Highlanders 2026
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann You’re missing the point. As we have seen with Taylor, it takes the young guys time. Can’t keep contracting children.
If you can get the best in class young guy, make the exception, but otherwise just wait. O’Reilly isn’t the answer as the third choice. Guys like that are no good for squad stability.
I'm not missing the point. We are perfectly capable of throwing out other guys who aren’t up to standard. Yet when it is Henry Bell. We stand steadfastly behind him, apparently.
You asked me to list hookers who are better than him. Which I did. Also noting that Vikena is off contract in 2026. If he needs a rocket and doesn't get renewed. We may need to replace two. Surely we would be better off starting with moving Bell on. With Coltman coming back, who knows how much time he gets watching NPC rather than playing.
I think the hooker market may be more favourable for us next year. As of now, the only thing you could probably do, is contract the second or third best U20 hooker, and I’m just not sure there is a need to do that.
We’ve been burned the last two years by having a front row that is too young, JJ will look to rectify that. Don’t be surprised if we look to sign older props.
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@frugby haven’t heard anything else around 10 sorry. The Lima stuff was about a month ago but was told not to share it around then. Bit of a coincidence the news around that went quiet when Jacombs name came out. FWIW, I’ve only heard Jacombs name mentioned on here.
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I've read the Jacomb name in one speculatory ODT article as well. But, who knows seems from a few stories that reporters lurk around on here and fern rumours pop up in news articles
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:
..... FWIW, I’ve only heard Jacombs name mentioned on here.
thats could be pretty damning
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@frugby Agree with your comment. It takes time to "grow" front rowers, particularly props. They generally don't reach their peak til mid to late 20s. Its crazy to expect the young guns to be the finished product at this point.
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@Tackle-and-Drive said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby Agree with your comment. It takes time to "grow" front rowers, particularly props. They generally don't reach their peak til mid to late 20s. Its crazy to expect the young guns to be the finished product at this point.
Props, locks and first fives are the most in-demand players in world rugby. Everyone is after them.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
@Tackle-and-Drive said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby Agree with your comment. It takes time to "grow" front rowers, particularly props. They generally don't reach their peak til mid to late 20s. Its crazy to expect the young guns to be the finished product at this point.
Props, locks and first fives are the most in-demand players in world rugby. Everyone is after them.
And yet props are paid the least, by quite a margin I think.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones really? since being involved with a club i've heard several versions of a saying, "first name on a squad list is tight head prop...second name on the squad list is reserve tight head prop"
Like the saying the most important people in hospitals are nurses. Yet, a long way from the highest paid in the health system.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones really? since being involved with a club i've heard several versions of a saying, "first name on a squad list is tight head prop...second name on the squad list is reserve tight head prop"
Like the saying the most important people in hospitals are nurses. Yet, a long way from the highest paid in the health system.
probably a fair comparison
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@Bones I think you'll find the opposite is true. Particularly in the northern hemisphere.
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@Tackle-and-Drive said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones I think you'll find the opposite is true. Particularly in the northern hemisphere.
And just where will I find that?
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@handa457 Have heard nothing on the front row - other than that Bell is supposedly re-signed (I guess he in theory could have his contract chopped like a few others, but seems unlikely)
I wasn't aware of any rumours regarding Fiti Sa, and would be surprised if there was anything in them. Nothing on the loose forwards either.
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@handa457 that was me, but discard that now as my source confirmed the Chiefs have no intentions on letting him leave. He was a big coup for them to steal from the Saders and they see him as an AB lock in the next few years.
They also have his younger brother Jayden on their books now too after he has aligned with Taranaki permanently
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@Fredsaua12 bit of a log jam up at the chiefs in the locking department. Understand contracting might prevent him leaving this year, but being stuck behind Lord, Vaii and Ah Koi would be pretty limiting for the young fella. Even if Lord of made of glass.
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I'm not too worried about locking stocks. Between Holland, Dunshea and Tengblad you have strong primary locks. Stodart and Haig are big enough as well. Not a problematic spot. We just can't run Holland into the ground.
