Highlanders 2025
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I'm not sure us sending you Jacomb, who we do want, and getting a half back, who you don't want, makes for a very good deal for us.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Assuming Lennox is signed next season, I'm guessing JJ feels that Tangitau, Manson, Lowe, and Nareki can cover wing. With Te Hiwi, Whaanga, Big Jim, Kneepkens, and Lennox as backup options in a pinch (for example, Hurley at fullback and Kneepkens shifting to wing). Te Hiwi covered wing this season for half a game. Depending on the mix maybe Filimone gets the final wing spot if we do have one available / don't recruit another loose forward.
Given TUJ is off contract at the end of next year and will be 28 or 29, you'd have to assume he'll head overseas. While Telea is presently 50/50 on staying or going, I think Grindlay makes a lot of sense. Te Hiwi has yet to kick on, and there's no guarantee we keep him post-2026. If that is the case, suddenly for 2027 you're potentially looking at a Whaanga–Big Jim combo with a raw young Tayne Hervey on the bench.
Lowe's form has been one of the biggest turn arounds I can recall in recent years of a player no one rated. Given he's our second best try scorer for the season and he clearly loves the deep south (and a long term stable contract) then I'd give him another couple of years. He's probably a great squad player and in a pinch can cover midfield too.
I'd want to leave at least one outside back spot open for the NPC. See which random guy turns up and rips it up. There will be one. I really want to see Manson show great defensive improvement during the NPC. His pace is just too handy to ignore. Whether it is Rangitutia down in Dunedin or someone out of Counties, BoP or Ta$man who knows. Interested to see what they do with Harvey next year. A lot of faith in Whaanga, and interested to see whether the Landers have been burnt by the likes of Michaels, Hastie, Te Hiwi and others by easily dishing put long-term deals.
@gt12 McKenzie re-signed for four more years. As it stands that is Jacomb until he is 28. If he is seen as our best youngish 10, being stuck behind McKenzie until he is 28 isn't great for his career. But, fair Hastie for Jacomb isn't the best deal. Just good for NZ Rugby.
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@cliff said in Highlanders 2025:
@gt12 they should give us ratumaituvuki kneepkens or tangitau
Your bench 10 for our best outside backs? When you have Kyren Taumoefolau, Lerory Carter, Narawa and ETS. I think you're good.
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Jacomb is on the verge…. Watch this space
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@cliff said in Highlanders 2025:
@gt12 they should give us ratumaituvuki kneepkens or tangitau
Your bench 10 for our best outside backs? When you have Kyren Taumoefolau, Lerory Carter, Narawa and ETS. I think you're good.
Wasn't Poihipi ahead of Jacomb last year?
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@SouthernMann think it's good players like Brodie McAlister, TK Howden & pending Jacomb have the foresight to ask about moving elsewhere for better gametime. Hypothetical if the shoe was on the other foot and e.g. Umaga Jensen saw an opportunity at Moana I would hope the landers would hear him out.
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@SouthernMann The problem is that Trask is always injured so there is no other backup to DMac. The only way I see this happening is if Cashmore comes back to the Chiefs.
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That Lennox, Jacomb combo for Taranaki is lethal, plus how could I forget JRK there too 👀
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
That Lennox, Jacomb combo for Taranaki is lethal, plus how could I forget JRK there too 👀
Just watch Lennox and JRK sign for the Chiefs ahead of next season.
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@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2025:
Jacomb is on the verge…. Watch this space
How credible is this? Or is it something you saw on Family Guy?
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Our depth at Prop is very poor.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2025:
I'll admit that for the competition it would be good to see Jacomb at the landers, and he fits their timeline. If they get him and make a couple of other moves (especially securing locks), I would say fans have plenty to look forward to.
Locks we will probably just add Tengblad. Will be waiting and see as to whether Dunshea returns. Otherwise we will probably maintain Stoddart at Haig as locks as well. Who both do a decent job.
Jacomb could be a massive plus if we can land him.
There will be space for at least a couple of pops and a new hooker? potentially. Props are in high demand. Hard to get high level ones.
Eight is a bit of a concern around having a primary ball carrier. A couple of wild cards could be Lucas Casey or Konrad Toleafoa. Might get a fair bit of game time for Otago if Razor selects his boy Lio-Willie.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Lucas Casey
Malachi Wrampling Alec might be our best long term prospect at eight. Though the young fella at the Crusaders Xavier Safalio could be worth tempting south end of 2026.
At tighthead Bennet Kumeroa, Mason Tupea, Hampdahn Tuipolotu and Siale Lauaki are all worth taking a look at if we want to develop someone. Which given Sefo Kautai and Saula Ma'au are both over 25, makes sense we have a young buck in our back pocket.
Loosehead prop is the single biggest recruitment problem we face. Josh Bartlett is a great find, but probably needs a few years to really develop. Outside of the injury plagued Finley Brewis, and Pouri Rakete Stones (who's 27 and unlikely to head south). There's no one off contract who remotely fits the bill. And we need experience in that position. Ayden Johnstone would be an obivous fit - but damned if I know what happened too him. It's like he dropped off the face of the earth.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Lucas Casey
Malachi Wrampling Alec might be our best long term prospect at eight. Though the young fella at the Crusaders Xavier Safalio could be worth tempting south end of 2026.
At tighthead Bennet Kumeroa, Mason Tupea, Hampdahn Tuipolotu and Siale Lauaki are all worth taking a look at if we want to develop someone. Which given Sefo Kautai and Saula Ma'au are both over 25, makes sense we have a young buck in our back pocket.
Loosehead prop is the single biggest recruitment problem we face. Josh Bartlett is a great find, but probably needs a few years to really develop. Outside of the injury plagued Finley Brewis, and Pouri Rakete Stones (who's 27 and unlikely to head south). There's no one off contract who remotely fits the bill. And we need experience in that position. Ayden Johnstone would be an obivous fit - but damned if I know what happened too him. It's like he dropped off the face of the earth.
Wrampling-Alec would be great.
Casey however, is right in front of the nose of the Landers. I'd hate to see him become another Lio-Willie. I think he's in for a stormer this NPC.
Hamden Tuipolotu has been checked out before. Played Bravehearts last year. I just can't see us easily lurning players down. Especially lads to potentially be third steingers behind de Groot and Bartlett. There are a couple of young props in the Otago/Southland set up at loosehead. Tihhthead is a bit of a problem if we are giving up on Wingham.
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@SouthernMann I don't know much about Lucas Casey. What's the situation with him? Realistially is he super rugby material for 2026?
