Highlanders 2025
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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
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@SBW1 said in Highlanders 2025:
It would be cool to get some of these guys back in New Zealand.
If they are good enough.
There isn't much about Morgan's recent history that says he is anything close to the player we need.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@SBW1 said in Highlanders 2025:
It would be cool to get some of these guys back in New Zealand.
If they are good enough.
There isn't much about Morgan's recent history that says he is anything close to the player we need.
Lol Morgan isn’t the guy. He was limited at best when at the Canes. Don’t sign him Highlanders.
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Manson knocked out in Southland club rugby yesterday.
Club Rugby: Manson’s sickening end to Blues cameo
The Southland Tribune's club rugby coverage is brought to you thanks to the support of Regional Ford Gore & Balclutha.
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@Smudge said in Highlanders 2025:
Manson knocked out in Southland club rugby yesterday.
Club Rugby: Manson’s sickening end to Blues cameo
The Southland Tribune's club rugby coverage is brought to you thanks to the support of Regional Ford Gore & Balclutha.
On a side note. Terrible to read the passing of former Southland Times reporter Jamie Searle. Was all about the racing industry and Southland as a whole. Did a bit of work with Jamie about seven years ago. Was a very kind bloke.
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The other mail this week, is that the four Highlanders being looked at closely by the ABs are EDG, Holland, JRK & Tangitau. As Nogusta (I think) has mentioned, the surgery is under direction of higher ups, who see him playing a part this year. Injuries clearly have JRK in the frame.
Jimmy possibly being lined up for the AUS/NZ Babaas. No mention of Fakatava, which I hope was just an oversight, but sadly I doubt it.
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@frugby I personally think Fakatava should be in contention for the 3rd spot either him or Hotham, don't mind which. Justin Marshall keeps advocating for Kyle Preston in the media, Preston to me actually doesn't suit the role of a bench halfback, his wonky boxkicks will bite his side 1 day
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@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2025:
If Preston hadn't scored all those tries at the start of the season, he wouldn't even be in the conversation at all.
Yep still living off his debut.
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Would love to see Tangitau and Lasaqa extended aswell. Would be great for the core of this team with Holland, Tavatavanawi, Kneepkans, Tangitau and Lasaqa. Obviously EDG and Fakatava aswell.
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Do we 100% know the contract status with JRK..?
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
Would love to see Tangitau and Lasaqa extended aswell. Would be great for the core of this team with Holland, Tavatavanawi, Kneepkans, Tangitau and Lasaqa. Obviously EDG and Fakatava aswell.
we all know Tangitau is being released to go back to auckland
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
Would love to see Tangitau and Lasaqa extended aswell. Would be great for the core of this team with Holland, Tavatavanawi, Kneepkans, Tangitau and Lasaqa. Obviously EDG and Fakatava aswell.
The more guys re-sign the more likely other guys are to re-sign. If the big Dutchman for example decided to bugger off to the Hurricanes or Blues, that'd be catastrophic for the retention of players.
There needs to be an almost siege mentality of us v them. Fuck em. Let's stick together and show them. If the internal culture is good, and the belief is there it should flow on.
Of the players we desperately need to keep, Tangitau remains the biggest flight risk. Him becoming an All Black, pre-season and a hot start the 2026 will play a big role in keeping him. If we start well, with him playing well, and the Blues start poorly I'd back us to keep him. If we shit the cot early on. It may be hard.
Reports are JRK is staying. You look at other franchises, and most will be comfortable with their fullback. Same with Lasaqa with opensides.
We just got ourselves in a real shit position half a dozen years ago. Now we are starting from scratch. The goal now is to find missing pieces of the puzzle. The big one is finding a 10 who can consistently play at this level. We do not have one.
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@SouthernMann Let’s pray these Josh Jacomb rumours are true…
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Yeah. The big missing piece of the puzzle.
Here is Paul Dwyer doing a bit of a wrap on the season from the awards.
ODT Landers Chat: 2025 Highlanders Awards
ODT Landers Chat was at the Highlanders awards night at the Otago Business Centre and caught up with all the action.
