Highlanders 2025
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I think Hurley is a must have on the bench. 20 - 25 minutes of him in a roving role can be absolute dynamite. What we need from the players around him is understanding how he plays. Looking out for him running off their shoulders, and doing the same from him.
Interms of bench inpact; him, Fakatava and Lasaqa are the three guys that can change a game with 25 to go.
I'd also lean more towards Jack Taylor over Henry Bell for the same reasons.
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Agreed if Fakatava is going overseas it would make sense for Hastie to be starting this season and Fakatava to be on the bench breaking the game open.
When TUJ returns I’d slot him at 22 and Hurley at 23. With Gilbert providing 10/15 cover on the field. Jack Taylor probably gets slotted in mid season on the bench over Bell. Though I have been impressed with Bell.
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Updated injury list.
Oliver Haig (foot / 8 weeks )
Jonah Lowe (ACL / 6 weeks )
TK Howden (hamstring / 3 weeks)
Jona Nareki (ankle /4 weeks)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (neck / 8 weeksGood to see Umaga Jenson removed from the list. Unsure if development have any games coming up but wouldn’t be shocked to see him get minutes there.
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just saw this posted so another way to see who fit
I remember being very happy with fischli during the NPC so wouldnt mind seeing him get some minutes
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Interesting that there's no Josh Whaanga or Henry Bell in the mix. Wonder if both are carrying niggles? Interesting that Waisake Sibulu isn't in the team either. Fletcher Morgan's one that's not familar to me either. Anyone know who he is or anything about him?
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These teams always throw around some left field selections.
I'm surprised there aren't a few more from the U20s. No Pledger, Holland Jr, Muliaina...
Fletcher Morgan is an odd pick up. Must really be stuff all outside backs around.
A-one Lolofie is an odd absentee.
Josh Augistine must still be coming back from a broken leg.
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Out of interest what’s the status of Jeremiah Asi? Feels like he was an academy player destined for bit things a couple of years back then seems to have vanished last couple of years. He still in the system?
Konrad Toleafoa and Aaron Withy are two more who seemed hyped for big things than haven’t seen much of since. Though at least Asi made NPC.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Out of interest what’s the status of Jeremiah Asi? Feels like he was an academy player destined for bit things a couple of years back then seems to have vanished last couple of years. He still in the system?
Konrad Toleafoa and Aaron Withy are two more who seemed hyped for big things than haven’t seen much of since. Though at least Asi made NPC.
Toleafoa was the dominant player in club rugby I believe. He is just in a difficult spot, where the two players ahead of him for Otago are Lio-Willie and Stodart. I wouldn't be surprised if he buggers off after realising the opportunities are blocked at Otago.
Aaron Withy is probably behind Harry Taylor, Lucas Casey and probably Max Ratcliffe.
Then at the Highlanders add in his brother, Michaels, Lasaqa, Rutledge (down the line), and the young fella who tore it up with the Maori U18s last year. Plenty of loosie options coming through.
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Some legend has clipped together every touch by Finn Hurley from last night. What a huge workrate. Probably about six or eight really high quality touches. Defensively he is like a jack russell. Has nailed how he wants to take down the bigger lads.
Yeah he can make mistakes. We should just expect at least one clanger from him a game.
For a guy of only 21 he has certainly copped some shit since he first played top flight footy at 19. Hopefully what he can do overshadows the occasional clanger.
We will see a few changes. DLB going for a holiday. TUJ potentially coming in.
A change that caught my eye was Narata being a 20 minute player from 40 mins to 60.
Taine Robinson is a lad who has surprised me. For a guy who I had never seen much of. He is very steady at 10, and is providing just what the team needs in the role.
We are becoming a fun team to watch again. Long-range tries, and linking well. Sure beats how we have farted about in previous seasons.
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@SouthernMann yeah Robinson is the player that many imagined Millar was. Extremely good option taker and top notch execution.
Hurley really is DMac MKII.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann yeah Robinson is the player that many imagined Millar was. Extremely good option taker and top notch execution.
Hurley really is DMac MKII.
I had no idea who Taine Robinson was when his name dropped last year in the squad. I just had nightmares about the last 10/15 we had from Ta$man in Mitch Hunt
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@SouthernMann I had no idea who he was two weeks ago!
But now that you've tarnished him, I'm not interested
