Highlanders 2025
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Any update?
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Yeah I just saw the stories. Says down 14-21 after 2nd third
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theyre not even tweeting updates
i did see 8-9 stories showing the warm up, coming off the bus...and then nothing until the end of the first period@Kiwiwomble they can post highlight videos of the tries, but no regular score updates etc. Go figure
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If anyone wants match/score updates just download the Tribe app. It's 21-14 to Moana after the second period of play. Now into the second half.
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@frugby score?
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@frugby score?
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The Tribe app is still saying it's Highlanders 14 - Moana - 21. Maybe they are struggling to get updates.
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@frugby starter
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.
I disagree. He is the most promising outside back to come out of the south in a long long time. @ploughboy seemed to have some good oil and said he is signed to the Highlanders acadamey. That he turned down other teams to do so. Ideally he wouldn't be on a mission. But we will have to be patient with him.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.
I disagree. He is the most promising outside back to come out of the south in a long long time. @ploughboy seemed to have some good oil and said he is signed to the Highlanders acadamey. That he turned down other teams to do so. Ideally he wouldn't be on a mission. But we will have to be patient with him.
he effectively going to miss 3 seasons.didnt play last season as he was waiting for conformation of his mission and then way for two. Huge risk to his career i would think
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.
I disagree. He is the most promising outside back to come out of the south in a long long time. @ploughboy seemed to have some good oil and said he is signed to the Highlanders acadamey. That he turned down other teams to do so. Ideally he wouldn't be on a mission. But we will have to be patient with him.
he effectively going to miss 3 seasons.didnt play last season as he was waiting for conformation of his mission and then way for two. Huge risk to his career i would think
@ploughboy said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.
I disagree. He is the most promising outside back to come out of the south in a long long time. @ploughboy seemed to have some good oil and said he is signed to the Highlanders acadamey. That he turned down other teams to do so. Ideally he wouldn't be on a mission. But we will have to be patient with him.
he effectively going to miss 3 seasons.didnt play last season as he was waiting for conformation of his mission and then way for two. Huge risk to his career i would think
I really hope he isn't a what if player.
With Manson. Let's get out of the box and put him at fullback!
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@ploughboy said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.
I disagree. He is the most promising outside back to come out of the south in a long long time. @ploughboy seemed to have some good oil and said he is signed to the Highlanders acadamey. That he turned down other teams to do so. Ideally he wouldn't be on a mission. But we will have to be patient with him.
he effectively going to miss 3 seasons.didnt play last season as he was waiting for conformation of his mission and then way for two. Huge risk to his career i would think
I really hope he isn't a what if player.
With Manson. Let's get out of the box and put him at fullback!
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
With Manson. Let's get out of the box and put him at fullback!
Breach of contract.
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Not going to make any judgements until the 2nd round against the Blues. If itâs a cricket score itâs going to be another frustrating season of getting slaughtered by NZ teams. Wonât have the luxury of picking off under strength Aussie teams with the significantly stronger squads they have this year
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A few hopes for the season
Ethan de Groot bounces back. Shows himself as deserving of a starting All Black spot.
No loses to NZ sides by more than 15 points.
Win at least three against NZ sides.
If James Arscott and Fakatava are leaving at the end of the season. Adam Lennox and Dylan Pledger are given gametime.
We have some consistency of selection at fullback while waiting for JRK to return from injury.
One of Manson or Tangitau takes over from Nareki on the left wing.
Oli Haig returns earlier than expected from injury and shoots into AB contention.
We don't get to round five with a massive injury toll playing without de groot, Holland, Haig (already injured), Millar, TUJ/Tele'a.. etc
We know who our no1 hooker is early.
We use the bench to provide impact and pick the guys accordingly.
We play an exciting style of footy and people turn up.
We are more sure about the future of some of the 50/50 guys to know whether they have a future. Guys like Faleafaga (I know some say he is on the outer), Te Hiwi, Michaels, Manson, Gilbert, Robinson, Hurley.
Josh Tengblad makes his debut and handles it well.
We don't have to use Jonah Lowe or Daniel Lienert-Brown.
We finish somewhere between 5th and 8th. With a chance to make the playoffs going into the final week.
Hopefully some realistic goals for the year.
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@SouthernMann Where the fringe players sit will be quite interesting.
I think there is a relatively clear pecking order at prop & lock. We know hooker is open season, but ideally by the end of the year the hope would be there is an established starter., because I would suggest that means one of them is on the fringes of the All Blacks.
Loose forward will be fascinating, particularly how they use Lasaqa. Michaels I get the feeling is on the outer, but you just never know.
Halfback too could be fascinating, because it seems they have five halfbacks training with them. I would suggest considering how highly rated Pledger is, that gives a clue at how Jamie rates the other two behind Fakatava (who has supposedly re-signed until 2027 though I take that with a grain of salt). Hastie is the one who they tried (unsuccessfully) to get rid of - not Arscott, though I think he is really just viewed as a solid number three. Will Lennox get a game? Will Pledger get a game? Should be fun to follow.
First five, Millar is obviously the starter, but what happens behind him will be interesting. I had heard that Robinson has been brought down with the intention of him being the 2nd choice. I've heard Faleafaga is looking at options in Japan after the Super Rugby season, and unless Millar gets injured I think his chances will be limited. However, what could be interesting is how the shape of the bench effects things. Will Hurley/Gilbert cover 10 on gameday?
Midfielders, the assumption is that Umaga-Jensen and Tele'a will be the starting midfield, but I honestly feel like it is open season here. Would not shock me to see Te Hiwi, Gilbert or Whaanga in there. If we are playing well this should become settled.
The wingers should be fun. I think it is going to be a classic case of competition for places bringing the best out of them. It was notable that Tavatavanawai spent time at centre in the MP game, so don't discount them doing that to get their best players on the park. I think ultimately if all four main wingers play to the best of their abilities, then Tangitau and Tavatavanawai are the starting pair, backed up by Nareki and Manson.
Fullback, I think they are hoping JRK is back middle of the season. This just seems to be the vibe. We'll know what the thinking is on Thursday. If Hurley has impressed on the training ground, then they might chuck him in, but they may decide that they actually have enough x-factor in the backline, and will instead opt for a safer option like Gilbert, which I could understand.
