Hurricanes v Highlanders
-
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
An issue the Highlanders also face is that Dunedin is a great place to be 18 - 23 and 35+, it is just a lot of people leave the city in their mid 20s to early 30s. This means players may get pressure from their partners to leave, or feel lonely if the majority of their friends leave Dunedin. What we can do is hope that a few make the All Blacks and others feel close and want to stay. Three - five years is realistic for a lot of the guys who will never make the All Blacks.
Which goes back to my point, that local guys are more likely to stay because they at least have something to hold them here.
For example, there was nothing to hold Tyrel Lomax here, so he left.
Of course. As someone mentioned as well, home franchises tend to keep their better players as well. That helps too. We just need to keep the flow of players coming, and have some decent talent ID running around the country.
Exactly. For every Aidan Morgan, there is a Daniel Lienert-Brown who falls in love with their adopted club and stays for a lengthy period of time.
If you can have a good local core, and a decent contingent of All Blacks, sprinkle in a few loyal players from elsewhere and you can stay competitive for a while. Highlanders have the right idea in regards to the first part, stage two is watching some of these guys trickle into the ABs...
In a best case scenario of the current squad, I think the following could have ABs careers:
de Groot
Holland
Haig
Withy
Stodart
Fakatava
Faleafaga
Ratumaitavuki-KneepkensStill need a top end midfielder, but you can see a spine of a very competitive side there.
-
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
An issue the Highlanders also face is that Dunedin is a great place to be 18 - 23 and 35+, it is just a lot of people leave the city in their mid 20s to early 30s. This means players may get pressure from their partners to leave, or feel lonely if the majority of their friends leave Dunedin. What we can do is hope that a few make the All Blacks and others feel close and want to stay. Three - five years is realistic for a lot of the guys who will never make the All Blacks.
Which goes back to my point, that local guys are more likely to stay because they at least have something to hold them here.
For example, there was nothing to hold Tyrel Lomax here, so he left.
Of course. As someone mentioned as well, home franchises tend to keep their better players as well. That helps too. We just need to keep the flow of players coming, and have some decent talent ID running around the country.
Exactly. For every Aidan Morgan, there is a Daniel Lienert-Brown who falls in love with their adopted club and stays for a lengthy period of time.
If you can have a good local core, and a decent contingent of All Blacks, sprinkle in a few loyal players from elsewhere and you can stay competitive for a while. Highlanders have the right idea in regards to the first part, stage two is watching some of these guys trickle into the ABs...
In a best case scenario of the current squad, I think the following could have ABs careers:
de Groot
Holland
Haig
Withy
Stodart
Fakatava
Faleafaga
Ratumaitavuki-KneepkensStill need a top end midfielder, but you can see a spine of a very competitive side there.
or aaron smith, he truly loved the Highlanders
-
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
An issue the Highlanders also face is that Dunedin is a great place to be 18 - 23 and 35+, it is just a lot of people leave the city in their mid 20s to early 30s. This means players may get pressure from their partners to leave, or feel lonely if the majority of their friends leave Dunedin. What we can do is hope that a few make the All Blacks and others feel close and want to stay. Three - five years is realistic for a lot of the guys who will never make the All Blacks.
Which goes back to my point, that local guys are more likely to stay because they at least have something to hold them here.
For example, there was nothing to hold Tyrel Lomax here, so he left.
Of course. As someone mentioned as well, home franchises tend to keep their better players as well. That helps too. We just need to keep the flow of players coming, and have some decent talent ID running around the country.
Exactly. For every Aidan Morgan, there is a Daniel Lienert-Brown who falls in love with their adopted club and stays for a lengthy period of time.
If you can have a good local core, and a decent contingent of All Blacks, sprinkle in a few loyal players from elsewhere and you can stay competitive for a while. Highlanders have the right idea in regards to the first part, stage two is watching some of these guys trickle into the ABs...
In a best case scenario of the current squad, I think the following could have ABs careers:
de Groot
Holland
Haig
Withy
Stodart
Fakatava
Faleafaga
Ratumaitavuki-KneepkensStill need a top end midfielder, but you can see a spine of a very competitive side there.
Out of the age grade players I'll add in Dylan Pledger and I really hope Kiseki Fifita returns down south. He looks to be the best outside back the lower south has produced in a long time. Dam Mormon missions!
-
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
The key is maintaining the production line. Arscott or Hastie drop out, Dylan Pledger comss in.
A player we haven’t seen enough of is Hastie, can’t seem to be healthy when it matters. From what I’ve seen he’s offered a little more than Arscott but that is an incredibly small sample size.
You would think Pledger can unseat Connor McLeod from his spot within the WTG. Or like you said, replace one of the 2 of Arscott or Hastie.
Anyway this is a game thread, not the Otago thread haha my bad.
-
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
The key is maintaining the production line. Arscott or Hastie drop out, Dylan Pledger comss in.
A player we haven’t seen enough of is Hastie, can’t seem to be healthy when it matters. From what I’ve seen he’s offered a little more than Arscott but that is an incredibly small sample size.
You would think Pledger can unseat Connor McLeod from his spot within the WTG. Or like you said, replace one of the 2 of Arscott or Hastie.
Anyway this is a game thread, not the Otago thread haha my bad.
I don't think there are technically WTG spots anymore. Players just come in and out, depending on the need. Hauiti-Parapara was down in Dunedin for some of the season. There is no doubt pledger will be around the squad for most of next year. He should also get some Otago gametime this season. He is similar to Hurley though, suffers from midgetitis. Probably has a fair bit of gym time scheduled over the next year or so. As this is a game thread, I'm looking forward to watching us get flogged tomorrow.
-
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
The key is maintaining the production line. Arscott or Hastie drop out, Dylan Pledger comss in.
A player we haven’t seen enough of is Hastie, can’t seem to be healthy when it matters. From what I’ve seen he’s offered a little more than Arscott but that is an incredibly small sample size.
You would think Pledger can unseat Connor McLeod from his spot within the WTG. Or like you said, replace one of the 2 of Arscott or Hastie.
Anyway this is a game thread, not the Otago thread haha my bad.
I don't think there are technically WTG spots anymore. Players just come in and out, depending on the need. Hauiti-Parapara was down in Dunedin for some of the season. There is no doubt pledger will be around the squad for most of next year. He should also get some Otago gametime this season. He is similar to Hurley though, suffers from midgetitis. Probably has a fair bit of gym time scheduled over the next year or so. As this is a game thread, I'm looking forward to watching us get flogged tomorrow.
You know what I’m referring to when I say WTG. I’m saying that for lack of a better term. Players not on a full contract who are still around the team. From what I’ve seen he’s no smaller than Arscott, still young so the body has a little more maturing to do yet.
Completely agree about the flogging, expecting to lose by 30+. Would be happy if we can keep it below a 20 point margin.
-
Good to see Aumua back fit and firing.
-
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
An issue the Highlanders also face is that Dunedin is a great place to be 18 - 23 and 35+, it is just a lot of people leave the city in their mid 20s to early 30s. This means players may get pressure from their partners to leave, or feel lonely if the majority of their friends leave Dunedin. What we can do is hope that a few make the All Blacks and others feel close and want to stay. Three - five years is realistic for a lot of the guys who will never make the All Blacks.
Which goes back to my point, that local guys are more likely to stay because they at least have something to hold them here.
For example, there was nothing to hold Tyrel Lomax here, so he left.
Of course. As someone mentioned as well, home franchises tend to keep their better players as well. That helps too. We just need to keep the flow of players coming, and have some decent talent ID running around the country.
Exactly. For every Aidan Morgan, there is a Daniel Lienert-Brown who falls in love with their adopted club and stays for a lengthy period of time.
If you can have a good local core, and a decent contingent of All Blacks, sprinkle in a few loyal players from elsewhere and you can stay competitive for a while. Highlanders have the right idea in regards to the first part, stage two is watching some of these guys trickle into the ABs...
In a best case scenario of the current squad, I think the following could have ABs careers:
de Groot
Holland
Haig
Withy
Stodart
Fakatava
Faleafaga
Ratumaitavuki-KneepkensStill need a top end midfielder, but you can see a spine of a very competitive side there.
Out of the age grade players I'll add in Dylan Pledger and I really hope Kiseki Fifita returns down south. He looks to be the best outside back the lower south has produced in a long time. Dam Mormon missions!
kiseki hasnt even left for his misson. gone for two years when he goes. has already turned down another team to sign for highlanders academy
-
Love this
-
-
Lomax and Shields running around in the warmup. Good signs for next week.
-
-
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
This wind might have an effect on the final score. Canes could win 38-10 now instead of 48-10.
After a start like that I will very happily eat these words post game. Let’s go boys! Great start.
-
Ooh nice start Landers.
-
wahoo... great start to the landers!
-
Aumua the difference maker
-
Nice ... little too soft by CGB
