Highlanders 2025
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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.
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@ARHS @Steven-Harris @upthelanders
50/50
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@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@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.
Very few 10s become successful. I liked what I saw of Faleafaga when he played well.
It is always disappointing when a player that young doesn't live up to his perceived potential. I highly doubt Millar will amount to what some think either.
This is the problem around NZ Rugby where Super is a competition where kids are brought in very early. Sink or swim.
With Faleafaga, if he didn't settle in Dunedin. I can't see Japan being much different.
As for young 10s. We have one of the most highly regarded in the country coming through with Mika Muliaina.
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Tangitau is the big fish. I reckon this has been driven out of NZR to lock him down long-term. Don't want to have one of their future wingers getting big offers from overseas nearing the end of what is probably a relatively small contract.
It also wants to see contracts and timings wrapped up together. National, super and NPC. Gets messy otherwise.
I'd think they also don't want the Landers sitting down the bottom of the table. Not a good look for it. As a national body it needs the teams under its oversight to be successful. It needs to good players staying there..have a bad season. Fine. Don't have three or four in a row. Don't be full of guys who wouldn't get a look in elsewhere.
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Have heard that the highlanders have enquired about Fiti Sa from the Chiefs. Unsure on how long he’s currently contracted or if they would release him but if true could be a handy long term player alongside Holland
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@gt12 said in Highlanders Vs Chiefs:
@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.
If I was one, they would be. Better than sitting in the stands behind McKenzie + Jacomb, or Love + Harkin + Godfrey, or Kemara + Reihana + O'Connor, or even Beauden + Perofeta.
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@Fredsaua12 said in Highlanders 2025:
Have heard that the highlanders have enquired about Fiti Sa from the Chiefs.
Sa is contracted until 2026. He has only just returned from a long-term injury, and will be part of the succession plan at the Chiefs. Jimmy Tupou is off-contract so you would think that Sa will start to get more opportunities next year. Also doubts how long MSR is around. Surely Tengblad is involved from next season.
