Highlanders 2026
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Do we know if Tanielu Tele’a has resigned..?
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The other thing to consider for Highlanders supporters is that if Jacomb's agent gets his wish then maybe Fakatava's agent goes down the same path, if he isn't named in the AB XV squad next week. Why stay if you are so far down the pecking order and can earn more money overseas?
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
The other thing to consider for Highlanders supporters is that if Jacomb's agent gets his wish then maybe Fakatava's agent goes down the same path, if he isn't named in the AB XV squad next week. Why stay if you are so far down the pecking order and can earn more money overseas?
Fair enough to Fakatava. No one would stand in his way. Unlikely to be a starting player. Has given his all, if he can get a good deal. Go get it lad.
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I like Fakatava, and think it would be a real shame if he left. He offers a point of difference to our other halfbacks, in that he is genuinely creative for others around the ruck - which I think suits how a lot of people want to see us play, more direct with forward runners - he makes half gaps and momentum for exactly those kind of runs. We've seen the difference Roigard has made, as the defence needs to cover him. Fakatava has that too, whereas a number of those in front of him do not. He's also probably the best 9 in the country at hitting a runner in a gap close to the line. For him to be as far down the pecking order as he is makes no sense to me at all.
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@reprobate said in Highlanders 2026:
I like Fakatava, and think it would be a real shame if he left. He offers a point of difference to our other halfbacks, in that he is genuinely creative for others around the ruck - which I think suits how a lot of people want to see us play, more direct with forward runners - he makes half gaps and momentum for exactly those kind of runs. We've seen the difference Roigard has made, as the defence needs to cover him. Fakatava has that too, whereas a number of those in front of him do not. He's also probably the best 9 in the country at hitting a runner in a gap close to the line. For him to be as far down the pecking order as he is makes no sense to me at all.
I agree with you about Fakatava but to me it makes total sense why he isn't selected. The coaches want to play a wide game and not have a player who drives and controls play close to the ruck. All of Fakatavas qualities are the opposite to how they want to play.
To me he is actually the halfback most similar to JGP and its no surprise that he found more success playing overseas because that suits their style.
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@brodean Yeah, I mean they're wrong about the game plan and Roigard running in close proved that - but I do get your point. That applies definitely for Ratima, maybe Hotham. Does it really apply for Preston, Christie, Roe? I wouldn't say any of them are really get the ball wide quick halfbacks.
It reminds me a bit of Lachlan Boshier. Best 7 in the country at the time but couldn't get a look in because the ABs didn't want a fetcher at 7. Now it seems we do, and he's gone. There's a danger in homogenising the way we play.
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I think its also because he also has a tendency to be a greedy little fluffybunny.
And the gaps we are talking about are fewer and far between at test match footy, so the issues he has with kicking from hand and directing play become more apparent.
That’s not to say with good coaching they couldn’t use his skills as a point of difference or that I wouldn’t select him ahead of Christie.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
I think its also because he also has a tendency to be a greedy little fluffybunny.
And the gaps we are talking about are fewer and far between at test match footy, so the issues he has with kicking from hand and directing play become more apparent.
That’s not to say with good coaching they couldn’t use his skills as a point of difference or that I wouldn’t select him ahead of Christie.
Haven't seen a lot of that in the All Blacks recently.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
I think its also because he also has a tendency to be a greedy little fluffybunny.
And the gaps we are talking about are fewer and far between at test match footy, so the issues he has with kicking from hand and directing play become more apparent.
That’s not to say with good coaching they couldn’t use his skills as a point of difference or that I wouldn’t select him ahead of Christie.
Historically yep - though I actually think the hungus has decreased quite a lot in the last couple of seasons, and has also been to some degree a function of playing in poor teams and trying to do too much himself.
Issues with kicking from hand and directing play are widespread in the halfbacks supposedly ahead of him too. -
@frugby Will Tucker would be a huge asset to the team if Dunshea heads offshore end of next season. Height, experience and locally commuter (plus the added benefit of really having come right as a player) make him someone I’d want to lock down.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
I see Will Tucker said he is returning to NZ in February. Hoping the Landers have him in the WTG.
The team he has signed for is in a lower league and finish a lot earlier than the higher leagues over in Japan. I guess that does leave his options open for Super
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An exciting aspect of this team is it will have players people want to come and watch.
Gone are the years where our stay players have been our loosehead prop, Billy Harmon, Sam Gilbert and Jona Nareki (who will still be a quality Super player).
Fans will be genuinely excited to turn up and watch guys like Pledger, Casey, Holland, Jacomb (hopefully), Jim, JRK, Hurley, Tangitau.
We have had some boring bloody teams in recent years. This won't be one. The core of the side will be around for years to come as well.
Reflecting on the Otago success. What is great, is most of our Landers are primarily depth guys. Out of the team that has had this brillant run. Only two are likely walk up starters in Nareki and Pledger.
The side is looking like it will play exciting and winning rugby. Hopefully.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
An exciting aspect of this team is it will have players people want to come and watch.
Gone are the years where our stay players have been our loosehead prop, Billy Harmon, Sam Gilbert and Jona Nareki (who will still be a quality Super player).
Fans will be genuinely excited to turn up and watch guys like Pledger, Casey, Holland, Jacomb (hopefully), Jim, JRK, Hurley, Tangitau.
We have had some boring bloody teams in recent years. This won't be one. The core of the side will be around for years to come as well.
Reflecting on the Otago success. What is great, is most of our Landers are primarily depth guys. Out of the team that has had this brillant run. Only two are likely walk up starters in Nareki and Pledger.
The side is looking like it will play exciting and winning rugby. Hopefully.
You will (again). Sometimes you gotta go backwards to go forward, and you guys are well on your way to becoming a top 4 side again towards the end of the decade.
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This try here just confirms my feelings hurley as a super sub has the potential to be wonderful & well Broughton thinking it's touch rugby needless to say if we want a big Munter at 8 Stodart is the man & if we want a more Dynamic 8 Casey should be trialed he would probably pass with flying colors
140K views · 1.9K reactions | Welcome back, Finn Hurley 👏 Otago...
Welcome back, Finn Hurley 👏 Otago Rugby set to book their place in the Bunnings NPC Final 🔥 🎥 Sky Sport NZ
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@Grooter said in Highlanders 2026:
This try here just confirms my feelings hurley as a super sub has the potential to be wonderful & well Broughton thinking it's touch rugby needless to say if we want a big Munter at 8 Stodart is the man & if we want a more Dynamic 8 Casey should be trialed he would probably pass with flying colors
Welcome back, Finn Hurley 👏 Otago Rugby set to book their place in the Bunnings NPC Final 🔥 🎥 Sky Sport NZ
The impact potential we with an impact bench is great. With Hurley, I can see games where he starts with JRK and Tangitau on the wings. Not forgetting Tito-Harris, Nareki and Solomon as well. Plus the old warhorse Jonah Lowe.
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@SouthernMann Jonah Lowe has always impressed me with his work rate not afraid to get involved close to the forwards and find some cheap metres through the middle with his footwork
Not gonna lie I can see something very special being built not just at Otago but also the Highlanders -
Looking at NPC Stats we've got a lot of Cattle in the top ten of most categories. Dylan Pledger, Xavier Titio Harris, Stanley Solomon, Lucas Casey, Josh Jacomb, Cam Millar, Tk Howden, Jona Nareki, Sean Withy, Nikora Broughton, Jonah Lowe, Folau Fakatava, Mitchell Dunshea, Nic Shearer, Sam Gilbert, Taneila Filimone, Will Tucker all are in the top ten of at least one stat categories.
Add to that Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Kneepkins, Veveni Lasanga, Josh Bartlett, Jack Taylor, Oli Haig and Will Stodart who are having outstanding NPC seasons, and a few injured and internationals and you've finally got a battle hardened side with some real depth in most areas for next season.
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@SouthernMann JJ still sees Nareki, Tangitau and JRK as his top back three.
Nareki is rated very highly internally. Hurley still has a lot of kinks to iron out before you can justify picking him as a starter over some of those other guys, particularly JRK.
