Hurricanes 2025
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@African-Monkey said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Chris Yeah heard the same thing and that the Crusaders playing group has already been informed of his return a year early.
Done deal as I understand it.
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@African-Monkey said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Chris Yeah heard the same thing and that the Crusaders playing group has already been informed of his return a year early.
So a return in 2026 instead of 2027?
A return of a 32 year old First Five who’s biggest asset is his acceleration, speed and agility. 2026 is going to be an interesting season in when it comes to the 10 jersey!
Also, whoever knows how to move convos, probably worth moving to Crusaders thread.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
In a podcast released earlier today Ardie Savea was ready to sign on the dotted line for the Canes after the World Cup. Then his bro was released from the Canes (rightfully so) and that made him question his loyalty to the Canes and the fact he felt he wasn't specifically valued at the Canes.
Whether he denies it or not, Julian leaving is an obvious reason why he's gone to MP even if he tries to state otherwise. Doesn't he realise he's in a results driven business and players (no matter their reputation or loyalty) will be released if they aren't good enough. Good on him for doing what he thinks is right but I think it's a little precious of him to hold anything against the Canes for trying to improve their performance. It's a shame though because I think he probably would have felt more inclusive playing under Laidlaw than he would have playing under the limited Holland.
In saying all this, I think the Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee has a bit to answer for. You'd think for any business meeting you would invite Ardie's wife as part of that conversation. Apparently she was never brought in on any conversations with the ABs or Canes so maybe re-thinking about how he goes about things in terms of dealing with players is something he needs to work on.
Whatever his reasons, he's gone. If he was getting all precious about his brother's situation it's human, but it's part of the business. I seem to recall a while back the talk that Julian's wife was tough to deal with, if that's the case I'm sure they gave as good as they got during negotiations. Ardie gave us his best and now it's time for the new guard to go on with how they did last season
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I guess he wants to play with his brother and not against him.
Would be interesting if MP drop Julian.
I'm not that upset about him leaving, with his sabbatical, he seems to be always coming and going, just causing disruption.
Hopefully Brayden Iose returns to early 2024 form. -
I'd laugh if Moana also felt Julian wasn't up to it anymore and decided to not play him much next season. Would Ardie move to another franchise if that was the case? I just think the whole sour grapes thing is a little over the top but in saying that I think the Canes will be a better team overall with him leaving. I feel like we were heavily reliant on him when he was with us, whereas this year certain players i.e. Aumua, Proctor were encouraged to step into more senior roles and I think as a collective we played much better. It's no surprise that Aumua and Proctor then made the ABs off the back of being vice captains and holding more of a voice within the Canes.
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@Landers92 I fully agree with you, but yeah, word around Chch is, is that he's returning a year early.
As you would know, Chch is a small place where everyone apparently knows everyone.
Sorry Canes fans, as you were.
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I see Tyler Laubscher is back with Manawatu this season. He played very well in his one cameo for the Canes before getting injured. If he can stay on the park and show form for the Turbos, he could be an option to replace Savea.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
I see Tyler Laubscher is back with Manawatu this season. He played very well in his one cameo for the Canes before getting injured. If he can stay on the park and show form for the Turbos, he could be an option to replace Savea.
He looked an exciting prospect. But was always injured so a big risk even if he if fine for Manawatu. But might be wortha punt if he can stay the NPC distance
Has Howden re-signed. Also looks promising but Tyler more so
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@Winger said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
I see Tyler Laubscher is back with Manawatu this season. He played very well in his one cameo for the Canes before getting injured. If he can stay on the park and show form for the Turbos, he could be an option to replace Savea.
He looked an exciting prospect. But was always injured so a big risk even if he if fine for Manawatu. But might be wortha punt if he can stay the NPC distance
Has Howden re-signed. Also looks promising but Tyler more so
I reckon TK Howden has a very big future, whether that's with the Canes or not remains to be seen as there might not be enough room for him going forward. Unfortunately he was injured for most of the Super campaign but he was our best forward in pre-season.
He'll be 24 by the time the next season comes around and at 1.96m and 109kg, with a bit more weight he could be exactly what NZ is looking for in a 6. He's got all the silky skills and does everything very well, he just needs to mature a bit more and he could be a beast.
I'd like Howden to get more time at 6 next year if they see Delany purely as a lock. I think he's more of a natural 6 than Flanders and now with Ardie gone I think we could start Howden (ahead of the aging Shields) and use Flanders off the bench as 6/8 cover. I wouldn't mind seeing this pack next year at some point with Walker-Leawere and Flanders coming off the bench.
- Xavier Numia
- Asafo Aumua
- Tyrel Lomax
- Caleb Delany
- Zach Gallagher
- TK Howden
- Peter Lakai
- Brayden Iose
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Winger said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
I see Tyler Laubscher is back with Manawatu this season. He played very well in his one cameo for the Canes before getting injured. If he can stay on the park and show form for the Turbos, he could be an option to replace Savea.
He looked an exciting prospect. But was always injured so a big risk even if he if fine for Manawatu. But might be wortha punt if he can stay the NPC distance
Has Howden re-signed. Also looks promising but Tyler more so
I reckon TK Howden has a very big future, whether that's with the Canes or not remains to be seen as there might not be enough room for him going forward. Unfortunately he was injured for most of the Super campaign but he was our best forward in pre-season.
He'll be 24 by the time the next season comes around and at 1.96m and 109kg, with a bit more weight he could be exactly what NZ is looking for in a 6. He's got all the silky skills and does everything very well, he just needs to mature a bit more and he could be a beast.
I'd like Howden to get more time at 6 next year if they see Delany purely as a lock. I think he's more of a natural 6 than Flanders and now with Ardie gone I think we could start Howden (ahad of the aging Shields) and use Flanders off the bench as 6/8 cover. I wouldn't mind seeing this pack next year at some point with Walker-Leawere and Flanders coming off the bench.
- Xavier Numia
- Asafo Aumua
- Tyrel Lomax
- Caleb Delany
- Zach Gallagher
- TK Howden
- Peter Lakai
- Brayden Iose
I wonder of Iose is a bit of a highlights player and disappear when the going gets tough
Maybe Flanders at 8 instead. I think hes too good not to start. But if we keep Howden and sign Tyler it will give a lot of backrow options
We just need a quality 1st 5. Otherwise we will never be the finals winner
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Starting Howden, Lakai and Flanders at 8 could be a go, with Iose as x-factor off the bench. He would be a great guy to bring on when everyone is tired.
In saying that I think Laidlaw will go with the following pack, with Gallagher coming in for IWL who is always hit and miss.
Likely starters
- Xavier Numia
- Asafo Aumua
- Tyrel Lomax
- Caleb Delany
- Zach Gallagher
- Devan Flanders
- Peter Lakai
- Brayden Iose
Back-ups
- Tevita Mafileo/Pouri Rakete-Stones
- Raymond Tuputupu (likely)
- Pasilio Tosi/Siale Lauaki
- Isaia Walker-Leawere
- Josh Taula/Tom Allen
- TK Howden/Brad Shields
- Du Plessis Kirifi
- Tyler Laubscher (if signed)
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Captain now that Ardies gone will be a big decision. My view is Shields might be a bit past it now to be captain. Let him focus on fitness and playing
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@Winger yeah Brad Shields is probably passed it now. It needs to be a player that's well respected, is a locked down starter for nearly every game and has great game awareness. I would promote Billy Proctor from vice to captain. I would leave Aumua as a co-vice because it brought the best out of him this year and I would maybe have someone like Brayden Iose or Devan Flanders as the other co-vice. Or maybe even Cam Roigard.
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@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2025:
As I posted in the exodus thread. Been informed TJ Perenara has signed on in Japan on a 3 year deal. Leaving after the All Blacks season after the end of year tour. Odd because he’s supposedly got a contract running through next year.
I've heard the same thing. So the Canes lose Barrett, Ardie and Perenara for next year. Those are three big blows.
Maybe this latest injury has made him re-think his future. Fair play to him if he moves on.
We've got Roigard and the exciting Vijoen in our squad so his loss won't be felt too badly. And fair play to him aswell, go and make some money for your family pal, you've got nothing left to prove.