Highlanders 2025
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In positions -
Highlanders squad for 2025
Props: Ethan de Groot, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Bartlett, Saula Ma'u, Rohan Wingham, Sosefo Kautai
Hookers: Soane Vikena, Jack Taylor, Henry Bell
Locks: Fabian Holland, Mitch Dunshea, Oliver Haig
Loose forwards: Will Stodart, Sean Withy, TK Howden, Hayden Michaels, Nikora Broughton, Hugh Renton, Lui Naeata, Veveni Lasaqa
Halfbacks: Folau Fakatava, James Arscott, Nathan Hastie
First five-eighths: Cameron Millar, Ajay Faleafaga, Taine Robinson
Midfielders: Jake Te Hiwi, Josh Whaanga, Tanielu Tele'a, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Sam Gilbert
Outside backs: Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Michael Manson, Finn Hurley, Jonah Lowe, Caleb TangitauIns: Soane Vikena, Sosefo Kautai, Rohan Wingham, Josh Bartlett, Will Stodart, TK Howden, Lui Naeata, Veveni Lasaqa, Taine Robinson, Josh Whaanga, Michael Manson, Finn Hurley, Caleb Tangitau
Outs: Jermaine Ainsley, Ayden Johnstone, Ricky Jackson, Will Tucker, Pari Pari Parkinson, Max Hicks, Billy Harmon, Tom Sanders, Rhys Patchell, Josh Timu, Martin Bogado -
We have a lot of blindside flankers
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Some players not named yet that I wouldn’t be mad seeing named very soon.
- Isaac Hutchinson
- Jone Rova
- Callum Harkin
With JRK out we need a fullback/wing and Hutchinson fills that need.
Rova would add to midfield depth which is quite often an injured position for us. As I said in the crusader thread he’s still young with plenty of talent. Can play 12 and 13.
Harkin would be an outside chance but we need a 3rd 10. As far as we know we only have Millar and Faleafaga. Definitely wouldn’t be mad if we landed him.
Otago wise, if Hastie is gone I hope Dylan Pledger is the one who has replaced him.
@Landers92 I am not sold on Hutchinson just yet. I thought he looked ineffective on the wing and besides that one outstanding game he had 15, I thought he still had a lot of developing to do. At this stage he looks about Josh McKay level to me.
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We have a lot of blindside flankers
@SouthernMann and two locks ...
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We have a lot of blindside flankers
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
We have a lot of blindside flankers
If history is any judge they'll be AB starters soon
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Okay so first thing on Hastie, could be a similar case to Luca Inch last year, where he gets cut later on… there is definitely something there, perhaps the miscommunication is that he is definitely gone for 2026, but will hold my hands up and will say I was wrong.
Bartlett in for Johnstone a nice one. All in all pack looks good, but the backline honks a little. Robinson a nice pickup I reckon.
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@Landers92 I am not sold on Hutchinson just yet. I thought he looked ineffective on the wing and besides that one outstanding game he had 15, I thought he still had a lot of developing to do. At this stage he looks about Josh McKay level to me.
@Crazy-Horse said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 I am not sold on Hutchinson just yet. I thought he looked ineffective on the wing and besides that one outstanding game he had 15, I thought he still had a lot of developing to do. At this stage he looks about Josh McKay level to me.
Yeah I agree not ready yet IMO.
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We have a lot of blindside flankers
@SouthernMann hope the highlanders coaches have’nt been blindsided by these selections ..
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All I’ll say is Rome wasn’t built in a day. 100% have done well to solidify the front row, great loose forward mix. Calculated risk at lock, but at SR Level, tend to think we could get away with someone like Stodart at lock so long as Holland/Dunshea are next to them.
Midfield looks better I think, and outside backs also. The last few squad members are always going to be a little poor, this is an improved squad… a lot hinges on JRK though, fullback could be a real Achilles heel, so will be keen to see what injury cover we have there
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we've definitely got the stock for old school JJ ball...ie strong up front, hit those rucks, get them to commit or go backwards
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Okay so first thing on Hastie, could be a similar case to Luca Inch last year, where he gets cut later on… there is definitely something there, perhaps the miscommunication is that he is definitely gone for 2026, but will hold my hands up and will say I was wrong.
Bartlett in for Johnstone a nice one. All in all pack looks good, but the backline honks a little. Robinson a nice pickup I reckon.
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@frugby interesting comparison. What actually happened to Luca Inch? I heard he withdraw from the squad but was suprised to have never heard from him again. Including not seeing him at Ta$man. Was there an off field incident?
@handa457 yeah, just seems to have disappeared
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Naeata is the selection that just really confuses me. Especially not having a third genuine locks in the squad. Which sugessts any of Haig, Howden, Naeata and Stodart will have time from 50 - 80 mins at lock. While they will also be required to start some games. Surely we could habe just picked up someone like Hugo Plummer as a safe option. Instead of looking to go all in with the four loose forwards option. It isn't like Dunshea and Holland are injury free players.
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And a commercial story on the Highlanders by one of the best reporters in NZ ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360483433/highlanders-applies-liquidate-sponsor-over-120000-payment
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jeez, thats awkward....not exactly high profile (i recognised them)...but that seems like a lot of money
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I was feeling confident when JJ got announced as coach but this squad has completely knocked that out of me. Is Dunedin so unappealing that no decent players want to move there?
