Highlanders 2026
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Real hit the ground running type of draw.
Back to back home games against last year's finalists. Then off to Brizzy for a 30+ degree day against the Reds. What plays in our favour is those three teams will have plenty of guys on the northern tours.
Always think a draw is what you make it and it is a really hard comp. But, jeez. Need to have a fully fit squad come the start of round 1. Could easily be 0/3 after three rounds.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
Real hit the ground running type of draw.
Back to back home games against last year's finalists. Then off to Brizzy for a 30+ degree day against the Reds. What plays in our favour is those three teams will have plenty of guys on the northern tours.
Always think a draw is what you make it and it is a really hard comp. But, jeez. Need to have a fully fit squad come the start of round 1. Could easily be 0/3 after three rounds.
Seriously tough draw. There aren’t any “easy” back to back games. The second half of it is pretty tough. Brumbies, Blues away, Moana in chch, Drua in Fiji, Waratahs at home, then Chiefs and Hurricanes away.
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I think we all get sucked in every year. Every team plays about the same amount of home and away games, we play everyone once, and most NZ teams twice, that doesn't really change year to year.
I'd argue it is actually better off getting the better NZ teams out the way early when their ABs are still warming into it... easy to forget how good the vibes were after we knocked off the Blues in Round 2.
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Landers are interested in Lucas Casey - possibly have already offered him a contract.
This is good to hear - if nothing else our recruitment looks to have significantly improved, so even if JJ can't spark them into life, whoever steps in would have a good squad to work with.
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Lucas Casey and Dylan Pledger very impressive again tonight
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Pledger is very small, but I agree, there is a lot to like about his game. Hopefully he doesn't end up getting rag dolled out of games once he starts playing Super.
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann Pasitoa can play 10 and kicks goals not sure what JJ has in mind for Tito Harris
Pasitoa was meant to be the next thing at 10 in Qld when playing 1st XV, he did look very good at that level as did a kid Parata that came over and got a few games for Ta$man who played in same comp. I used to go follow there GPS rugby and watched these kids a fair bit, Pasitoa if I recall was at Nudgee college, I used to follow Southport to all these schools(just because it was rugby). They never quite made step up as many hoped.
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@Crazy-Horse listed as the same height as Aaron Smith. Only just turned 20 years old, carry on with the gym work and he will be just fine
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Hearing the Jacomb signing is official
No clue how reliable the source is tho…Have had an update on this - not yet.
Jacomb wants it, Highlanders want it, NZR backing the move, but the Chiefs are proving quite difficult to deal with.
They are the only thing holding the deal up.
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@frugby I'm not surprised the chiefs are against it I'm pretty sure Trask is off to Japan, so in a scenario where D Mac was to get injured and Jacomb isn't around anymore their 10 would be god knows? Actually sure old champion Lima would be keen to stay in Hamilton year round
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How good from the mighty stags!!
Have Moana inked Faletoi Peni? Or do we still have a chance at that machine…? -
@upthelanders seen Facebook comments saying he's Moana bound. Fair play to him. the other stags 12 well currently winger Harvey is definitely a future Lander down the line talented and tough
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@Grooter said in Highlanders 2026:
@upthelanders seen Facebook comments saying he's Moana bound. Fair play to him. the other stags 12 well currently winger Harvey is definitely a future Lander down the line talented and tough
Had his best game yet, he's tough, particularly in defence (Harvey).
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@Landers92 given Fakatava just found out he’s seventh in line for the all blacks. And how little contracts seem to mean. Wonder if Shearer takes his position in the squad in 2027?
Obviously not expecting him to be forced out. But he may have a clause about all black selection in his contract beyond next season.
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Nice intel around the Jacomb situation @frugby . While I can understand the Chiefs hiding their ground. There is something to be said about not keeping a player who doesn't want to be in your set-up. Who would rather be somewhere else.
With the Chiefs holding firm in not wanting to release him. It does lead to the question; what happens if the deal can't be made. Do we have a back up option? Cam Millar or Taine Robinson at 10 will be a big stumbling block. If that is what we are left with again. Lima Sopoaga can't be our back up option.
Pulling in Nic Shearer is sensible. Has been one of the form halfbacks of the comp. I wonder of Folau is kicking himself re-signing. Him being at best 7th choice is an absolute pisstake now. Heck, he probably isn't even 7th choice.
What has been really impressive has been the form of our guys. A huge number of the best players in most positions have been our guys during the NPC. Sure, most other teams' best players are in black. But, I'm stoked to see how well our lads have developed. Not just the Otago/Southland lads either. Lasaqa, Tangitau, JRK and Solomon have all been top notch for their provinces.
Hoping we see a fair few lads make the AB XV squad. Jack Taylor talked on a podcast recently about how the AB coaches advised him to put on weight while balancing the need to maintain how explosive he can be with the ball. He then talked about how JJ outlined the starting v bench roles. That the bench is about bringing impact.
What cpuld make Peni an option if available is that is could easily swap in/out for Jim. Similar skillset. May just lack the top end explosive speed that Jim has over 10m.
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Shearer is also a class 10 and would defiantly be able to cover it at NPC level if required. Kids like a Swiss army knife
