Hurricanes 2026

Landers92

@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:

Kini Naholo has chosen to extend with the Hurricanes. I’m being told a 2 year deal through 2027.

You’re all welcome. Long may the oil continue

Canes4life

An update on Higgins: Laidlaw confirmed midfielder Riley Higgins underwent a shoulder reconstruction as he recovered from the leg fracture which ruled him out of the end of the Hurricanes’ season. Higgins will be available for the opening of the 2026 season.

Canes4life

The below side is Stuff's expected Hurricanes best starting XV for 2026. I'm hoping this isn't the case and Ruben Love plays 10 from the get go.

Brett Cameron hasn't delivered in the big moments at 10 for me, I'd also prefer Godfrey. My ideal side would be to shift Love to 10, Higgins to 12 and move Jordie back to 15. I'd also start Tevita Mafileo with his superior frame and use Numia as an impact prop when the game opens up. I'm really liking the look of our pack for 2026, the tight five is big and abrasive and there is a good mix in the loosies when you factor in Iose off the bench.

Stuff's side:

Xavier Numia
Asafo Aumua
Tyrel Lomax
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Warner Dearns
Devan Flanders
Du Plessis Kirifi
Peter Lakai
Cam Roigard
Brett Cameron
Kini Naholo
Jordie Barrett
Billy Proctor
Josh Moorby
Ruben Love

My preferred XV:

Tevita Mafileo
Asafo Aumua
Tyrel Lomax
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Warner Dearns
Devan Flanders
Du Plessis Kirifi
Peter Lakai
Cam Roigard
Ruben Love
Kini Naholo
Riley Higgins
Billy Proctor
Josh Moorby
Jordie Barrett

Preffered bench: 16. Devery 17. Numia 18. Tosi 19. Plummer 20. Iose 21. Vijoen 22. Godfrey 23. Fineanganofo

Canes4life

@DurryMexted we will need another 10 option. With Banks, Clarke and Sinkinson moving on, we will need two more outside backs, one additional 10 after the Godfrey injury, and one player that can cover multiple positions preferably. Essentially, we need to sign four more backs in the main squad if we are going to select the same amount as last year.

I've put a ? on where I think we need to fill gaps.

Halfbacks:
C Roigard
J Vijoen
E Enari

First fives:
B Cameron
?

Utility:
R Love
C Harkin
J Barrett
?

Centres:
B Sullivan
B Proctor
R Higgins
J Rova

Outside backs:
F Fineanganofo
N Punivai
K Naholo
J Moorby
?

DurryMexted

@Canes4life yeah I guess, though I would have thought harkin would be the 3rd 10 - mcclutchie is surely a contender if they are looking at a 10 (likely for 1 season only) or they look for an older battler to add some depth and a safe pair of hands - a couple of those floating around in the Waikato!

DurryMexted

@Canes4life also you are missing moorby in that squad, so one more outside

Canes4life

@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life yeah I guess, though I would have thought harkin would be the 3rd 10 - mcclutchie is surely a contender if they are looking at a 10 (likely for 1 season only) or they look for an older battler to add some depth and a safe pair of hands - a couple of those floating around in the Waikato!

Yeah I wouldn’t mind securing McClutchie as well. We saw last year how fast our 10s can drop so best have depth in the most key position.

I’d go Love, Cameron, Harkin and then McClutchie in terms of pecking order at 10.

Good spot re Moorby.

DurryMexted

@Canes4life really should have picked him up around 20/21 when you look at the 10s that have come and gone from the canes since. Been a solid operator for years but never really cracked super other than MP. Not so bad now days but always felt there historically has been a clear bias for Wellington based players over turbos or magpies

mikey07

@DurryMexted Well luckily we don’t have much in terms of players for the Canes to pick from. Wouldn’t be entirely surprised if they picked up Tom Maivava. Definitely think there are better outside back options in the catchment area though.

reprobate

@Canes4life I rate Mcclutchie, in everything except kicking distance. The bay backline works really well pairing him with Sullivan's massive boot from fullback. Canes could do that with Jordie.

brodean

@reprobate said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life I rate Mcclutchie, in everything except kicking distance. The bay backline works really well pairing him with Sullivan's massive boot from fullback. Canes could do that with Jordie.

It's a good point. Maybe McClutchie can go ok with JB there?

Canes4life

@brodean said in Hurricanes 2026:

@reprobate said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life I rate Mcclutchie, in everything except kicking distance. The bay backline works really well pairing him with Sullivan's massive boot from fullback. Canes could do that with Jordie.

It's a good point. Maybe McClutchie can go ok with JB there?

I definitely wouldn't be too displeased at McClutchie coming in for Godfrey. He's an upgrade from Hohepa from last season IMO.

Canes4life

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@brodean said in Hurricanes 2026:

@reprobate said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life I rate Mcclutchie, in everything except kicking distance. The bay backline works really well pairing him with Sullivan's massive boot from fullback. Canes could do that with Jordie.

It's a good point. Maybe McClutchie can go ok with JB there?

I definitely wouldn't be too displeased at McClutchie coming in for Godfrey. He's an upgrade from Hohepa from last season IMO.

So apparently Cashmore is the guy to replace Godfrey.

mikey07

@Canes4life Though that might’ve been the case as he was here this year let’s hope he can stay injury free.

family man

I like cashmore! Think he is a talent when he can get a run of games

ploughboy

if hurricanes have grabbed cashmore might be a reason why chiefs are not keen to let Josh J go

SouthernMann

Big brother NZR set to take an oversight position with the Canes. Picking up an ownership stake.

https://www.thepost.co.nz/sport/360869903/hurricanes-revamp-under-way-and-new-zealand-rugby-could-take-stake-alongside-major-investor-malcolm

DurryMexted

@Canes4life Missed responding to this. I am surprised that Cashmore didnt try to sure up a spot at chiefs or blues, given he is really just signing up for a year.

I have a feeling that Godfrey's inbox will be getting some offers towards the end of this year. Wonder if hes looked as a replacement at the chiefs for Jacomb, or Blues for Perofeta. And if that happens Canes will panic and extend Cameron well beyond his use by date. So it is good to have Cashmore as a keen young 10.

Canes4life

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes 2026:

Big brother NZR set to take an oversight position with the Canes. Picking up an ownership stake.

https://www.thepost.co.nz/sport/360869903/hurricanes-revamp-under-way-and-new-zealand-rugby-could-take-stake-alongside-major-investor-malcolm

Developer Malcolm Gillies is also looking to take some or all of Wellington Rugby’s 50% stake in the Canes after WR’s balance sheet issues of recent years.

https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/sport/developer-malcolm-gillies-in-mix-to-take-on-hurricanes

Canes4life

Trying to get a gauge of where our squad sits prior to Thursday's announcement.

These are the players that I've either seen confirmed or rumored to have signed.

It's pretty infuriating that we've signed guys like Enari and Filimone over guys like Preston and Solomon in the last couple years. Don't get the logic at all.

Updated squad list for 2026.

Hookers
A Aumua
J Devery
R Tuputupu

Props:
X Numia
T Mafileo
P Tosi
T Lomax
S Lauaki
P Rakete-Stones

Locks:
T Allen
C Delany
I Walker-Leawere
H Plummer
W Dearns

Loose forwards:
D Kirifi
P Lakai
B Iose
D Flanders
B Shields
A Poliko

Halfbacks:
C Roigard
J Vijoen
E Enari

First fives:
R Love
B Cameron
L Cashmore

Centres:
B Sullivan
B Proctor
J Barrett
R Higgins
J Rova

Outside backs:
C Harkin
F Fineanganofo
N Punivai
K Naholo
J Moorby
T Filimone

The Silver Fern

Hurricanes 2026