crucial signing for me.
- C Delany - always performs to a high standard. If Blackwell departs, he's probably the guy that will fill his shoes.
Players that I think will depart:
- J Savea - it's time for the bus to depart the station. He's had a good run but no longer looks capable of performing to a high standard consistently.
- R Prinsep - an injury plagued last couple of years has meant he has hardly taken the field. I won't be surprised at all if he moves on.
- J Blackwell - he's been around a while now and might just choose to take the money overseas and run. Though, I'm not sure what club will be looking for a 1.9m lock.
- P Umaga-Jensen - I don't think his time in NZ rugby is complete, but I do feel his time at the Canes could be coming to an end. Maybe a shift to the Highlanders will re-vitalise his career.
- O Franks - not sure how long he can keep playing. If he stays on that would be great for the younger props but I think he may decide to hang it up.
- D Bird - a ? hangs around the big lock who's now getting on in age. Will he go back overseas or stick it out for another year? I think he'll head overseas.
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Brad Shields in your signed list ?
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team for next year?
Numia
Aumua
Lomax
Sangster
IWL
Delany
Kirifi
Flanders
Roigard
Cameron
Naholo
Barrett
Proctor
Moorby
LoveMafileo
Devery
Tosi
Howden
Iose
Perenara
Sullivan
Umaga-Jensen -
@kiwi_expat not a bad starting side at all.
On the bench I would have Godfrey as 10/15 reserve, with Sullivan covering midfield and wing. I'm not sold on Tosi, he's just a big body that can't scrummage. I'd rather us look to sign PJ Sheck who can scrum and has a high work-rate.
I also expect to see Peter Lakai and Riley Higgins play a prominent role in 2024, so expect them to push for starting spots aswell.
My 23 would be:
- T Mafileo
- A Aumua
- T Lomax
- J Sangster
- C Delany
- D Flanders
- D Kirifi
- B Iose
- C Roigard
- B Cameron
- K Naholo
- J Barrett
- B Proctor
- J Moorby
- R Love
Reserves:
16. J Devery
17. X Numia
18. S Lauaki (unless we sign Sheck)
19. I Walker-Leawere
20. P Lakai
21. T Perenara
22. H Godfrey
23. B Sullivan / R Higgins -
Wonder who the captain will be for 2024
Maybe Kirifi esp if Wellington win again this year. I don't believe he would even be considered if Holland was still head coach though
Or maybe co captains with Kirifi and Barrett. Esp as Kirifi might not be a certain starter. For eg Lauaki may be preferred to start at 7
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@Winger I’m not sure about Kirifi captaining considering Lakai is going to pass him long term.
Maybe throw the captaincy to someone like Flanders. Before anyone makes too many criticisms, hear me out. He’s maturing year on year, he’s most likely going to be a main stay of this side for years to come, he seems to have the respect of all the players and it may bring him out of his shell like it did with Kieran Read at the Crusaders, who was also given the reigns at a young age.
Kirifi as captain worked at the Lions but I don’t think he would have the same impact at the Canes. He seems too much of a hot head and at Super Rugby level you just can’t have someone like that making key decisions in big matches.
I would then have someone like J Barrett as my vice captain in hope that it will bring the best out of him again.
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it could be only for one year though. I thought about Flanders but he's not a super fit player like Kirifi savea Blackwell Delany etc. Otherwise he could be a VG choice.
Laidlaw has a captain and 2 vice captains (1 forward and one back) for the u20s. Maybe he will go this route.
Has Flanders had much captaincy experience. Was he captain of the U20s?
Kirifi seems to have largely grown out of his hot head phase now. My only reservation with him is he wouldn't be a guaranteed starter. Hence the co-captaincy suggestion.
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@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2024:
That's a lot of good players not signed if that correct. Roigard needs to be signed as soon as, but maybe has been waiting to see if got ABs, as his worth goes up etc.
Roigard is a must signing. He looks like Smiths replacement in the ABs. And an incredible talent. Cameron is another. Not as good as Roigard but on form will push for AB honours. Even as a starter.
There is a lot of work to re-sign the above 2 and other key players already mentiond ( most but not all of the quarter 23). But also to find other players where needed. Like 1 more quality hooker and a HB to replace Booth. And at least one tall quality lock (maybe Hugo Plummer).
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@george33 said in Hurricanes 2024:
1 of those boys in your list is going to new franchise
Now you gotta say who and where. Crumbs stress this forum out
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@george33 lol you can’t just throw that grenade and not spill. Can you atleast say what position?
Is it Sangster? Because if Blackwell is sticking around I wouldn’t blame him. Or is it Mafileo? Him signing with North Harbour might suggest he’s going to the Blues…
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@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes 2024:
@george33 said in Hurricanes 2024:
1 of those boys in your list is going to new franchise
Now you gotta say who and where. Crumbs stress this forum out
MAYBE mafileo. He could be heading to the Blues. And blues tend to like canes players. (Even our sure starters) Three were starting in the semi
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This post is deleted!
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Cam Roigard to the Chiefs would be hilarious.
