Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5
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Really hoping Hurley is out this weekend as he was electric against the Blues.
The more I think about it, this could be the most important game for the Canes this season. Win under the roof and then beat the Waratah's after the bye at home and we'd likely be right back in the hunt with a raft of players returning.
I expect the Canes to be really desperate in this one so I'm hoping for a much improved performance. Hopefully the Landers are a little clunky coming off the bye, I feel the bye came at the wrong time for them as they were building some nice momentum. In saying that they will be nice and re-freshed so will come at the Canes fairly heavily.
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@antipodean Agreed. If Hurley is fit and Adam Lennox available for selection I'd slot them both into that bench. But a pretty green side to close out the game.
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A few names spotted in yellow bibs at training today which signals they are in the 23 including the likes of Gallagher and Lomax and Aumua. Interesting to see Brett Cameron training, early return maybe? He was meant to be gone for the season.
Likely side from the images below, by far our strongest 23 of the year.
- Numia
- Aumua (CC)
- Lomax
- Delany
- Gallagher
- Shields (CC)
- Kirifi (CC)
- Lakai
- Roigard
- Godfrey
- Naholo
- Umaga-Jensen
- Sullivan
- Finenganofo
- Love
- Devery
- Mafileo
- Tosi
- Walker-Leawere
- Iose
- Enari
- Punivai
- Banks
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The starting side is pretty close to our top side. With potentially a couple of guys, with the likes of Haig, Hurley/JRK and a question mark at hooker.
It is our bench where we are short. Big challenge in the last 30.
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@SouthernMann Solid side. I didn’t think bench was too bad, obviously DLB over Bartlett when available but other than that a strong forwards bench. Vikena and Lasaqa should add some impact when they come on which could be vital, especially after seeing Aumua and Lomax named on the Canes bench.
Backs - would be happy to see Umaga Jenson over Te Hiwi but I guess we have to wait another week for that. Happy to see Faleafaga named, hope the game goes ok and he manages to get a run.
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Xavier Numia, Jacob Devery, Tevita Mafileo, Caleb Delany, Zach Gallagher, Brad Shields (co-c), Du'Plessis Kirifi (co-c) Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Harry Godfrey, Kini Naholo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Bailyn Sullivan, Ngatungane Punivai, Ruben Love
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tyrel Lomax, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Jordi Viljoen, Riley Hohepa, Fatafehi Fineanganofo
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The good thing for Faleafaga is that he won't be outplayed by Hohepa when he comes on. I want to see him go well as well. He has all the skills.
I'm excited to see Nareki and Tangitau in the same back three together.
With the bench, I've just got a bit of a hope about an injury free squad with a bench featuring Howden, Lasaqa, Fakatava, Millar and Hurley. A real impactful bench
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And Hurricanes look very strong. Will be a tough game
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That Canes bench scares me... Landers bench is very green, I thought they would have gone for a 6-2 split, but Naeta is seemingly out in the cold.
Jamie showed against the Blues he can be ruthless, so would not be surprised to see those back reserves get very limited minutes, how he injects Stodart and Lasaqa will be key to maintain dominance in the tight five. I think in this team, Howden has to go the 80, or else we could be bullied for size.
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The big dogs are back.
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Highlanders definitely favorites
Canes look a little stronger than last week, if they can keep their discipline it should be a great game.
Canes bench very mixed, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Riley Hohepa could easily cost us the game tempered by the long awaited return of Lomax and Aumua to finally bring some ball carrying ability. -
It's funny on IWL, I feel he'd been really ramping up since the middle of last year and was easily playing his best footy this year, definitely more noticeable in the tackle and ball in hand. Then his ill discipline returns with a vengeance and he's written off. I'd persist with him, his upside is definitely starting to show, just needs to keep his head in the game.
