Highlanders 2025
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@Bovidae key difference though is there’s a few more close to SR rugby backs floating around while forwards tend to get snapped up quickly:
Like Manase Matalele, Matt Whaanga, Callum Harkin and Filimone all come to mind as decent uncontracted operators at the start of the season we could have pulled into our WTG if need be. Hugo Plummers the only lock I can think of countrywide who was SR ready but not contracted.
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Joesph needs to take the blame for his original squad selections at lock. Naeata was his choice. James Thompson, for example, wasn't retained by the Blues and could have been a solid squad member to provide depth at lock. He did well in his brief appearances. He is now in the Chiefs WTG instead. Players will probably move for a full contract but aren't going to swap one WTG contract for another as easily.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2025:
On the squad, is the WTG stacked with locks? Not much room to recruit based on those contract lengths unless they can move along a loosie or two
Very few locks around the squad from a local level. Tengblad will come in on a long-term deal. Dunshea is the big question mark for me. A lot of the commentary you hear around recruitment is that locks are highly sought after. While he is a bit of a country boy. At 30, he could be ripe to be picked up elsewhere. If that's the case I'd expect us to run pretty lean with locks again. With Stodart and Oli Haig being in the locking rotation. Howden at a pinch as well. Time would be better suited investigating him as an 8 though.
Otago will run Holland (depending on international call up), Stodart, Tengblad and may be Christian MacEwan.
Southland is quite lean on locks. It was after Tai Cribb.
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Selby-Rickit was signed to the Chiefs on a two year deal. Available for Highlanders to sign now?
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@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
Selby-Rickit was signed to the Chiefs on a two year deal. Available for Highlanders to sign now?
Nah. Not the right sort of move for us. He doesn't scream the sort of guy who is a good follow me type. More of a dickhead type. All he is remembered for down there is bashing some fella on the piss. We've been there done that with him.
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@SouthernMann Fair enough!
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
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@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
He looks a short lock who hasn't filled out yet. We have guys like Stodart, Haig and Howden who are all similar heights and have filled out. Would just seem like bringing in another guy of the same variation.
Haven't seen much of Makiri @Bones. How does he go. I reckon there could be an NPC outside or two who could play their way in. We could be looking for up to three outside backs with Gilbert leaving, likely Lowe and a question mark over Nareki...
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Aha, looks like he is only 1.94m. Although ... Jackson Hemopo was about that height, and was a very good player.
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@SouthernMann seems quick with decent smarts, couldn't tell you much else! Stood out to me whenever I saw him play.
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@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Aha, looks like he is only 1.94m. Although ... Jackson Hemopo was about that height, and was a very good player.
Yeah was absolute quality. A real what if player interms of what he could have been.
With Cribb, I just think we have several similar players (size wise), and that spot could be better utilised chasing an 8 that can bend the line.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
A real what if player interms of what he could have been.
We might not have to wonder if Ah Kuoi gets called up, definitely deserves it.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Has this been reported yet?
Sam Gilbert joins Connacht Rugby | 9th May 2025 | News
Connacht Rugby is delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand back Sam Gilbert from Super Rugby side the Highlanders. The 26-year old arrives with a wealth of experience in the highest level of southern hemisphere rugby. He has made 56 Super Rugby appearances for the Dunedin-based outfit,
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
He looks a short lock who hasn't filled out yet.
Cribb's best position is 6, but he has got by as a lock at U20 and NPC level.
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@Bovidae I agree, but that also assumes these guys wanted to come. Not signing Will Tucker was a fuck up, but also, the bigger issues was Haig & Naeta, who were probably the two down to cover lock, have been unavailable for most of the season.
Hard to say whether not contracting locks is the issue, because we have refused to play our loose forwards there, which was presumably the plan.
There is a long-term plan, I would not be surprised if someone like James Thompson said no to a one-year deal.
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@Daffy-Jaffy yeah, whole discussion just above your post
i agree there are similarities between gilbert and Collins just with their positions switched, Gilbert was growing nicely at 15 and then got moved to the midfield (and every other backline position) when we were short and never quite kicked on...collins was the other way, a very handy midfielder...that got shuffled out to 15 and then got a lot of shit for not being a 15. it maddening in a world where ive seen people have heated debates about the idea of a 13 playing 12....we shuffle other guys around that showed some promise like cheese pieces and then critique them form for not getting better
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@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
Specialist no 23.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
Specialist no 23.
Ah, the Manson clause contract, I believe it's now called in rugby circles.
