Highlanders 2025
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The Highlanders need this, the Highlanders need that. All we really need is a really good first five and with injury luck, as this young squad gains experience, is comfortably in the top six.
If you dropped McKenzie into this Highlanders team, they’d probably be top six already.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
they’d probably be top six already
not a flex. top 6 in an 11 team comp doesn't need a winning record.
fact is from the start of 2022 the Highlanders are 18-37, and have finished above another NZ team once in those four seasons.
And it's so very hard to see how they get better. Recruiting people to a losing team based down South can't be easy. But more importantly all their players will go home on Monday, and the Highlanders won't see them again until what, November? December?
And because of their form, very few of their players get to spend the next 6 months training with the ABs, they are off to play park football with semi pros. How exactly are they supposed to develop their players? Microsoft Teams? -
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
they’d probably be top six already
not a flex. top 6 in an 11 team comp doesn't need a winning record.
fact is from the start of 2022 the Highlanders are 18-37, and have finished above another NZ team once in those four seasons.
And it's so very hard to see how they get better. Recruiting people to a losing team based down South can't be easy. But more importantly all their players will go home on Monday, and the Highlanders won't see them again until what, November? December?
And because of their form, very few of their players get to spend the next 6 months training with the ABs, they are off to play park football with semi pros. How exactly are they supposed to develop their players? Microsoft Teams?@mariner4life thats the thing that worries me, a coach with a good rep looking to turn things around is the one thing that might attract the right players....but it hasnt worked this year
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
they’d probably be top six already
not a flex. top 6 in an 11 team comp doesn't need a winning record.
fact is from the start of 2022 the Highlanders are 18-37, and have finished above another NZ team once in those four seasons.
And it's so very hard to see how they get better. Recruiting people to a losing team based down South can't be easy. But more importantly all their players will go home on Monday, and the Highlanders won't see them again until what, November? December?
And because of their form, very few of their players get to spend the next 6 months training with the ABs, they are off to play park football with semi pros. How exactly are they supposed to develop their players? Microsoft Teams?@mariner4life said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
they’d probably be top six already
not a flex. top 6 in an 11 team comp doesn't need a winning record.
fact is from the start of 2022 the Highlanders are 18-37, and have finished above another NZ team once in those four seasons.
And it's so very hard to see how they get better. Recruiting people to a losing team based down South can't be easy. But more importantly all their players will go home on Monday, and the Highlanders won't see them again until what, November? December?
And because of their form, very few of their players get to spend the next 6 months training with the ABs, they are off to play park football with semi pros. How exactly are they supposed to develop their players? Microsoft Teams?I'd argue in large parts we already have the talent - they just need time. Things are cyclical. The Highlanders have been shit for back to back cycles, because our recruitment was just downright trash.
Our recruitment over the last two seasons, as a general rule has been very strong. We've brought in Tavatavanawai, Tele'a, Tangitau and JRK from outside the region which is the makings of a very good backline.
In the three years before that we brought in Gregory, Paea, Dawai and Koroi.
In the pack, in de Groot and Holland, you've got two All Blacks, and I think in time Haig and/or Howden develop to that level too. By retaining players, we'll naturally get better.
Have a look at the Chiefs side which went winless in SR Aotearoa.
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JRK and Tangitau both have resigned , both till at least 2027 but one of them till 28 I believe.
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JRK and Tangitau both have resigned , both till at least 2027 but one of them till 28 I believe.
@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2025:
JRK and Tangitau both have resigned , both till at least 2027 but one of them till 28 I believe.
i hope so, those two plus Big Jim and Holland has to be promising enough to attract new guys
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
Damnit I was hoping it would be the hurricanes 15th choice utility back.
Calls us the SPCA. We love a stray
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
Damnit I was hoping it would be the hurricanes 15th choice utility back.
Calls us the SPCA. We love a stray
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
Damnit I was hoping it would be the hurricanes 15th choice utility back.
Calls us the SPCA. We love a stray
Nothing like picking up a world class player that should be playing international level from the canes 3rd XV.
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JRK and Tangitau both have resigned , both till at least 2027 but one of them till 28 I believe.
@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2025:
JRK and Tangitau both have resigned , both till at least 2027 but one of them till 28 I believe.
If you nail Jacomb and get this right...
We might need to nickname you Santa. Don't come often. But always deliver the goods.
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@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2025:
JRK and Tangitau both have resigned , both till at least 2027 but one of them till 28 I believe.
If you nail Jacomb and get this right...
We might need to nickname you Santa. Don't come often. But always deliver the goods.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2025:
JRK and Tangitau both have resigned , both till at least 2027 but one of them till 28 I believe.
If you nail Jacomb and get this right...
We might need to nickname you Santa. Don't come often. But always deliver the goods.
Good on him for always sharing sauce and being very specific about it.
He better bring some good news to the Chiefs at some point....
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Caleb Tangitau not returning to Auckland!
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not only staying in dunedin next year...through till 2028! thats a big extension
thats hugely reassuring, not just the quality of the players we're keeping, theyre happy to commit long term, not just one season extension, all four that have extended have to be pushing for the AB's ad feel Dunedin can get them there
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Caleb Tangitau not returning to Auckland!
@SouthernMann joins Roigard to the Chiefs in the SF transfer rumour Hall of Fame.
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I think this also dispels the rumours that it is a toxic camp. Four very good players all re-signing, who could easily have left if this was the case.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
I think this also dispels the rumours that it is a toxic camp. Four very good players all re-signing, who could easily have left if this was the case.
i hope so, or at very least maybe if there was tension, its has been sorted....or the culprit isn;t coming back?
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
I think this also dispels the rumours that it is a toxic camp. Four very good players all re-signing, who could easily have left if this was the case.
i hope so, or at very least maybe if there was tension, its has been sorted....or the culprit isn;t coming back?
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
I think this also dispels the rumours that it is a toxic camp. Four very good players all re-signing, who could easily have left if this was the case.
i hope so, or at very least maybe if there was tension, its has been sorted....or the culprit isn;t coming back?
There were tensions because guys were frustrated about results, but that is incredibly normal. At no stage was it ‘toxic’.
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I think this also dispels the rumours that it is a toxic camp. Four very good players all re-signing, who could easily have left if this was the case.
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I think this also dispels the rumours that it is a toxic camp. Four very good players all re-signing, who could easily have left if this was the case.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
I think this also dispels the rumours that it is a toxic camp. Four very good players all re-signing, who could easily have left if this was the case.
Alongside Fakatava re-signing five of the key guys all saying we are in for the long-term.
They may grumble about Jake being a hard arse. But he is keeping the guys we need.
