The Silver Fern

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

This whole Pledger thing has me thinking about contract renewals because for the first time in a while we have loads of talent actually worth keeping hold of. All very well bringing in new guys, but hard to achieve anything if they don't stick around.

I'd like to see extensions for Holland, Dunshea, Fakatava, Tele'a, JRK, Nareki and Tavatavanawai all secured before we start next season. Reckon the first two will be easy, and JRK at his age should be relatively straight forward too. The others are a bit more complex.

Fakatava's future will depend on how the rest of this year goes... with the rate ABs halfbacks are dropping, he might just get a chance, and if he grasps it, then obviously he is back in the frame and will want to stay. This is however unlikely, and at this stage I expect him to leave at the end of next season as one of the ultimate what if players.

Tele'a is off-contract, so this is a real priority... reckon this is probably a case of no news is good news, because most of the players leaving have their futures sorted by now, so I'd assume they've signed him. Hopefully announced soon.

Nareki and Tavatavanawai will both be 27 when next season starts, so sort of that age for wingers... not sure they'll be in any rush with Tavatavanawai particularly, though he isn't heavily reliant on pace so he might age okay... he himself may want to head off-shore though. Nareki I think has all the ball-playing skills to suggest he could move into centre as he ages, so would be really keen to see him re-signed.

I'd fully expect one of the wingers to go, if not both. Tavatavanawai has said in a recent article he will re-evaluate after next season. Nareki I reckon will be gone after next year. I reckon Caleb Tangitau is the best winger we have signed since we nabbed Naholo from the Blues. I fully expect he will be the first winger written down by the end of the season. If we lose them both we might see a year with J Whaanga or Hurley as a winger while we wait for Kiseki Fifita, Kyan Rangitutia or Josh Augistine to get up to speed.
WIth halfback, I don't care which one of Arscott ot Fakatava leaves at the end of next year. One just has to for Pledger to come in.
Dunshea needs to be kept around for another couple of years. Josh Tengblad seems like a long-termer to play alongside Holland. He is massive at 2.04M. Will be a couple of years away. Should be getting to play provincial rugby next year. We need Dunshea to be around until Tengblad is ready. Aho is a possibility and so is big Reuben Palmer. Neither of which are over 2M though.
Let's just keep Tele'a on a year by year basis. Midfield is a big problem for us.

Midfield is a big problem, but I think Tele'a to be fair was very good at centre, and easily is the best available option. Need to consider giving these guys contract security too.

@SouthernMann said in QF - Brumbies v Highlanders:

@KiwiMurph said in QF - Brumbies v Highlanders:

You need to put things in perspective

Highlanders had very young 10s - missing by fair their best midfield back, missing by far their best 8 in Renton.

Teams struggle to win in Canberra. They were undefeated there all season.

100%. No issue with saying we gave it good bloody go. Then in the second half, the team with several international players at home ran over the top of us. Compare the two teams and about five of our guys would make their team.

Bang on mate.

Incredibly tough to watch at the time and I let it get the better of me but take a few steps back and let the result for a bit and you do have to remind yourself of the bigger picture. Did bloody well to be there and to be honest, I can’t imagine many of us saw us finishing 6th once the slump started on the Aussie tour.

All eyes on the future, 2 or 3 solid signing and another year in the jersey for a lot of the young boys and we should expect a similar(if not better) table finish but hopefully more convincingly and also have some closer loses. The loses we had against NZ sides really got away from us so if we could close that gap and really push for 2026 then I’d be over the moon.

Huge emphasis on bigger picture.

@Canes4life

Impressive Haka

@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders v Drua:

Why was Faleafaga dropped earlier in the season? He seemed to be playing pretty well and then he was out of the 23 altogether with Millar eventually taking over. Was there an injury to someone?

im not sure it was so much dropped as our 3rd choice 10 (as he started the season) rotated out when our first choice 10 was available again

@Frank said in Blues v Highlanders:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

One of the best moments of the game for me (as an Akira fan) was watching him smash a Clan forward backwards, get up and drive through the ruck and then steal the ball. His work clearing bodies at the ruck this year has been top drawer.

Huge workrate, as normal.

What do you think Foster and (possibly Razor) see as his drawbacks?

It's hard to answer, as was said above his workrate has consistently been above a player like Frizzell who the coaches seemed to love. At the height of "he's lazy" he was often playing 80mins, and the last defender on the line on breaks, our main maul defender, etc. Never agreed with the laziness call.

The head patting, giving lip, probably doesn't help how he's perceived, but it's extremely rare for him to be penalised for that. And one of my favourite players was Sean Fitzpatrick, and AI isn't in the same league at being annoying as he was. At least I've missing him having his ear bitten in complete frustration.

He's not been helped with coaches putting him wide to make use of his handling and running skills against the backs. With Cotter keeping him tight he's been shining. Big defender, good in the lineout, covers two positions and has great link play.

Could be his year.

@Damo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@nzzp said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Just saw the final try by the Crusaders. Interesting as was talking about it in the previous game - if refs want to call 'tackle', the ball carrier should not be able to continue forward. Players get released and crib a few metres - or in the case below, score a try.

@Damo you reffed, thoughts on this? Looked very very weird to me; I think a comp-wide interpretation of either calling maul when the attacking player's mate joins, or cracking down hard on cribbing metres would be a good solution. Or do both!

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1cqjcwi/controversial_final_try_for_the_crusaders_vs_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I think it is an unusual situation. I did not think it was a mail, because there was not a player from the ball carriers team attached (from memory - I could be wrong). The tacklers ought to have released earlier, but when they got the call to release they did so. Should the ball carrier be able to use the momentum to then go over the line and score?

Personally I think not but per the laws it was probably correct.

I am of view that if a player is reaching out to score the defenders should not have to release to allow the try. As per the laws as written this is not the current position.

I add I have not reffed for 3 years so I am not up to date with the current interpretations/trends.

I should have clicked the link..

I think the tackle was completed before the players joined so it couldn't be a maul.

I think it is an unusual situation but I can't fault the referee for the decision.

@Machpants said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

MP 15 been very good

He’s David Havili’s brother. William Havili is the best player in the MP backline this year in the absence of their stars they lost to the Highlanders (Tavatavanawai) and Crusaders (Aumua). The MP forwards have been a bit better this year but they’ve lacked a killer punch in the backs that they had with Aumua & Tavatavanawai. If only those guys had this year’s MP forwards giving them front-foot ball, MP would’ve had a few more wins.

@Bones

add in the 'bad passes' maybe?

That was 13 (Highlanders) v 12

@African-Monkey said in Reds v Highlanders:

@Landers92 Lol it's rich coming from Blues fans when we were in the same situation a few years back.

I thought he'd be a reds fan these days? Hence the re-emergence from nowhere and delight.

@antipodean I'm going from this year's form, he's been one of the best players for the Brumbies and one of the top fullbacks in the comp. Wright's screwed up plenty of times in the past but is this the year he's finally matured? Who knows but I'd have him in the mix for sure.

Darby Lancaster is another young gun winger playing really well for the Rebels. He could also be in the mix. The Wallabies aren't short of outside back options.

Lakia, Iose and um ... Lomax in his 100th game

But a number of others would have been worthy too. Great situation to be in when a few years back it was in some games Savea and sometimes Barrett and no one else

@cgrant said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@Dan54
Tosi is the one who has stepped up very significantly this year. Last year, he could not scrum. Now, he is a beast at scrum time. And he is very effective in the loose, making the hard yards and he also has good hands. He is the second best THP in NZ, IMO. I would be delighted to see him get a call for the ABs.

Couldn't agree more mate!

@Kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

@frugby i saw it as he arrived at the same time as someone else who just happened to be further back so he was put offside by his own player, i think if he was the only one there it would have been fine, so yellow if we'd had penalties/warning in the lead up but if neither a penalty and a warning maybe

I think though, the referee is saying that he has illegally slowed the ball down after a line break. Considering location on the field, by rule that is a fair yellow card.

The better question, as you say is whether he actually came in from the side. As I say, probably just. Sort of came in on the 45 and crept around, which sometimes you'll get away with, but generally not after a fast break, as the referee's always seem to decide that you were never onside, even if the ruck moves after you are already on the ball.

Highlanders 73-10

They're into the 5th/6th payoff

@Bones said in Highlanders v Brumbies:

@frugby said in Highlanders v Brumbies:

Certainly in the past, I think that has been the weakness of his game compared to say Cane?

I seriously think you've been watching someone else and confusing them for Harmon. The only noticeable thing about Harmon when he first hit the scene was his support play and running.

Have too agree, hard running was often the first thing i listed under his name

@gt12 how did the Sam Gilbert slander work out for you 😉

All jokes aside, hard fought win. Think we should be glad to take that win and get home to regroup and take on the brumbies next week. As someone in the season thread suggested, Expect a couple changes to freshen up. I just hope we stick with Patchell as it is definitely working, injecting Ajay in late has also looked good the last 2 weeks.

We are in a pretty decent place, better than I thought we would be after 3 weeks anyway. Promising start to the season is nice for a change!

Darry "looks like medial ligament, didn't look good"

I love how he sells this dummy so well Broughton gets double teamed, compete stitch up!

Any injuries, more importantly