Hurricanes 2025

Crazy Horse

@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2025:

Hohepa and Eneri are both dud signings. I don't see them even pushing for the top 23.

Tis why Harkin not signing is disappointing as he would contend for a spot imo.

Players like Harkin missing out is even more frustrating for me given O'Connor at the Saders. NZ is struggling to find 10s. We should be developing them now, not giving spots to overseas has beens.

foobaNZ

I'm hoping he isn't picked up elsewhere tbh. If he's WTG he may get in the squad at some point.

frugby

My guess with Harkin would be like Jacomb last year, all the contract spots were already filled, so he will have a WTG contract, with a view of using him as a full squad member. Likely to be the Canes you would think.

mikey07

@Steven-Harris That’s interesting maybe the appeal of likely getting more gametime appealed.

mikey07

Hohepa and Enari Really? Would of even taken the Canterbury 10 then him really guttered for Harkin.

Canes4life

@mikey07 said in Hurricanes 2025:

Hohepa and Enari Really? Would of even taken the Canterbury 10 then him really guttered for Harkin.

Lol Hohepa, Enari, Tucker and Taula are surely going to boost crowd numbers.

mikey07

@Canes4life BUT BUT there such game breakers..

foobaNZ

Harkin hasn't shown up elsewhere yet, so, with Cameron named, but being out all season as I understand it, I wonder if he's in the squad via the WTG?

mikey07

@foobaNZ Really hope so he’s better then Hohepa I mean was t he at 12 most of the season for counties.

foobaNZ

Hohepa was shite for the Canes, shite for the Saders, and somehow got a contract lol. Weird selection that one.

foobaNZ

Canes4life can you post up your 23? You're usually on the money.

I think we're a bit underwhelmed with the additions, but I think we still put out a really good 15, and 23 most weeks.

Canes4life

@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2025:

Canes4life can you post up your 23? You're usually on the money.

I think we're a bit underwhelmed with the additions, but I think we still put out a really good 15, and 23 most weeks.

I think our top 23 is quality enough, the issue will be if we get injuries along the way which is highly likely.

I reckon our 23 to play the Saders in week 1 will be reminiscent of the below:

X Numia
A Aumua
T Lomax
Z Gallagher
I Walker-Leawere
C Delany
P Lakai
D Flanders (Iose will still be returning from injury)
C Roigard
H Godfrey / L Cashmore
K Naholo
R Higgins
B Proctor
K Banks
R Love
J Devery
T Mafileo
P Tosi
B Shields
D Kirifi
J Vijoen
H Godfrey / L Cashmore
B Sullivan

foobaNZ

Does anyone know if they name the wider training groups formally anywhere? Can't find em.

Bovidae

@foobaNZ They tend to name them eventually. Laidlaw said that Sione Halalilo was the loose forward cover in the Stuff interview yesterday.

sparky

It's a bit of a bugger that the Hurricnaes don't have First Five.

Canes4life

@sparky said in Hurricanes 2025:

It's a bit of a bugger that the Hurricnaes don't have First Five.

Let's hope Godfrey or Cashmore can step up. I can't really see Hohepa getting much game time unless injuries strike and then he can f off for next year and hopefully Harkin can come into the picture.

canefan

@sparky said in Hurricanes 2025:

It's a bit of a bugger that the Hurricnaes don't have First Five.

Another season where we have a very good team potentially let down by our first five

Canes4life

@canefan said in Hurricanes 2025:

@sparky said in Hurricanes 2025:

It's a bit of a bugger that the Hurricnaes don't have First Five.

Another season where we have a very good team potentially let down by our first five

Frustrating aye, arguably one of the best we've looked from 1-9 for a long time and then we have pretty average / unproven options at 10. Cashmore might be the perfect guy though, we don't necessarily need someone flashy with Roigard at 9 who will take a lot of pressure off from a decision-making point of view. All Cashmore needs to do is guide the team around the park, something he's been pretty good at for BOP. We've certainly got enough x-factor from 11-15 to call on so it's not all doom and gloom. Injuries will be the undoing of us again though with some worrying options deep in the squad, players that haven't performed after having plenty of time to prove themselves.

If you look at that top 23 above we've had 9 players involved with the ABs this year in some capacity (including Kirifi and Walker-Leawere), we've also had 5 players from that 23 involved in the AB XV setup. (6 if you include Brayden Iose who would have been selected if it wasn't for injury). There's certainly enough experience in that 23 to do the business next year.

I just hope we don't do a Rob Penney, we need to back Cashmore or Godfrey to be our starting 10 and give them a good run in that jersey, instead of chopping and changing every week, that certainly didn't help the Crusader's fortunes last year.

Darren

On the whole pretty happy. A few weird selections and a couple that should be there.
May not have had a choice with Preston. Feel for Harkin, who I would have had starting NPC. No need to keep beating that dead horse I suppose..

Canes4life

Interesting to note that the Canes tried signing Moses Leo as well before he signed for the Melbourne Storm.

The Silver Fern

Hurricanes 2025