Highlanders 2025
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What do we think are the biggest questions we think need to be answered about this team for next season? It seems like it’s a never ending cycle of mediocrity and promises which don’t seem to be delivered on …
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@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2025:
What do we think are the biggest questions we think need to be answered about this team for next season? It seems like it’s a never ending cycle of mediocrity and promises which don’t seem to be delivered on …
The biggest issue is looking after the players. Rebuild their confidence. Ensuring that the group comes back happy and confident next year.
Apart from the Chiefs and Crusaders' games they were in every other contest. A three win season is horrible. It should have been a six or seven win year though.
With players. There are probably just a few starting spots where we need to go hard to market. That is tighthead, no8 and 10. Most other players are generally competing well. Depth is a problem. It won't be answered overnight.
In terms of promise not being delivered on. Last year we deservedly only had one All Black. This year there are probably the ability to talk about up to six guys (de Groot, Holland, Fakatava, Tavatavanawai, JRK and Tangitau). It is a step forward having guys in those conversations. Not saying that they are going to all be there. Just that the consistent performances were good enough to warrant mentions.
We really need to keep the guys around who do match up well.
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A RugbyPass article that continues along what I have been saying most of the season.
We have not played as well as where we sit on the table.
What went wrong with the Highlanders this season
Year two of the Highlanders under returning coach Jamie Joseph has presented challenges as the franchise sits in last place currently.
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@SouthernMann Jamie losing his two top 8s Renton and Broughton to Injury I feel isn't made out to be as big of a blow as it should be? Moana don't win certain games without Ardie and Semisi. Crusaders probably would be less dominant if their 3rd choice 8 Fletcher Anderson was starting
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@Grooter said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Jamie losing his two top 8s Renton and Broughton to Injury I feel isn't made out to be as big of a blow as it should be? Moana don't win certain games without Ardie and Semisi. Crusaders probably would be less dominant if their 3rd choice 8 Fletcher Anderson was starting
Our best four outside backs (Tangitau, Nareki, JRK and Hurley) played less than half the comp each.
We didn't have a 10.
The impact of the injuries to Renton/Broughton
Ma'u struggles at scrumtime.
Those four areas alone contributed to several of our loses.
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Highlanders release stating that Oli Haig injured his foot last weekend against the Hurricanes. Likely this is a re-aggravation of the broken foot he sustained in pre season. Here’s hoping it isn’t anything too serious and he’s been put on ice as a precaution.
Come back fit and firing for the NPC and find the form he was in last season that got him selected for the AB XV
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I see Aidan Morgan is leaving Ulster a year early as he struggled for game time. I wonder if he’d consider coming to the Landers because imo he’s a better player than Robinson and Miller.
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@upthelanders very mercurial, reminds me of Lolesio. When he's on, he's more than adequate.... but when he's off you're screaming for the return of JGB.
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Highlanders Lean on Youth for Crusaders Clash
Injuries, especially among experienced players, continue to plague the Highlanders, and on the eve of their DHL Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders, they have lost wing Jonah Nareki to a torn meniscus.
Article here with a couple of interesting pieces of info - Adam Lennox is seen as a player of the future for the highlanders. Which presumably means Hastie is gone next season.
JJ mentions Nareki will be given some time off to get ready for the 2026 super rugby season. Which to me indicates he’s been re signed.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders Lean on Youth for Crusaders Clash
Injuries, especially among experienced players, continue to plague the Highlanders, and on the eve of their DHL Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders, they have lost wing Jonah Nareki to a torn meniscus.
Article here with a couple of interesting pieces of info - Adam Lennox is seen as a player of the future for the highlanders. Which presumably means Hastie is gone next season.
JJ mentions Nareki will be given some time off to get ready for the 2026 super rugby season. Which to me indicates he’s been re signed.
I reckon there could be four halfbacks in the squad with Lennox also offering some availability to the outside backs
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Could be an option seems that if Nareki is back next year, and so is Lowe then we’ve got one outside back spot available. Which could be his, given the amount preference of Filimone over Manson might suggest that Filimone joins in the main squad too.
I don't see too many other off contract outside backs around the country that would be a good fit or even midfielders. Aumua and Ennor are going overseas. Springer has re signed at the Crusaders. Liam Coombs Fabling and Daniel Sinkinson are solid squad members but don't strike me as the types to head south over signing at their franchises or going abroad. Grindley at the Blues might be a good pickup. Haven't seen enough of Gideon Wrampling to comment on him. But I'd probably go for blokes who have been in the environment this season and then have Tayne Hervey and Kyan Rangitura as WTG members for next season. Maybe Feletoni Peni too.
Aidan Morgan would provide good depth at 10 too. Could he be a starter? I'm not sure. - haven't seen enough of him. James O'Connor is off contract and could be a good mentor for the young 10's.
Just in terms of forward pack there's some exciting prospects who are off contract though. Josh Taulua at the Canes is a Monster, Siale Lauaki is a young Tighthead with a promising future stuck behind two All Blacks. Finley Brewis at the Crusaders is in the same boat. While George Bell could in theory be lured back South given the rise of Mouanau (this one could be a stretch). As others have mentioned Malachi Wrampling Alec is another one for the future we should try and grab.
Anyone got a sense of the ceilings for Jack Sexton and Ben Lopas? They're too young local props who look decent but haven't seen much of them to know. Could Harry Taylor be the bloke to replace Hayden Michaels too? He's young but has a massive engine.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Could be an option seems that if Nareki is back next year, and so is Lowe then we’ve got one outside back spot available. Which could be his, given the amount preference of Filimone over Manson might suggest that Filimone joins in the main squad too.
I don't see too many other off contract outside backs around the country that would be a good fit or even midfielders. Aumua and Ennor are going overseas. Springer has re signed at the Crusaders. Liam Coombs Fabling and Daniel Sinkinson are solid squad members but don't strike me as the types to head south over signing at their franchises or going abroad. Grindley at the Blues might be a good pickup. Haven't seen enough of Gideon Wrampling to comment on him. But I'd probably go for blokes who have been in the environment this season and then have Tayne Hervey and Kyan Rangitura as WTG members for next season.
Aidan Morgan would provide good depth at 10 too. Could he be a starter? I'm not sure. - haven't seen enough of him. James O'Connor is off contract and could be a good mentor for the young 10's.
Just in terms of forward pack there's some exciting prospects who are off contract though. Josh Taulua at the Canes is a Monster, Siale Lauaki is a young Tighthead with a promising future stuck behind two All Blacks. Finley Brewis at the Crusaders is in the same boat. While George Bell could in theory be lured back South given the rise of Mouanau (this one could be a stretch). As others have mentioned Malachi Wrampling Alec is another one for the future we should try and grab.
Anyone got a sense of the ceilings for Jack Sexton and Ben Lopas? They're too young local props who look decent but haven't seen much of them to know. Could Harry Taylor be the bloke to replace Hayden Michaels too? He's young but has a massive engine.
Ennor going overseas I am not sure that is a done deal,I believe Ennor might be staying.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders Lean on Youth for Crusaders Clash
Injuries, especially among experienced players, continue to plague the Highlanders, and on the eve of their DHL Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders, they have lost wing Jonah Nareki to a torn meniscus.
Article here with a couple of interesting pieces of info - Adam Lennox is seen as a player of the future for the highlanders. Which presumably means Hastie is gone next season.
JJ mentions Nareki will be given some time off to get ready for the 2026 super rugby season. Which to me indicates he’s been re signed.
I reckon there could be four halfbacks in the squad with Lennox also offering some availability to the outside backs
Looking at what we (hopefully) have signed up I don't envisage four halfbacks, simply because it would put too much of a squeeze on what we can do with the rest of the backline. If Hastie is your fourth rated halfback, you might as well get a third fullback instead.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders Lean on Youth for Crusaders Clash
Injuries, especially among experienced players, continue to plague the Highlanders, and on the eve of their DHL Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders, they have lost wing Jonah Nareki to a torn meniscus.
Article here with a couple of interesting pieces of info - Adam Lennox is seen as a player of the future for the highlanders. Which presumably means Hastie is gone next season.
JJ mentions Nareki will be given some time off to get ready for the 2026 super rugby season. Which to me indicates he’s been re signed.
I reckon there could be four halfbacks in the squad with Lennox also offering some availability to the outside backs
Looking at what we (hopefully) have signed up I don't envisage four halfbacks, simply because it would put too much of a squeeze on what we can do with the rest of the backline. If Hastie is your fourth rated halfback, you might as well get a third fullback instead.
We need to be careful about cutting several contracts short. Hastie is still under contract for next year.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders Lean on Youth for Crusaders Clash
Injuries, especially among experienced players, continue to plague the Highlanders, and on the eve of their DHL Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders, they have lost wing Jonah Nareki to a torn meniscus.
Article here with a couple of interesting pieces of info - Adam Lennox is seen as a player of the future for the highlanders. Which presumably means Hastie is gone next season.
JJ mentions Nareki will be given some time off to get ready for the 2026 super rugby season. Which to me indicates he’s been re signed.
I reckon there could be four halfbacks in the squad with Lennox also offering some availability to the outside backs
Looking at what we (hopefully) have signed up I don't envisage four halfbacks, simply because it would put too much of a squeeze on what we can do with the rest of the backline. If Hastie is your fourth rated halfback, you might as well get a third fullback instead.
We need to be careful about cutting several contracts short. Hastie is still under contract for next year.
From what I hear, we are well under our spending cap. If we have three halfbacks on the books, then there is no harm in cutting Hastie. What this probably speaks to, is the abominable decisions in giving promising, but hardly world-beating youngsters three-year contracts.
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@Chris Morgan definitely a starter, would be good with Fakatava
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@upthelanders maybe Morgan is an option although I've got a contact who has gotten little things right before such as who are our recent wider training squad members, told me about Lennox, Loft back in the summer. He reckons landers are trying to work something out with Josh Jacomb. Meihana Grindlay very likely to be Gilbert's replacement.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders Lean on Youth for Crusaders Clash
Injuries, especially among experienced players, continue to plague the Highlanders, and on the eve of their DHL Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders, they have lost wing Jonah Nareki to a torn meniscus.
Article here with a couple of interesting pieces of info - Adam Lennox is seen as a player of the future for the highlanders. Which presumably means Hastie is gone next season.
JJ mentions Nareki will be given some time off to get ready for the 2026 super rugby season. Which to me indicates he’s been re signed.
I reckon there could be four halfbacks in the squad with Lennox also offering some availability to the outside backs
Looking at what we (hopefully) have signed up I don't envisage four halfbacks, simply because it would put too much of a squeeze on what we can do with the rest of the backline. If Hastie is your fourth rated halfback, you might as well get a third fullback instead.
We need to be careful about cutting several contracts short. Hastie is still under contract for next year.
From what I hear, we are well under our spending cap. If we have three halfbacks on the books, then there is no harm in cutting Hastie. What this probably speaks to, is the abominable decisions in giving promising, but hardly world-beating youngsters three-year contracts.
It is a bad look cutting a whole lot of contracts early from a reputation perspective. In terms of Hastie. He hasn't performed poorly. The team needs to look like it is a good safe environment landing spot foe players. Culling guys may spook players.
Interesting @Grooter says about trying to get Jacomb out of the second year of his Chiefs contract. I know you were the lad who dropped the departing players a few days before it was published last year. So some good runs on the board. Hopefully this reflects a push from NZR to be a bit of a guiding hand, and have a decent spread of players.
Grindlay would be a decent pick up. Good that Nareki is sticking around. The Nareki, Tangitau and JRK back three with Hurley being a 30 minute man is one I'm keen to see next year.
