Highlanders 2025
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On Vikena, he’s a player with potential. Been around for a few years now, started with Auckland and the Blues in 2020. Was also in the NZ 20s for 2 years. Still only 23 and has a higher ceiling than Henry Bell. Personally, I like Henry Bell and he had a good season but Vikena offers something different. Dont forget about Jack Taylor, he arguably has the highest ceiling of all 3. It’s a great position for the highlanders to be in.
It’s clear there has been a change of direction in recruitment, to get these 5 signed and all 5 are no older than 23 is a clear sign of that. Gone are the days of bringing in a bunch of guys in their mid to late 20. Going for the early 20’s with an idea of hopefully keeping them around long term great to see, as I said above all of these guys come with pedigree and they should all be pushing for a spot in the match day 23. That’s the kind of competition we need.
I understand a more experienced signing here and there is nice and I wouldn’t mind 1 being added, but to get these 5 and having an eye on the future, the Highlanders are following their word. Its a huge positive in my opinion.
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The way I see it, is we've got to tick boxes in terms of a squad and a starting XV to compete for a Super Rugby title in 2026.
Prop: de Groot and Ma'u I think are good enough as a first choice pairing, but plenty of work to do in the depth department. Probably an area where you'll see movement in 2026. At this moment, all the backups are uninspiring, so you're always going to be weak off the bench
Hooker: We'll see. I'd reason that the Blues just won Super Rugby with Ricky Riccitelli, and the Highlanders won it with Coltman and Ash Dixon so your hooker doesn't need to be a world beater. Three good options locked in, in my mind
Lock: Holland and Dunshea are a class lock pairing, possibly better than anything we had during JJ's first tenure, and definitely good enough to compete for a title. Need depth. Will wait to see what they do here...
Loose Forwards: Great mix of young loosies IMO, I think there is enough there to compete for the title
Halfbacks: As long as we hold onto Fakatava we are fine in the interim. Lock in Pledger, and the backups are plenty good enough. Still holding out hope for Hastie too
First Fives: If nothing else, Millar and Faleafaga seem to be better than everyone else's young 10s, so that has to be a good sign?
Midfielders: Tele'a I think you could win a Super title with him as a starting 13, but he needs some support. J Whaanga will need a few years, Te Hiwi is a bit meh, Gilbert too. These are all backup guys. TUJ has never been able to stay fit and I don't see that changing. We'll be in the market for a blockbuster 12 come 2026, unless we coup someone out the NPC.
Outside Backs: Good group of players, I think good enough.
At this early stage, I'm expecting us to take more strides forward next year, as I don't really think any of our player losses are the end of the world. For all his upside, Harmon was never an All Black for a reason. Withy, Lasaqa etc. can replace him in time. The rest of them weren't anywhere near the 23 at the end of the season anyway...
2026, I think there is the makings of the squad for a title challenge, but that is reliant on young players reaching their potential, and signing a blockbuster 12. That second five could even be Faleafaga...
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Faleafaga
An absolute blockbuster. He seems to be more a Sopoaga than Nonu type.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Faleafaga
An absolute blockbuster. He seems to be more a Sopoaga than Nonu type.
By blockbuster, I meant superstar... and in the mould of a playmaking 12. If they can crash the ball up too, then great, but we kind of have Tele'a to do that.
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I don't see Faleafaga as a 12. He is quite small compared to the sterotypical 12 running around in Super Rugby. I think we could see a very large midfield next year of TUJ and Tele'a. We still have a year left with Jonah Lowe too!
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
I don't see Faleafaga as a 12. He is quite small compared to the sterotypical 12 running around in Super Rugby. I think we could see a very large midfield next year of TUJ and Tele'a. We still have a year left with Jonah Lowe too!
Jonah Lowe is barely an adequate Super winger, let alone a Super level midfielder. Tele'a is an obvious starter in the midfield for the Landers, TUJ probably the obvious choice to partner him if he can stay fit.
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@Canes4life come on mate, its fairly clear @SouthernMann is taking the piss re lowe, long established and accepted he not up to it
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life come on mate, its fairly clear @SouthernMann is taking the piss re lowe, long established and accepted he not up to it
Who's the fool that extended his contract this long? Crazy, he's not only not upto it, he's also a consistent food bill.
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@Canes4life who are you arguing with?
it hasnt been extended, as far as i know, they just gave him a long one and if im honest when we signed him i was happy, he's just gone down hill
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life who are you arguing with?
it hasnt been extended, as far as i know, they just gave him a long one and if im honest when we signed him i was happy, he's just gone down hill
I'm not arguing with anyone I'm just stating the fact that if Lowe is signed for next year he must have a bloody good agent. He wasn't good enough when he was at the Canes and hasn't improved at the Highlanders. I'm just shocked at how he is able to pick up a contract year after year.
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@Canes4life but your stating something everyone else discussed and accepted over a year ago, its just weird to come in and go on about it like anyone had a different opinion
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He signed a three year deal. 23,24 and 25. Was never a good acquisition. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/129060018/highlanders-sign-chiefs-winger-jonah-lowe-and-otago-lock-fabian-holland
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I think @Canes4life is just acknowledging Lowe isn’t up to standard. He isn’t trying to argue. Something may have been taken the wrong way there.
We can all agree he has been a flop for the Highlanders. Hopefully he can get healthy and find some kind of form he had at the chiefs, the form which got him into the Māori AB’s and signed to a 3 year contact in the first place(pretty big ask) but depth wise you could definitely do worse, he would now be the 4th choice winger you would think. The writing is on the wall though clearly…
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Lowe and Tom Sanders are the two main passengers in the squad next year
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@Landers92 its kind of like me coming in and saying "i dont care what you guys say smoking is bad for you!".....yeah, we know, cool story
i just went back to the Highlanders 2023 thread, people were all happy enough when we signed lowe, dont believe anyone on here thought he would be as poor as he has turned out to be
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2023:
@FakatavaAllBlack said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble anyways back to Lowe he'll be in our starting backline wearing 14, the other Jona at 11, now just need to sign a certain twin from wellington to wear 13 & things on paper will look much better than the season just gone.
Great pickup.
If the Chiefs haven't signed two really fucking good wingers, I'm going to be well pissed off.
Lowe was our best wing this year by a mile.
@Tim said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble Good signing. Has been sharp for the Chiefs. I wonder if they have signed a wing?
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i guess good on them...but part of me is also now we're keeping a guy that wanted to leave
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 its kind of like me coming in and saying "i dont care what you guys say smoking is bad for you!".....yeah, we know, cool story
i just went back to the Highlanders 2023 thread, people were all happy enough when we signed lowe, dont believe anyone on here thought he would be as poor as he has turned out to be
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2023:
@FakatavaAllBlack said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble anyways back to Lowe he'll be in our starting backline wearing 14, the other Jona at 11, now just need to sign a certain twin from wellington to wear 13 & things on paper will look much better than the season just gone.
Great pickup.
If the Chiefs haven't signed two really fucking good wingers, I'm going to be well pissed off.
Lowe was our best wing this year by a mile.
@Tim said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble Good signing. Has been sharp for the Chiefs. I wonder if they have signed a wing?
I think my 2 cents at the time was that signing him to a three year deal stunk of desperation. I'll stick with that.
Really excited by Tangitau, he has to be one of the best 'young' wingers in the country. I'd be very surprised if he isn't in our top back three.
There was an interesting line in Paul Cully's article on the signings, saying the Blues were miffed to lose Soane Vikena, which suggests he got a bit sick of waiting behind a couple of old war horses.
Watched some highlights of Lasaqa this afternoon, and he is that loosie that we need, someone to sit defenders and attackers on their arse. Just chuck his name into that 20 slot now.
Really positive signings.
