Highlanders 2026
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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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Holland and Lavanini. The twin towers.
Provides a serious upgrade to the engine room being able to rotate him with Dunshea as well. Like Frugby said, ideal stop gap while Tengblad gets ready for super rugby.
Keep those yellows to a minimum and it’s happy days.
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Awesome signing, the Landers are starting to look real good for 2026. Let's hope they can secure Jacomb as well.
Looking like a top 6 team for sure.
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What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
That is genuinely a good team
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