Highlanders 2026
-
Vs starting at 10 all season, it is literally limited opportunity. That doesn't reflect badly on the Chiefs, they played him about an appropriate amount given they have a better 10, and while fine he didn't make every post a winner - on the other hand he did show enough (and during NPC) that he should be a starting 10 for one of the super teams, so it's all good.
The Chiefs should let him go and grab a youngster. All holding onto him does is cover for injury on the positive side. And on the negative side you lose a year in the development of whoever is going to be next when you know it isn't Jacomb, and you piss Jacomb off and I'd imagine piss NZR off stalling his development.
Maybe they should loan him to the landers for 2026 - that way everyone wins and if McKenzie has a bad injury they can bring him back. -
@reprobate said in Highlanders 2026:
The Chiefs should let him go and grab a youngster.
Like who? There isn't a replacement at the same level as him, that's the reason he hasn't been let go early.
-
@Yeetyaah Of course there is nobody on his level, that's why he should be starting for someone.
The point is that you know he's leaving, so the question is 'does he win you the comp next year?' If so, be ruthless at the expense of NZR and keep him if you like. If not have a gamble on someone else who might be worth something and will definitely be worth more than Jacomb to you in 2027.
The Canes have Cameron, Godfrey, Love, Harkin. I'm not really up to speed with the kids around the traps at the moment: Rico Simpson has been shit for Auckland, but he is a kid with promise - and McKenzie is going to play almost 80 in every important game the Chiefs have. -
@reprobate said in Highlanders 2026:
Of course there is nobody on his level
So you see why he hasn't been released early then. It's a strange situation for sure.
-
@reprobate That's the problem. The Chiefs could have asked for player X from the Hurricanes or Crusaders to let Jacomb go. What would have NZR said to that?
-
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
@reprobate That's the problem. The Chiefs could have asked for player X from the Hurricanes or Crusaders to let Jacomb go. What would have NZR said to that?
if NZR really wanted it to happen I'm sure it would have.
-
@Bovidae Look it's not simple, but it seems do-able doesn't it? At least 1, maybe 2 of those Canes sit in the stands - surely being McKenzie's backup and sitting on the bench is better for that player, and it's not a huge loss for the Canes?
Is Simpson contracted at all? -
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:
Spoken to a mate about this Jacomb news and he’s said it’s likely Reesjan Pasitoa has signed the dotted line also but won’t be announced just yet
Having heard TUJ is going offshore, and Peni is off to MP, this would seem to line up.
The only remaining question is the makeup of the loose forwards, and props.
Think that is the backline all sorted.
TUJ heading to Japan.
Meihana Grindley heading to Dunedin. Dunno whether its a full or WTG. -
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/post/1045051 good that my source came in good many months later lol
-
-
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
@reprobate That's the problem. The Chiefs could have asked for player X from the Hurricanes or Crusaders to let Jacomb go. What would have NZR said to that?
I'd be happy if they had asked for Godfrey to be moved on - is a 10/15 so would suit us well and would likely get more opportunities.
As I've said before, we could have asked for Muliana (we should try to fucking sign him anyway) and a stop gap.
Personally speaking, I think this is one area where our rugby is really unprofessional. With central contracting, the NZRU should get involved and help distribute the talent so that teams don't get caught out.
-
@reprobate said in Highlanders 2026:
Maybe they should loan him to the landers for 2026
I like that idea, but is it a thing at Super level? I can't recall it happening before, but I could easily be wrong.
-
@Crazy-Horse said in Highlanders 2026:
@reprobate said in Highlanders 2026:
Maybe they should loan him to the landers for 2026
I like that idea, but is it a thing at Super level? I can't recall it happening before, but I could easily be wrong.
assuming this would be with a recall if the chiefs had injuries?.....if not they might as well just release him
-
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@Crazy-Horse said in Highlanders 2026:
@reprobate said in Highlanders 2026:
Maybe they should loan him to the landers for 2026
I like that idea, but is it a thing at Super level? I can't recall it happening before, but I could easily be wrong.
assuming this would be with a recall if the chiefs had injuries?.....if not they might as well just release him
If we were prepared to loan him, we’d let him go.
If Dmac gets injured game 1, minute 1, Jacomb will start every game for us.
-
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
Personally speaking, I think this is one area where our rugby is really unprofessional. With central contracting, the NZRU should get involved and help distribute the talent so that teams don't get caught out.
Burnt by the Leon MacDonald to Chiefs debacle. Players also have to want to move. Maybe player exchanges will be the norm in the future.
-
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@Crazy-Horse said in Highlanders 2026:
@reprobate said in Highlanders 2026:
Maybe they should loan him to the landers for 2026
I like that idea, but is it a thing at Super level? I can't recall it happening before, but I could easily be wrong.
assuming this would be with a recall if the chiefs had injuries?.....if not they might as well just release him
If we were prepared to loan him, we’d let him go.
kind of what i was getting at
i think in the days of protected players there were loans...but more recently i think ive only heard of it when the receiving team had had loads of injuries and theyve already raided the local talent
