Highlanders 2025
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
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@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
I'd hope that someone like Casey pushes himself into contention. I have high hopes for him come NPC time.
I reckon we will see Cribb back. Might even have four specialist locks next year.
DLB is an interesting one. Seems he could just be kept on ice. May be we may need you. May be we might find someone better and shuffle him on. Same goes with Lowe.
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@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
Know where?
He seems like a wasted talent thus far, he was a huge signing and has been a failure for the Landers, and may make it harder to attract guys from Auckland schoolboy in the future... -
@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
Know where?
He seems like a wasted talent thus far, he was a huge signing and has been a failure for the Landers, and may make it harder to attract guys from Auckland schoolboy in the future...Why? If players are looking at a guy like Faleafaga not succeeding then basing their decision off that then says more about them than anything. If he was good enough he would have pushed on. It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t but that’s footy. I’m sure every franchise has had similar outcomes with bringing young players in from outside the region.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
Know where?
He seems like a wasted talent thus far, he was a huge signing and has been a failure for the Landers, and may make it harder to attract guys from Auckland schoolboy in the future...Why? If players are looking at a guy like Faleafaga not succeeding then basing their decision off that then says more about them than anything. If he was good enough he would have pushed on. It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t but that’s footy. I’m sure every franchise has had similar outcomes with bringing young players in from outside the region.
U19s (star) and U20s representative, announced as a huge signing, has gone nowhere and had very few chances.
You can feel free to disagree, but if it were a student from my 1st XV program I'd be asking why he hasn't had more opportunities.
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@gt12 fair enough. He’s definitely talented and a guy I can see going elsewhere and succeeding. For one reason or another it just hasn’t worked out. Would have liked for him to hang around for another year. A guy you can see going to Japan and ripping up.
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Will post in here after discussions in the Highlanders vs Chiefs match thread.
I asked a contact about the Ajay Faleafaga leaving news that @frugby posted about at the awards night. By all accounts he has signed on to play in Japan, couldn’t disclose which club but sounds like it’s a done deal. Unsure what that means for NPC with Otago.
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@gt12 signing an 18 yr old to a super contract always comes with a risk. we've seen the last decade the players that find it easier thriving in dunedin have actually already had a year or 2 in the Blues pro ranks, Fekitoa, Naholo, Ratumaitavuki kneepkens & Tangitau. I can see why Joseph is aiming for Jacomb already a 2 year super player and has legitimate success at npc level.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Will post in here after discussions in the Highlanders vs Chiefs match thread.
I asked a contact about the Ajay Faleafaga leaving news that @frugby posted about at the awards night. By all accounts he has signed on to play in Japan, couldn’t disclose which club but sounds like it’s a done deal. Unsure what that means for NPC with Otago.
Faleafaga to Japan was a done deal back in about March (possibly even earlier). I would assume he is still in for Otago though.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2025:
Has Bell been injured or does JJ simply much prefer Jack Taylor?
Henry Bell last played club footy at the start of May. Jack Taylor seems well locked in as the no1. Has come on well this year.
Taylor has had a very strong end to the season just quietly. Seems to have found another gear.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
Know where?
He seems like a wasted talent thus far, he was a huge signing and has been a failure for the Landers, and may make it harder to attract guys from Auckland schoolboy in the future...Without going into too much detail, seems he just has never settled in Dunedin... he also has just been a massive letdown on the field. He has moments of absolute quality, but his general decision making sucks.
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@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
Know where?
He seems like a wasted talent thus far, he was a huge signing and has been a failure for the Landers, and may make it harder to attract guys from Auckland schoolboy in the future...Without going into too much detail, seems he just has never settled in Dunedin... he also has just been a massive letdown on the field. He has moments of absolute quality, but his general decision making sucks.
Not to have a go at you, but for discussions sake, does he get any good coaching? He’s surrounded by average AF 10s, the coaching team is forward- based, and he’s has all of 7 -10 chances at super level (almost all off the bench). For a guy with a very high potential level it may be him, but it also feels like the Landers were the eirst possible landing space.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@frugby said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
I'm going down to this game, looking forward to a decent performance. And having a skin full after a days drinking.
Farewell match for at least DLB and Gilbert?
Question marks over whether Fillimone and Lowe are coming back? Same with Tele'a? Loft may be surplus to requirements next year.
Everyone else will be back.
At the awards dinner the only two they confirmed as leaving were Gilbert and Faleafaga.
You’d assume DLB won’t be back, but I guess this is recognition of the fact he isn’t retiring, so in theory could be - I’d have thought he would want a Landers farewell though considering the amount of games he has played.
The fact Tele’a hasn’t been announced as leaving suggests to me he hasn’t signed elsewhere which should mean he is back.
Lowe was probably unwanted, but might have done enough to get a renewal… doubt we’ll see Loft or Filimone back. Loft is basically last man standing in the pack.
Know where?
He seems like a wasted talent thus far, he was a huge signing and has been a failure for the Landers, and may make it harder to attract guys from Auckland schoolboy in the future...Without going into too much detail, seems he just has never settled in Dunedin... he also has just been a massive letdown on the field. He has moments of absolute quality, but his general decision making sucks.
Not to have a go at you, but for discussions sake, does he get any good coaching? He’s surrounded by average AF 10s, the coaching team is forward- based, and he’s has all of 7 -10 chances at super level (almost all off the bench). For a guy with a very high potential level it may be him, but it also feels like the Landers were the eirst possible landing space.
Tony Brown has been around camp all season and lives in Dunedin…
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@handa457 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@gt12 There were some stories going around end of last year / early pre season that sounded like he had some significant attitude and coach-ability problems. Potentially if my memory serves me right that emerged particularly in NPC last year?
That would make sense, if they are moving him on.
Not to be too much of a dick about it, but the landers aren't exactly landing spot no. 1 for highly rated young 10s, so I find it interesting.
