Highlanders 2025
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Jeez there is something wrong with us if we keep Henry Bell. With some of the other hooker floating around. Same if the Crusaders get rid of Maonanu. One of the best hookers, on form in the comp.
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@SouthernMann Wild that Bradley Slater, and Moanau both could conceivably not be in the match day 23 of squads next year, but on form this season would be contenders for All Blacks XV.
If Moanau is cut loose Moana Pasifikia could be the right place for him to land.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Wild that Bradley Slater, and Moanau both could conceivably not be in the match day 23 of squads next year, but on form this season would be contenders for All Blacks XV.
If Moanau is cut loose Moana Pasifikia could be the right place for him to land.
I can tell you that the Highlanders tried to get Bradley Slater but he decided to stay up north and by all accounts has decided to go to the Blues.
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Sorry Landers fans but this is too good.
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@Canes4life I'd go see that
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Have been told the Landers have signed a player from the Canes who play 10/15/11/14… would think this is Godfrey or Harkins, unless it is Stanley Solomon
Sounds like Solomon. Plays 10 for Petone, wing for Wellington and is the U20s fullback. Could be a nice pick up.
Reminds me a lot of Hurley. Just slightly bigger.
There is an interesting line in the re-signing of Tangitau and JRK which indicates that any new guys will generally be inexperienced (hopefully except for a 10)
We will look to continue building our roster around a core of emerging talent as we target success in Super Rugby Pacific.”
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 I’ve heard Moananu hasn’t been extended. Believe Taylor, Bell and Letiu are the three for the red and blacks next year.
Imagine the dog fight for him if he becomes available!
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@African-Monkey said in Highlanders 2025:
Moananu
As far as I understand Moananu has re signed this article below was an interview a couple of days ago explaining Christchurch is now his home.
quoted from the article "I've got friends here for life now, with boys I never thought I'd be friends with. Now, they're like my brothers.
"What they always say, when you come down here, you never want to leave and that's happened to me. Canterbury's home for me now."
"It would mean the world, especially not being wanted up north," he said. "There's always that chip on my shoulder, like none of my home teams wanted me and I always took that personally.
Crusaders hooker Ioane Moananu thriving in Super Rugby Pacific move
The South Auckland boy has no regrets about joining the Super Rugby Pacific migration.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Have been told the Landers have signed a player from the Canes who play 10/15/11/14… would think this is Godfrey or Harkins, unless it is Stanley Solomon
Sounds like Solomon. Plays 10 for Petone, wing for Wellington and is the U20s fullback. Could be a nice pick up.
I think long-term Solomon will be a 10 or 15. He ended up on the wing for the 2024 NZ U20s to accommodate other players, but he definitely has the pace to play there.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Have been told the Landers have signed a player from the Canes who play 10/15/11/14… would think this is Godfrey or Harkins, unless it is Stanley Solomon
It will be one of the Petone boys, Tjay Clarke or Stanley Solomon. If it’s Tjay Clarke I will be annoyed, he’s a very good young talent, reminds me of a young Andre Taylor with a better boot.
Was injured a lot of this year unfortunately but has recently been playing 10 for Petone and made his debut over the weekend.
Won’t be Godfrey, and Harkin was only a 10 before this season who doesn’t play on the wing.
If it’s Solomon, he’s electric but my only worry is his size at Super level. However, he’s the sort of player that can rip a team to shreds if given an inch of space due to his pace and elusiveness.
The Canes are stacked with players that can play 10/15, we’ve currently got Harkin, Godfrey, Love, Cameron, Clarke and I’d even throw in Jordie for next year so we can’t keep em all.
Therefore, I’d say it will be Solomon.
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@Canes4life looks like it’s Solomon going by who he follows on Instagram..
Guessing he’s Gilbert’s replacement and if the rumours about Meihana Grindley are true does he replace TUJ?
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life looks like it’s Solomon going by who he follows on Instagram..
Guessing he’s Gilbert’s replacement and if the rumours about Meihana Grindley are true does he replace TUJ?
Is TUJ leaving?
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life looks like it’s Solomon going by who he follows on Instagram..
Guessing he’s Gilbert’s replacement and if the rumours about Meihana Grindley are true does he replace TUJ?
Yeah Solomon's social media footprint is making it very clear about his 2026 plans.
@Canes4life I'm not too worried about his size. He'd be bigger than McKenzie. As well as Hurley.
Not sure about TUJs plans. The Landers and Otago have been quite loyal to him over the last few years though.
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@SouthernMann my record on contracting isn't amazing. But my memory was that conversation on here last summer was that TUJ had signed on for 2025 and 2026.
Though that said if we've picked up Meihana Grindlay then that gives us a very stacked midfield and leaves us a bit thin on outside backs. We've got Big Jim, TUJ, Grindlay, Telea, Te Hiwi and Whaanga covering midfield plus Lowe (who played thirteen for a couple of games off the bench last season).
With Hervey in the wider training group it's hard not to feel we must be losing a midfielder somewhere if we've signed Grindlay.
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