Highlanders 2024
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that confirms some things
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@Kiwiwomble sorry about that try my best lots happening
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@Kiwiwomble So indeed all three hookers. Dawai is a bit of a surprise to me.
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16 players gooooone is certainly a cleanout.
All of our 2023 hookers, first fives, a lot of squad players who didn't get a lot of game time. Apart from Frizzell, Dickson and of course Smith no one that isn't easily replaceable.
I'm glad they kept CGB around.
Gives us a squad of something like;
15 JRK
14 Bogado (should be continue to improve)
13 PUJ/??
12 Gilbert
11 Nareki
10 ???
9 Fakatava8 Renton
7 Harmon
6 Withy
5 Holland
4 Parkinson
3 Ainsley
2 ??
1 de Groot16 ??
17 DLB/Johnstone
18 Ma'u
19 Tucker/Hicks
20 Haig/Broughton
21 Hastie
22 ??
23 Umaga-Jensen -
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble So indeed all three hookers. Dawai is a bit of a surprise to me.
Dawai just simply wasn't good enough.
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@Stargazer i think i'd just assumed Dawai was gone, had been here a couple of years, no resign, not favoured etc
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@SouthernMann Yeah, I know, but I hadn't seen his name mentioned before.
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@SouthernMann dude!...15-1 16-23 is hurting my eyes!
yeah, very glad CGB is still here, will need a good season to stay any longer though, this was his lifeline
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann Yeah, I know, but I hadn't seen his name mentioned before.
I think most people just had it as a given that he would be leaving.
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@SouthernMann think the reinforcements are coming from the North highlanders fans
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@george33 said in Highlanders 2024:
Looking at that highlanders departure lounge no surprise really most if not all were all ready confirmed
Yeah apart from three guys, there are not any guys you look at and think jeez what the heck are they thinking.
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I'd say the squad news has been good beyond belief. There isn't anyone I'm disappointed is staying, nor anyone I'm realistically sad is leaving. MMT maybe, but never really kicked on, and Broughton and Haig have big futures.
Likewise, PUJ and JRK are arguably the best players which were available who we could have got. This squad makes the playoffs...
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The Highlanders already have youngster Cam Millar on their books, but will again look for an experienced No 10 to guide Millar through the formative years of his career.
Gaps also exist at lock, loose forward and the midfield, where the Highlanders were unsuccessful in their attempts to land both Levi Aumua, who has joined the Crusaders, and Matt Proctor, the former Hurricanes midfielder who has signed for the Melbourne Rebels.
In each of these positions the Highlanders are looking for an experienced operator to complement their younger players, as they had already announced the signings of midfielder Jake Te Hiwi and loose forwards Oliver Haig and Hayden Michaels.
The Highlanders have also retained some older heads such as hard-working loose forward Hugh Renton – one of the standouts of the Super Rugby Pacific campaign – and props Daniel Lienert-Brown and Ayden Johnstone.
Ethan de Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Saula Ma’u and Luca Inch will complete the six-strong group of props for 2024.
Locks Pari Pari Parkinson, Fabian Holland and Will Tucker are also returning, as is No 6/lock Max Hicks, but that quartet will need another body to cope with the inevitable injuries.
A hardened experienced hooker is also on the wish list. The original plan had been to retain one of Andrew Makalio, Rhys Marshall or Leni Apisai, but none of those players had strong enough seasons to warrant a new contract.
The Highlanders will take their time to assess options at hooker and in the midfield, with the need to scour overseas markets showing that the player market is tight, and intensely competitive in New Zealand.
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Had a chat to a mate that’s working for the Landers and I questioned him on the PUJ move and he just sent back a smiley face. He said he has heard of a few more signings like that but couldn’t confirm until they were announced. Watch this space Landers fans.
