Otago 2025
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Paul Dwyer believes Coltman is back. Solana is already in Southland. Fischli going south too. Lepionka a Southland aligned player too. Dwyer reckons Bob Martin being courted back from Australia. Gilbert staying for NPC. Te Hiwi should be available for the NPC? Hurley to return to club rugby in the next couple of weeks.
Here is the squad I think we are roughly tracking to:
A one lolofie
Henry bell
Liam Coltman
Moana takataka
Ben Lopas
Rohan Wingham
Salu Ma'u
George Bower
Abraham PoleFabian Holland
Will Stodart
Oli Haig
Quentin Holland?
Will Tucker - seems likelyHarry Taylor
Lucas Casey
Max Ratcliffe
Christian Lio-Willie
Konrad ToleafoaNathan Hastie
Dylan Pledger
Bob MartinCam Millar
Rique Miln/TUJ
Jake Te Hiwi
Josh Whaanga
Sam Gilbert
Josh Timu?Jeremiah Asi
Jona Nareki
Kyan Rangitutia
Fin Hurley
Sam Nemac-Vial?
A Nother outside back -
Hearing Hurley has retweaked his quad injury, not sure of the severity yet though … tbc
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Hearing Hurley has retweaked his quad injury, not sure of the severity yet though … tbc
@CtownCowboy said in Otago 2025:
Hearing Hurley has retweaked his quad injury, not sure of the severity yet though … tbc
That'd be disappointing. I was told by someone last weekend he was looking good for a return in a couple of weeks. Kid needs to be back on the field.
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A few thoughts
- Surley if Will Tucker is locked in at the Canes he should be with Otago this season?
- What happened with Ale Aho? Highlanders high performance programme, fast tracked into NPC. Waratahs contract. Then suddenly midway through the super rugby season he's playing club rugby in Christchurch. Can anyone help me understand what went wrong? And where he's off too next?
- With Fabian Holland potentially in the All Blacks. How the hell did we not lock down Tengblad?
- How Aione Lolife gone in club rugby this year? He dosn't seem to factor into Highlanders plans with the rise of Kempton and probably has Mcewan, Coltman and Bell ahead of him at Otago. Can't head south either given the logjam of hookers there too.
- Is Josh Timu still playing? I haven't followed club rugby this season. Feel like he's been made of glass since 2020. Similarly has Tom Sanders retired?
- Is Waisake still floating around Dunedin? Know he got an NPC contract a year or two back and immediately got injured. Would he still be a chance to make this squad?
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A few thoughts
- Surley if Will Tucker is locked in at the Canes he should be with Otago this season?
- What happened with Ale Aho? Highlanders high performance programme, fast tracked into NPC. Waratahs contract. Then suddenly midway through the super rugby season he's playing club rugby in Christchurch. Can anyone help me understand what went wrong? And where he's off too next?
- With Fabian Holland potentially in the All Blacks. How the hell did we not lock down Tengblad?
- How Aione Lolife gone in club rugby this year? He dosn't seem to factor into Highlanders plans with the rise of Kempton and probably has Mcewan, Coltman and Bell ahead of him at Otago. Can't head south either given the logjam of hookers there too.
- Is Josh Timu still playing? I haven't followed club rugby this season. Feel like he's been made of glass since 2020. Similarly has Tom Sanders retired?
- Is Waisake still floating around Dunedin? Know he got an NPC contract a year or two back and immediately got injured. Would he still be a chance to make this squad?
@handa457 said in Otago 2025:
A few thoughts
- Surley if Will Tucker is locked in at the Canes he should be with Otago this season?
- What happened with Ale Aho? Highlanders high performance programme, fast tracked into NPC. Waratahs contract. Then suddenly midway through the super rugby season he's playing club rugby in Christchurch. Can anyone help me understand what went wrong? And where he's off too next?
- With Fabian Holland potentially in the All Blacks. How the hell did we not lock down Tengblad?
- How Aione Lolife gone in club rugby this year? He dosn't seem to factor into Highlanders plans with the rise of Kempton and probably has Mcewan, Coltman and Bell ahead of him at Otago. Can't head south either given the logjam of hookers there too.
- Is Josh Timu still playing? I haven't followed club rugby this season. Feel like he's been made of glass since 2020. Similarly has Tom Sanders retired?
- Is Waisake still floating around Dunedin? Know he got an NPC contract a year or two back and immediately got injured. Would he still be a chance to make this squad?
Timu is running around for Southern in the midfield, would expect him to be named in the squad again.
Tom Sanders has vanished.
Not a chance with Waisake. He only comes off the bench every now and then for Harbour. His knee is buggered.
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The biggest benefit of Waisake Naholo is being a constant at Harbour Rugby Club. Especially around guys who would remember him as the legend he was when he was at his best for the Highlanders.
What I have also been told is Marty Banks is proving to be a heck of a cosch at club level. A heck of a man motivator.
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The biggest benefit of Waisake Naholo is being a constant at Harbour Rugby Club. Especially around guys who would remember him as the legend he was when he was at his best for the Highlanders.
What I have also been told is Marty Banks is proving to be a heck of a cosch at club level. A heck of a man motivator.
@SouthernMann said in Otago 2025:
The biggest benefit of Waisake Naholo is being a constant at Harbour Rugby Club. Especially around guys who would remember him as the legend he was when he was at his best for the Highlanders.
What I have also been told is Marty Banks is proving to be a heck of a cosch at club level. A heck of a man motivator.
Could definitely see a world where in five years B Smith is Landers coach, and Banks is the attack coach.
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Sam Nemec-Vial is currently injured but should be back before club season finishes (fingers crossed) Timu will be back
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Otago coaching team confirmed.
Head coach - Mark Brown
Back & Attack coach - Ryan Bambry
Forwards and Set Piece coach - Will Henry
Defence coach - Lee Allen
Back & Skills coach - Mitchell Scott -
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
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anyone got the Mark Browns history?
@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
Not a household name but I found this was the best information I could find when he was first named. Should give you an idea.
Dunedin man. Played Otago B’s then took off overseas. Coached Canterbury age grade then co coached Canterbury with Rueben Thorne. Those are the key parts.
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cheers
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Apparently he isn't based in Dunedin yet.
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anyone got the Mark Browns history?
@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.
@Chris said in Otago 2025:
@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.
Now now, I know Reuben Thorne is a protected species in Canterbury land but Mark can’t take all the blame
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@Chris said in Otago 2025:
@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.
Now now, I know Reuben Thorne is a protected species in Canterbury land but Mark can’t take all the blame
@Landers92 said in Otago 2025:
@Chris said in Otago 2025:
@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.
Now now, I know Reuben Thorne is a protected species in Canterbury land but Mark can’t take all the blame
I wasn’t talking about Thorne he was shit as well.
Someone asked about Browns record and it was answered Brown was poor.
I have talked to people who were coached by Brown I was not given a great response . -
@Landers92 said in Otago 2025:
@Chris said in Otago 2025:
@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:
anyone got the Mark Browns history?
He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.
Now now, I know Reuben Thorne is a protected species in Canterbury land but Mark can’t take all the blame
I wasn’t talking about Thorne he was shit as well.
Someone asked about Browns record and it was answered Brown was poor.
I have talked to people who were coached by Brown I was not given a great response .@Chris haha I’m only kidding around mate.
Put it this way though, he can’t be worse than Donnelly.
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@Chris haha I’m only kidding around mate.
Put it this way though, he can’t be worse than Donnelly.
@Landers92 said in Otago 2025:
@Chris haha I’m only kidding around mate.
Put it this way though, he can’t be worse than Donnelly.
Yeah no idea how he will go in a different enviroment a change maybe good for him.
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@frugby said in Otago 2025:
Max Ratcliffe has been signed for the upcoming season.
for those of us out the the region, good? bad?
obvious will google but in the interest of some chat
