Highlanders 2026
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
I really like Josh Bartlett. He just needs time in the saddle.
You’d think next SR season Bartlett will get plenty of opportunities to claim that bench spot. With Aidan Ross now gone, Bartlett is getting lots of minutes for the Steamers and he’s looked good so far, to me at least. He brings a lot of energy and mobility, which are good traits to get from your bench props.
It’s still up in the air whether he’s up to it at the next level at scrum and maul time (he hasn’t been a liability so far, is all I can really say) but what’s stood out to me is his speed off the line defensively. He’s making good reads and catching attackers behind the gain line – 3 dominant tackles already in the first two rounds of the NPC, tied for 2nd among loosehead props alongside, funnily enough, Daniel Lienert Brown – which you’d think would be a pleasing sight to Jamie Joseph and David Kidwell, who’ll undoubtedly will want to bring serious line speed in defence next year.
With Aidan Ross gone, Ofa Tu’ungafasi still to come back from a long-term injury and Mafileo probably being in high demand as a potential back-up tighthead at other SR teams, bench loosehead isn’t a position with a lot of experience across NZ SR teams next season. It seems like a good time to give a player like Bartlett a shot and see whether he can make it work.
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@Mauss said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
I really like Josh Bartlett. He just needs time in the saddle.
You’d think next SR season Bartlett will get plenty of opportunities to claim that bench spot. With Aidan Ross now gone, Bartlett is getting lots of minutes for the Steamers and he’s looked good so far, to me at least. He brings a lot of energy and mobility, which are good traits to get from your bench props.
It’s still up in the air whether he’s up to it at the next level at scrum and maul time (he hasn’t been a liability so far, is all I can really say) but what’s stood out to me is his speed off the line defensively. He’s making good reads and catching attackers behind the gain line – 3 dominant tackles already in the first two rounds of the NPC, tied for 2nd among loosehead props alongside, funnily enough, Daniel Lienert Brown – which you’d think would be a pleasing sight to Jamie Joseph and David Kidwell, who’ll undoubtedly will want to bring serious line speed in defence next year.
With Aidan Ross gone, Ofa Tu’ungafasi still to come back from a long-term injury and Mafileo probably being in high demand as a potential back-up tighthead at other SR teams, bench loosehead isn’t a position with a lot of experience across NZ SR teams next season. It seems like a good time to give a player like Bartlett a shot and see whether he can make it work.
Mafileo is signed with the Canes for next year.
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Over the last couple of years we have landed a couple of outside region players that have made a big impact.
2024: JRK and Jim.
2025: Lasaqa and Tangitau.
2026: The big fish we really need to land are Jacomb and Tito-Harris.
Solomon, Tengblad and Pledger are really important. Jacomb and Tito-Harris, however, are lads that can go straight into the matchday and make a big difference. I do expect all three of the young lads to get big minutes during the year too.
First five is a challenge. With Millar/Robinson it doesn't matter the players outside them. We will face the same issues as this year. If land Jacomb, I can see a squad strategy where we run Solomon/Hurley as our bench 10. Potentially with a player like Tito-Harris as the midfield/wing cover off the pine.
In terms of Hayden Michaels' spot. Lucas Casey is the lad I want to see nab that gig.
As it stands.
Prop: Ta'avao replaces either Wingham or DLB. We may see one of the others kept. Or pick up another prop. Sexton out of Southland is a loosehead option.
Lock:Tengblad comes in for the big idiot Naeata. Good riddance.
Michaels out: Likely either Loft or Casey in.
Halfback: Arscott and Hastie out. Pledger and Lennox in.
10: Hopefully Jacomb.
Midfield: TUJ out? Tavatavanawai in. Could be room for one more.
Outside backs: Lowe, Gilbert and potentially Manson out. Replaced by Solomon, Tito-Harris and one other or retain Manson or Lowe?
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
the big idiot Naeata
What's the deal
Probably best not to mention on here
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This came up on my Insta thread.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
This came up on my Insta thread.
Have seen that floating around, not sure I agree with most of those points. Especially the part about the Landers guaranteeing him a starting role, he could move to Dunedin and have a mental breakdown about the cold or something, no one is guaranteed a starting jersey.
It's all very strange when Jacomb turned down the Crusaders to stay at the Chiefs but now he wants to move to the Landers.
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Hoping it will be true. A big missing ingredient for our squad. He probably regrets not making the move to the Crusaders. Especially considering the attention the Crusaders guys got. Jacomb was stuck on the bench.
The most pleasing thing for a Highlanders perspective is the performances of our guys. JRK, Lasaqa, Pledger, Casey (hopefully), Nareki, Jack Taylor, Ma'u and Withy. All these guys have been dominant at this level.
Sure, they are not playing in the ABs like other franchises. They are looking like they are a level up at this grade. Promising to see.
Plus the development of Mika Muliaina! What is there not to love about that.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
This came up on my Insta thread.
A lot of the things that poster mentioned are from this particular article below which I feel someone may have already posted in here.
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@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2026:
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
This came up on my Insta thread.
Have seen that floating around, not sure I agree with most of those points. Especially the part about the Landers guaranteeing him a starting role, he could move to Dunedin and have a mental breakdown about the cold or something, no one is guaranteed a starting jersey.
It's all very strange when Jacomb turned down the Crusaders to stay at the Chiefs but now he wants to move to the Landers.
We did guarantee someone a bench spot this year apparently...
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
This came up on my Insta thread.
A lot of the things that poster mentioned are from this particular article below which I feel someone may have already posted in here.
Page had been absent for about two years, surprised to see the comeback.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
Hoping it will be true. A big missing ingredient for our squad. He probably regrets not making the move to the Crusaders. Especially considering the attention the Crusaders guys got. Jacomb was stuck on the bench.
The most pleasing thing for a Highlanders perspective is the performances of our guys. JRK, Lasaqa, Pledger, Casey (hopefully), Nareki, Jack Taylor, Ma'u and Withy. All these guys have been dominant at this level.
Sure, they are not playing in the ABs like other franchises. They are looking like they are a level up at this grade. Promising to see.
Plus the development of Mika Muliaina! What is there not to love about that.
Looking at the talent being developed down here, couldn't be more excited. The 2010s were a lean decade, so it's good to see some proper things happening.
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