Highlanders 2025
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
In other news JRK is in Dunedin and was at training yesterday. Unsure whether he is training to any level.
Hopefully. That way any talk of "Brick Wall Defence" Stevenson going to loig can end.
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Highlanders social media still on holiday? Must be the only NZ team not posting anything from training at the moment.
On JRK, he isn’t training with the intent of playing just yet. Only rehab at this stage. Still no word on whether he will play this super season or not.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
On JRK, he isn’t training with the intent of playing just yet. Only rehab at this stage. Still no word on whether he will play this super season or not.
Don't be stupid, he was assassinated.
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@Landers92 think we are the only team without a dedicated social media person... which is braindead behaviour. There is an outsourced company + an independent who makes a few graphics.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders social media still on holiday? Must be the only NZ team not posting anything from training at the moment.
On JRK, he isn’t training with the intent of playing just yet. Only rehab at this stage. Still no word on whether he will play this super season or not.
My mate is no longer the social media guy there so the Landers have probably gone from having the best content to nothing.
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@Canes4life can we ask if your mate decided to leave or did the Landers decide not to have a dedicated person?
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life can we ask if your mate decided to leave or did the Landers decide not to have a dedicated person?
He left on his own accord, he's doing free lance stuff now. Maybe they haven't hired anyone else yet.
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@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
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I have a sneaking suspicion that the captain pick might be really left field.
I think 2014 is a decent thing to base it off, Nasi Manu was relatively leftfield at the time, and he was paired with Ben Smith.
Realistically the captain has to be someone who is a nailed starter, which leaves EDG, Ma’u, Holland, Dunshea, Withy (?), Fakatava, Millar, Tele’a, Tavatavanawai
My bet is on Dunshea.
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@frugby Nasi had been with the team for a few years and was known as someone who led by his actions while Ben Smith was an established All Black and senior Highlander, not really left field imo.
I’d say it will stay in the forwards, my money is it will stay with EDG and/or Withy.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
I have a sneaking suspicion that the captain pick might be really left field.
I think 2014 is a decent thing to base it off, Nasi Manu was relatively leftfield at the time, and he was paired with Ben Smith.
Realistically the captain has to be someone who is a nailed starter, which leaves EDG, Ma’u, Holland, Dunshea, Withy (?), Fakatava, Millar, Tele’a, Tavatavanawai
My bet is on Dunshea.
I'd be surprised if it is Dunshea. While he is a quality player. He doesn't stand out as a strong communicator. It would also be a fairly short term solution to the captaincy. Just like Harmon I can't imagine he will be around for more than a couple of years. EDG will want it. He might be best served focusing on his game through. There aren't many stand outs for the gig.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
Sam Gilchrist, if it is the same person I think it is... is a bloke. Not a woman. Doesn't take away from the fact the Highlanders are not in the same financial position as other franchises and make cuts on roles that others prioritise. I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
Sam Gilchrist, if it is the same person I think it is... is a bloke. Not a woman. Doesn't take away from the fact the Highlanders are not in the same financial position as other franchises and make cuts on roles that others prioritise. I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
Samara Gallaher. Used to play for the Spirit I think.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
Sam Gilchrist, if it is the same person I think it is... is a bloke. Not a woman. Doesn't take away from the fact the Highlanders are not in the same financial position as other franchises and make cuts on roles that others prioritise. I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
Samara Gallaher. Used to play for the Spirit I think.
Well that's a fulltime person. She needs to up her game a bit. Where is our bloody bronco stats
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@Landers92 True on Manu... I guess it was more so the fact he had been out injured nearly all of 2013, and Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis were still there.
With his off-field indiscretion with the ABs, and then not being there for pre-season until late in the pace, I get the feeling EDG will not be in the running. Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
@SouthernMann on Dunshea, I am not sure Manu was necessarily a huge communicator either, but he was someone who was as tough as nails, and was a model professional, in other words an embodiment of Jamie. Not sure short-term nature is a huge issue... EDG will be able to step up after that.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 True on Manu... I guess it was more so the fact he had been out injured nearly all of 2013, and Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis were still there.
With his off-field indiscretion with the ABs, and then not being there for pre-season until late in the pace, I get the feeling EDG will not be in the running. Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
@SouthernMann on Dunshea, I am not sure Manu was necessarily a huge communicator either, but he was someone who was as tough as nails, and was a model professional, in other words an embodiment of Jamie. Not sure short-term nature is a huge issue... EDG will be able to step up after that.
De Groot will be 27 this season. He is one of the longest serving players in the team. He knows the southern culture. Seems stupid to have a two-year captain in place, because they think he isn't ready. Especially an injury prone one, who has never lead a team before. If de Groot is the goal, let him do it now.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 True on Manu... I guess it was more so the fact he had been out injured nearly all of 2013, and Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis were still there.
With his off-field indiscretion with the ABs, and then not being there for pre-season until late in the pace, I get the feeling EDG will not be in the running. Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
@SouthernMann on Dunshea, I am not sure Manu was necessarily a huge communicator either, but he was someone who was as tough as nails, and was a model professional, in other words an embodiment of Jamie. Not sure short-term nature is a huge issue... EDG will be able to step up after that.
De Groot will be 27 this season. He is one of the longest serving players in the team. He knows the southern culture. Seems stupid to have a two-year captain in place, because they think he isn't ready. Especially an injury prone one, who has never lead a team before. If de Groot is the goal, let him do it now.
I expect a bit of rotation in the locks anyway, don't see Dunshea playing 80 minutes, or necessarily starting every week. Anticipate EDG or Withy, noting his captaincy for Southland.
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my money is on Withy....just feel its been coming for a while and i think JJ will like a local grown guy, coming through, i just feel a loosie is one of the better places to lead from
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
.... I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
I remember talking about this last year or maybe the year before, looking back and realising my club teams were generating more content than the highlanders, and what the Highlanders were doing was just either stills from training...team naming...or reposting other peoples stuff. If volunteers can actually create at least a couple of things a week then surely a partially paid role can do more...disappointing
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
Not a sure starter? I’d disagree with that too. He kept Harmon out of the 7 jersey. Even if he wasn’t 7, they would make sure he was on the field at 6. If anyone in this forward pack is 80 minutes week in week out, it’s Withy. You want that consistency out of your captain.
I’ll stick to my guns and say it’s Withy and/or EDG. Time will tell I guess.
