Highlanders 2019 Discussion

[chchfanatic]

If I was the highlanders I’d go after Mitch hunt. Never going to get ahead of Richie M and we have a couple of young guys ( Brett Cameron Fergus Burke) who hopefully will kick on.

[Duluth]

@chchfanatic That would have to be for the 2020 season. He's signed for next year

[SouthernMann]

Forwards Hookers: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Ray Niuia*
Props: Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Tyrel Lomax, Sef Fa’agase*
Locks: Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Jack Whetton*
Loose Forwards: Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Dillon Hunt, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Shannon Frizell, Elliot Dixon

Backs Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Folau Fakatava*
First-Fives: Bryn Gatland*, Josh Ioane, Marty Banks
Midfielders: Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Outside Backs: Waisake Naholo, Tevita Li, Tevita Nabura, Josh McKay, Ben Smith

Appare

[Stargazer]

@southernmann Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, Folau Fakatava!!! Stupid Canes, you've lost that one!

[Chris B.]

@southernmann Marty Banks coming back was well telegraphed, but that is a pretty important pick-up for the Highlanders - if he can stay fit and hasn't lost any of his magic overseas.

Ray Niuia is a decent pick-up from the Mako. He went OK as Makalio's back-up and grew on me as the season went on. Should be a reasonable third hooker.

[Canes4life]

@stargazer FFS. Are you kidding me. Canes are blind.

[Nepia]

@stargazer @Canes4life Awesome! The Canes are idiots.

[SouthernMann]

What is this halfback like? Good long term replacement for Smith?

[Canes4life]

@nepia How many times have they f'd up over the years. The recruiters are out of their league.

[KiwiMurph]

@canes4life It could be worse - you could be the Blues.

[Canes4life]

@kiwimurph This is true, but seriously Judd & Christie instead of Folau - you have to be kidding me. I hope McClutchie doesn't follow suit.

[Number 10]

@southernmann Gonna be a star, man, gonna be a star.

[African Monkey]

Far out 5 loose forwards that have been capped by they ABs and that's without counting Hemopo haha. I assume Dixon will be the one to miss out there? Suprised he's still in NZ rugby tbh..

[Canes4life]

@number-10 Going to be a huge star. Argggggggggggggggggggggggggggh

[Canes4life]

@african-monkey Come on Landers, share the love.

[SouthernMann]

@canes4life we did, you guys now have Gareth Evans running around for you

[Stargazer]

@southernmann Another Hawke's Bay player the Canes overlooked, initially.

[SouthernMann]

@stargazer well he did go straight to Dunedin out of high school. But I'm glad we have gone from Josh Renton to Fakatava as our third and long term halfback

[Canes4life]

@southernmann Hopefully not too long.

[Stargazer]

@southernmann Yep, Evans, straight out of Napier BHS, but was in Hurricanes age grade teams. Canes should have picked him up straight away.