Chiefs 2026
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The Chiefs loosie rotation will be a sight to behold next year. Some quality guys will be playing club rugby or B footy!
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@SouthernMann might be time to give Boshier the captaincy
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@Chris said in Chiefs 2026:
@cliff said in Chiefs 2026:
Could the canterbury who the chiefs signed play flyhalf
He has played there before but not at a high level,but he is more a FB/Wing.
Assume that's Hutchinson?
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@WoodysRFC said in Chiefs 2026:
@Chris said in Chiefs 2026:
@cliff said in Chiefs 2026:
Could the canterbury who the chiefs signed play flyhalf
He has played there before but not at a high level,but he is more a FB/Wing.
Assume that's Hutchinson?
Yes
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@cliff said in Chiefs 2026:
I wish we signed gibson popoalii instead of foketi
Popoalii spent time with the Chiefs and MP this season. I can only assume that centre cover was needed more than a 2nd 5, and Foketi can also play on the wing if needed. Maybe part of the WTG again.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2026:
Trask is definitely going to Japan (replaced by Tepaea Cook-Savage), and Cashmore will be Godfrey's injury replacement at the Hurricanes. It means that the Chiefs will be reluctant to release Jacomb early.
It could be totally wrong here, but given Trask has been down to leave for a while, and Jacomb has clearly been negotiating with the Highlanders for a while, if the Chiefs thought Cashmore was any good, would they not have locked him in?
Feels like a case of fans rating him more than coaches?
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Yes, Trask's move back to Japan has been known for a while. He is injury-prone, and as the article said only played 15 mins this year, before going off injured in the Force game. Another hamstring injury at the moment too.
The point is that there are even less options for the Chiefs now, unless they get a 1st 5 from another SR team. That will have a domino effect for NZR.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2026:
Yes, Trask's move back to Japan has been known for a while. He is injury-prone, and as the article said only played 15 mins this year, before going off injured in the Force game. Another hamstring injury at the moment too.
The point is that there are even less options for the Chiefs now, unless they get a 1st 5 from another SR team. That will have a domino effect for NZR.
Could we offer you Cam Millar?
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@SouthernMann Would you give up Mika Muliana?
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@Bovidae That argument assumes the Chiefs actually rate Lucas Cashmore. My point is they don't, so the domino effect doesn't apply.
The article in the post seemed to hit certain conditions had to be met for Josh Jacomb to leave. Cashmore clearly isn't that condition because he has been available for the past three months.
I doubt that condition involved getting someone from another franchise, because why would Godfrey/Harkin leave as a backup at the Canes to be backup behind an even more secure 10 in McKenzie?
I can only think it is financial reimbursement?
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2026:
@SouthernMann Would you give up Mika Muliana?
No.
He is also not ready, at 19 to be a back up Super 10.
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@frugby I don't see money being the issue if you can't sign another player to fill that position.
I've no idea if they rate Cashmore, but he is local and has come through the Chiefs system. But he has also been at two different franchises in the last two years without really playing.
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@Bovidae “We’ve had constructive discussions with the Chiefs around potential early release scenarios.
“They’ve invested significantly in Josh’s development, and it’s understandable that they would want to retain a player of his calibre.
“There remains a possibility that Josh could join the Highlanders in 2026 if the Chiefs are amenable to that. We’re continuing to explore those avenues.”
“We remain committed to supporting Josh in his journey and will continue working with all parties to find the best outcome.”
Now that I re-read this, would seem like there is a bit of negotiation around players going on. Part of me wonders, could it genuinely be the Highlanders back off and allow them to sign Muliaina.
Personally I'd do that deal. No guarantees that Muliaina reaches the level Jacomb is now.
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@frugby said in Chiefs 2026:
@Bovidae “We’ve had constructive discussions with the Chiefs around potential early release scenarios.
“They’ve invested significantly in Josh’s development, and it’s understandable that they would want to retain a player of his calibre.
“There remains a possibility that Josh could join the Highlanders in 2026 if the Chiefs are amenable to that. We’re continuing to explore those avenues.”
“We remain committed to supporting Josh in his journey and will continue working with all parties to find the best outcome.”
**Now that I re-read this, would seem like there is a bit of negotiation around players going on. Part of me wonders, could it genuinely be the Highlanders back off and allow them to sign Muliaina.
Personally I'd do that deal. No guarantees that Muliaina reaches the level Jacomb is now.**
Absolutely not.
The kid is 18. We cannot go flogging off one of our most talented guys to get someone a year early. It also doesn't solve their issue of wanting someone to be Super ready. Jacomb is with us through to 28 (at this stage) Mika Muliaina will only just be turning 21 then.
If they are after a back up 10. Millar is the guy to go.
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@SouthernMann said in Chiefs 2026:
@frugby said in Chiefs 2026:
@Bovidae “We’ve had constructive discussions with the Chiefs around potential early release scenarios.
“They’ve invested significantly in Josh’s development, and it’s understandable that they would want to retain a player of his calibre.
“There remains a possibility that Josh could join the Highlanders in 2026 if the Chiefs are amenable to that. We’re continuing to explore those avenues.”
“We remain committed to supporting Josh in his journey and will continue working with all parties to find the best outcome.”
**Now that I re-read this, would seem like there is a bit of negotiation around players going on. Part of me wonders, could it genuinely be the Highlanders back off and allow them to sign Muliaina.
Personally I'd do that deal. No guarantees that Muliaina reaches the level Jacomb is now.**
Absolutely not.
The kid is 18. We cannot go flogging off one of our most talented guys to get someone a year early. It also doesn't solve their issue of wanting someone to be Super ready. Jacomb is with us through to 28 (at this stage) Mika Muliaina will only just be turning 21 then.
If they are after a back up 10. Millar is the guy to go.
I am going to be real. If Muliaina was from any other province, he hasn't yet had an NPC debut, and he is just another promising U20 player.
The fact he has played NPC already says more about Southland then it does about current ability.
FWIW, I doubt that this is the situation, but I am tempering any expectations about Muliaina, until he either a) Plays Super Rugby or b) Guides a winning NPC side around.
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@frugby said in Chiefs 2026:
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2026:
Trask is definitely going to Japan (replaced by Tepaea Cook-Savage), and Cashmore will be Godfrey's injury replacement at the Hurricanes. It means that the Chiefs will be reluctant to release Jacomb early.
It could be totally wrong here, but given Trask has been down to leave for a while, and Jacomb has clearly been negotiating with the Highlanders for a while, if the Chiefs thought Cashmore was any good, would they not have locked him in?
Feels like a case of fans rating him more than coaches?
Cashmore can be variable in the quality of his tactical kicking for BOP. Lots of flair and promise, but not reliable enough yet at super level in my view.
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@frugby said in Chiefs 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Chiefs 2026:
@frugby said in Chiefs 2026:
@Bovidae “We’ve had constructive discussions with the Chiefs around potential early release scenarios.
“They’ve invested significantly in Josh’s development, and it’s understandable that they would want to retain a player of his calibre.
“There remains a possibility that Josh could join the Highlanders in 2026 if the Chiefs are amenable to that. We’re continuing to explore those avenues.”
“We remain committed to supporting Josh in his journey and will continue working with all parties to find the best outcome.”
**Now that I re-read this, would seem like there is a bit of negotiation around players going on. Part of me wonders, could it genuinely be the Highlanders back off and allow them to sign Muliaina.
Personally I'd do that deal. No guarantees that Muliaina reaches the level Jacomb is now.**
Absolutely not.
The kid is 18. We cannot go flogging off one of our most talented guys to get someone a year early. It also doesn't solve their issue of wanting someone to be Super ready. Jacomb is with us through to 28 (at this stage) Mika Muliaina will only just be turning 21 then.
If they are after a back up 10. Millar is the guy to go.
I am going to be real. If Muliaina was from any other province, he hasn't yet had an NPC debut, and he is just another promising U20 player.
The fact he has played NPC already says more about Southland then it does about current ability.
FWIW, I doubt that this is the situation, but I am tempering any expectations about Muliaina, until he either a) Plays Super Rugby or b) Guides a winning NPC side around.
I'll also be real.
He is the most promising U20s player we have in region.
He can take on the line, beat defenders and is the right age to be developing nicely into a Super quality player over the next couple of years. He still has two years left as an U20s player.
He does not solve the Chief's problem of wanting a back up 10 next year.
Millar is the guy who makes sense to offer the Chiefs. He can fill the void they need. Just not to the level Jacomb can.
The Waikato Times
