Highlanders 2025
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2025:
I'll admit that for the competition it would be good to see Jacomb at the landers, and he fits their timeline. If they get him and make a couple of other moves (especially securing locks), I would say fans have plenty to look forward to.
Locks we will probably just add Tengblad. Will be waiting and see as to whether Dunshea returns. Otherwise we will probably maintain Stoddart at Haig as locks as well. Who both do a decent job.
Jacomb could be a massive plus if we can land him.
There will be space for at least a couple of pops and a new hooker? potentially. Props are in high demand. Hard to get high level ones.
Eight is a bit of a concern around having a primary ball carrier. A couple of wild cards could be Lucas Casey or Konrad Toleafoa. Might get a fair bit of game time for Otago if Razor selects his boy Lio-Willie.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Lucas Casey
Malachi Wrampling Alec might be our best long term prospect at eight. Though the young fella at the Crusaders Xavier Safalio could be worth tempting south end of 2026.
At tighthead Bennet Kumeroa, Mason Tupea, Hampdahn Tuipolotu and Siale Lauaki are all worth taking a look at if we want to develop someone. Which given Sefo Kautai and Saula Ma'au are both over 25, makes sense we have a young buck in our back pocket.
Loosehead prop is the single biggest recruitment problem we face. Josh Bartlett is a great find, but probably needs a few years to really develop. Outside of the injury plagued Finley Brewis, and Pouri Rakete Stones (who's 27 and unlikely to head south). There's no one off contract who remotely fits the bill. And we need experience in that position. Ayden Johnstone would be an obivous fit - but damned if I know what happened too him. It's like he dropped off the face of the earth.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Lucas Casey
Malachi Wrampling Alec might be our best long term prospect at eight. Though the young fella at the Crusaders Xavier Safalio could be worth tempting south end of 2026.
At tighthead Bennet Kumeroa, Mason Tupea, Hampdahn Tuipolotu and Siale Lauaki are all worth taking a look at if we want to develop someone. Which given Sefo Kautai and Saula Ma'au are both over 25, makes sense we have a young buck in our back pocket.
Loosehead prop is the single biggest recruitment problem we face. Josh Bartlett is a great find, but probably needs a few years to really develop. Outside of the injury plagued Finley Brewis, and Pouri Rakete Stones (who's 27 and unlikely to head south). There's no one off contract who remotely fits the bill. And we need experience in that position. Ayden Johnstone would be an obivous fit - but damned if I know what happened too him. It's like he dropped off the face of the earth.
Wrampling-Alec would be great.
Casey however, is right in front of the nose of the Landers. I'd hate to see him become another Lio-Willie. I think he's in for a stormer this NPC.
Hamden Tuipolotu has been checked out before. Played Bravehearts last year. I just can't see us easily lurning players down. Especially lads to potentially be third steingers behind de Groot and Bartlett. There are a couple of young props in the Otago/Southland set up at loosehead. Tihhthead is a bit of a problem if we are giving up on Wingham.
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@SouthernMann I don't know much about Lucas Casey. What's the situation with him? Realistially is he super rugby material for 2026?
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I don't know much about Lucas Casey. What's the situation with him? Realistially is he super rugby material for 2026?
Made his debut for Otago last year. Is the most dominant player in club rugby this year. Has just been signed up by Otago for two years. Is an explosive type of loosie. Very fast.
The Kaik try has Casey running in the lead up. Albeit it was against the worst team in the comp.
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@reprobate said in Highlanders 2025:
Jeez I wouldn't say no to Rakete Stones. He's a good prop, and 27 isn't that old.
Yeah I find it a bit odd that 24 is too young and 27 is too old.
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A losing bonus point against the Chiefs next week and we may avoid the wooden spoon.
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Ref was awful tonight, but four missed penalties is very costly in a big game like today. Hope these Josh Jacob rumours are true… How about De Groot and Ma’u playing 70 minutes, huge from them. Need to keep Lasaqa around next season 💪🏾
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Not sure if he is returning to Super Rugby in New Zealand or not, would be a good addition to the Highlanders at 10.
Fly-half Morgan to leave Ulster after one season
Ulster confirm that New Zealand-born fly-half Aidan Morgan will leave the club this summer "by mutual consent".
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
It won’t rain forever. We have picked up more losing bonus points (7), than any team has since 2017.
Only the Waratahs have ever got 8, and that was in an 18 game season…
How did the Waratahs go the following season?
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@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
It won’t rain forever. We have picked up more losing bonus points (7), than any team has since 2017.
Only the Waratahs have ever got 8, and that was in an 18 game season…
How did the Waratahs go the following season?
Came third. If it is the 16/17 seasons. The years were in those stupid conference formats though. Another year they went from 13th to second.
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Just a bit of a reality check around Morgan. He is currently the third string 10 for one of the worst teams in the URC. There might be more to it. But on the basis of where he sits in a poor URC side, the argument doesn't appear compelling for him to be the man to turn our fortunes around.
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Hearing that Dunshea has been resigned , on the condition that he sits on a bike all pre season lol
