Highlanders 2021
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A bad start to 2021
Just saw the highlanders announce Dillon Hunt won’t be back next year, gutted
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Does that mean he's playing for the Blues? Chiefs maybe?
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@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2021:
Does that mean he's playing for the Blues? Chiefs maybe?
I would assume Blues because he's worked with Coventry before. He's the coach the signed him for Harbour a couple of years ago
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@Yeetyaah Blues
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I wonder whether the Highlanders are going to sign Lamborn to replace Hunt? Lamborn, although from Hawke's Bay, will be playing for Southland again in this year's Mitre 10 Cup.
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@Stargazer nice replacement. He’s a North Otago boy 💪🏻
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North Harbour captain returns home to sign for the Blues
Outstanding North Harbour loose forward Dillon Hunt will return home to Auckland to join the Blues in Super Rugby after four seasons with the Highlanders.
Blues
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@macmanus Haha, I see him as a Hawke's Bay man, because that's where he moved to at age 16, played age grade rugby and started his Mitre 10 Cup career and where his wife's family is from. By the way, Tony Lamborn was born in Ashburton (not North Otago), although he played a season for North Otago.
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wow, the Blues are going to have a good bunch of loosies next year, will be sad if Hunt fades into the back ground...i mean, the current blues loosies have got lots of plaudits this year
I would have had him as captain if he'd stayed with the landers
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how good is this Tom Florence dude?
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@Kiwiwomble Florence has come through the NZ age group teams but was more a 6. I'm not sure he will even start for Taranaki with the other loose forward options.
He's a ginga so will certainly stand out.
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@Kiwiwomble also Slade McDowall...
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@macmanus im an old boy so i'd love Slade to perform....but ive never really been that impressed, will keep an eye on him this year
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@Yeetyaah Billy Harmon?
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@Yeetyaah Brett Cameron? :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye:
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cant imagine its even in the Hunt realm of big signing
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Goodhue
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@Stargazer if it means he isn't in the Chiefs then I'll back it
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we dont need him as long as walden is still on the books
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If I had to guess a few names, I'd say Sione Havili (7), George Bower (prop, who plays for Otago) and Manasa Mataele (wing). Less likely, but possible Dallas McLeod (12) and Brett Cameron (10/15).
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By the way, Brett Cameron isn't too far-fetched, if - for example - Bryn Gatland decides not to re-sign with the Landers and to move to the Chiefs.
Edited to add that I hope for Highlanders fans that it doesn't happen. IMO Cameron isn't SR level and, if it was up to me, he wouldn't get a new SR contract at all.
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@Stargazer i dont think we want another fighting for a start at 10, not someone we want to lure at least
Koroi is a handy 10 for otago so think hes enough for third choice if gatland leaves
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@Kiwiwomble Koroi might focus on the Olympics if they go ahead next year.
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@Stargazer good point
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Isaiah Punivai could join his brother maybe? Although I don't know if he's been capped by the Crusaders in order to count.
Dallas McLeod should be our first cab off the rank if we didn't have Ennor and Goodhue playing, so hopefully he sticks around.
I think Bower is a strong possibility. Sione Havili'i also.
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Meanwhile, going the other way, Shannon Frizzell??
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I'd be a bit annoyed if the Crusaders didn't keep a few of the more recent locally produced players around. We've notably lost Retallick, ALB, Alaimalo and Lentjes, and it looks like now a batch to the Highlanders who have McKay (not worried), Gilbert, N Punivai and possibly Will Tucker.
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Mataele,Cameron and Harmon
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@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
Meanwhile, going the other way, Shannon Frizzell??
Where have you heard that?
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I heard something similar around Frizell
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@Chris Usurping the extremely hyped Cullen Grace?
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@Tim Grace maybe to 8
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@Chris Cameron may as well stay at the Crusaders. He wouldn't start at the Highlanders either.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
Meanwhile, going the other way, Shannon Frizzell??
Where have you heard that?
There was some noise around this recently. Makes sense when you become aware of the background to his Tasman and Highlanders contracts, and also as suggested above, Grace may be groomed to play 8 (he started there on Friday for Canterbury).
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@Chris said in Highlanders 2021:
Mataele,Cameron and Harmon
Cameron wouldn't be missed, but I don't see how he fits at the Highlanders.
Harmon would be missed and this would annoy me.
Mataele has had his moments but also A LOT of injury issues and with the depth we have out wide, may be surplus to requirements.
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Harmon would be a great addition with the loss of Hunt. He's the openside that did a great job at the canes when Ardie was out, right? Or have I mixed him up?
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@Bones Yup Bill Harmon has never played for the Canes.
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@shark Paea ?
