Highlanders 2025
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hmmmm
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@Kiwiwomble Definitely can't like that.
Be nice to think it's just giving every assistance to be ready for next sunday, but I somehow doubt it!
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@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life Moses Leo off to Melbourne Storm
In 2026. Get him into an environment next season with the smallest of hopes of changing his mind about leaving. He’s a huge talent.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life Moses Leo off to Melbourne Storm
In 2026. Get him into an environment next season with the smallest of hopes of changing his mind about leaving. He’s a huge talent.
27 year-old winger who has never played Super Rugby and is signed to the NRL... had the chance to play 15s a couple of years ago, and was supposedly all set to sign for the Highlanders but u-turned last minute. Can't remember who we got instead, might have been Jonah Lowe.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life Moses Leo off to Melbourne Storm
In 2026. Get him into an environment next season with the smallest of hopes of changing his mind about leaving. He’s a huge talent.
27 year-old winger who has never played Super Rugby and is signed to the NRL... had the chance to play 15s a couple of years ago, and was supposedly all set to sign for the Highlanders but u-turned last minute. Can't remember who we got instead, might have been Jonah Lowe.
He'd be crazy to turn his back on the Storm and a chance to take part in an occasion like last night.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life Moses Leo off to Melbourne Storm
In 2026. Get him into an environment next season with the smallest of hopes of changing his mind about leaving. He’s a huge talent.
27 year-old winger who has never played Super Rugby and is signed to the NRL... had the chance to play 15s a couple of years ago, and was supposedly all set to sign for the Highlanders but u-turned last minute. Can't remember who we got instead, might have been Jonah Lowe.
Holy shit I had no idea he was 27. I retract my statement.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life Moses Leo off to Melbourne Storm
In 2026. Get him into an environment next season with the smallest of hopes of changing his mind about leaving. He’s a huge talent.
27 year-old winger who has never played Super Rugby and is signed to the NRL... had the chance to play 15s a couple of years ago, and was supposedly all set to sign for the Highlanders but u-turned last minute. Can't remember who we got instead, might have been Jonah Lowe.
Holy shit I had no idea he was 27. I retract my statement.
Same, thought he was lucky to be 20!
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Four Highlanders in the top 65 players in New Zealand... certainly a reality check for all the excitement - that said, hell of a motivating tool when the players walk in on Day One.
Heading into 2014, we had A & B Smith as ABs. I reckon if there was an XV squad I'm honestly not sure we would have had any.
Nothing to lose, everything to prove, I can't wait.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
whats happened to fakatava?
Nothing. He is clearly rated 6th in the pecking order? Is that how i'd rate it? No, but I can almost guarantee they think he has a poor kicking game.
Next year I think is basically his final tilt at it - as I say have heard he has penned a new contract past 2025, but that could be bullshit, because the story that went with it seemed hilariously untrue, but I really just chuck everything I hear in here because if nothing else it sparks good debate!
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby thats kind of what i meant, was kind of tapped up as one of the leader in the next generation, learnt under the master etc...and now we're talking about how he's got one more shot to get back in contention
I think this is a case of coach's preference. Personally I'd have him in the ABs as the number three, but they don't rate him. His ACL injury undoubtedly derailed him, but IMO he has shown more than enough to be in a squad like this. The 29 YO Finlay Christie is tried and failed at test level.
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Man, I missed Fakatava not being in the squad completely. Should be there in my opinion as he is quick to the ruck and quick to clear, plus offers a point of difference in his close running and offloading game. Not a great super season for him, but he was still close to the top in several stats.
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NZ is blessed with a lot of guys of similar ability/potential at halfback at the moment.
I'd say all of Fakatava, Christie, Funaki and Hotham are in a pretty similar boat (different skills but similar level overall), and then Ratima and Roigard are the two top dogs. Perenara's off so there's lots to play for next year.
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You saw the best and worst of Fakatava in the Wellington-HB game. Near the goal-line he ignores an overlap to his right and attempts to score the try himself. HB did score a few phases later but it highlight's that Fakatava often tries to be too individualistic.
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As I posted across in the AB XV thread incase anyone misses it, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has undergone neck surgery after sustaining a broken neck on the weekend and is to undergo another surgery later in the week. Hope that it’s not career threatening and he can recover to full health. Feel for the guy, could explain why he wasn’t named in the AB XV.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
As I posted across in the AB XV thread incase anyone misses it, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has undergone neck surgery after sustaining a broken neck on the weekend and is to undergo another surgery later in the week. Hope that it’s not career threatening and he can recover to full health. Feel for the guy, could explain why he wasn’t named in the AB XV.
Ohh wow poor bugger I hope he recovers well.
