Highlanders 2026
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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
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Few guys sitting on the fringes who I’d love to see in the Wider Training group. One each of the midfielders, props, loose forwards and locks get full contracts. Others options for wider training group probably gets
- Rohan Wingham / Jack Sexton / Finley Brewis
- Dylan Eti / Will Tucker / Taii Cribb
- Cooper Flanders / Fletcher Anderson
- Nic Shearer
- Josh Timu / Felitoni Peni / Reesjan Pasetoa / Lima Sopoanga.
- Vereniki Tikisolomone / Michael Manson
Plus the Academy players
- Shaun Kempton
- Josh Tengblad
- Mika Muliania
- Tayne Hervey
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Few guys sitting on the fringes who I’d love to see in the Wider Training group. One each of the midfielders, props, loose forwards and locks get full contracts. Others options for wider training group probably gets
- Rohan Wingham / Jack Sexton / Finley Brewis
- Dylan Eti / Will Tucker / Taii Cribb
- Cooper Flanders / Fletcher Anderson
- Nic Shearer
- Josh Timu / Felitoni Peni / Reesjan Pasetoa / Lima Sopoanga.
- Vereniki Tikisolomone / Michael Manson
Plus the Academy players
- Shaun Kempton
- Josh Tengblad
- Mika Muliania
- Tayne Hervey
Best to just think about players 1 - 38 first.
I'd be very surprised if we double back to some of the guys you have listed.
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Irish Paul dips his toe into the Jacomb rumour.
All fairly similar to what @frugby came in with a few days ago here.Some of his points
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Stating neither the Chiefs or the Landers want to comment publicly
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Players Assn not involved yet
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The Chiefs have no depth under Mckenzie if Jacomb leaves
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The Landers have a vert vacant 10 jersey
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That Jacomb turned down a Japanese contract
On the whole there is a debate around best for player v best for club while acknowledging a contract is in place.
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@Smudge said in Highlanders 2026:
Didn't have this on the Landers bingo card but ODT reporting that Tomas Lavanini has signed on, with quotes from JJ in the story, so it must be confirmed. Can't see it on Instagram or the Highlanders site.
Has the story gone up? Or is it one that is sitting in the can getting ready to have them hit go on?
Certainly not one anyone would have expected for the bingo card as you say
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@Smudge said in Highlanders 2026:
Didn't have this on the Landers bingo card but ODT reporting that Tomas Lavanini has signed on, with quotes from JJ in the story, so it must be confirmed. Can't see it on Instagram or the Highlanders site.
Check those places at 8am
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And there it is. Up on the members page. Locked and loaded. Hopefully he isn't a card magnet
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