Highlanders 2026
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
If only we could pick up Springer to replace Lowe.
We'd have the full collection of promising young wingers then.
Springer is a poor man's Lowe though, eh @Canes4life
5 try Springer, that mans unstoppable.
1 better than four try Lowe.
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The squad looks fairly settled and easy the predict. With only question mark being at looseforward (unless Casey is promoted).
Prop is settled. DLB looks like he will be back. Wingham out, hopefully staying in a WTG spot.
Every other spot in the fulltime squad. Looks fairly easy to lock in.
WTG is more interesting. Especially four roles.
Looseforwards. Two spots. If Casey is upgraded. There will be two spots open. I do wonder of George Reeves may be looked at.
- Will they take a risk and give that job to 19-year-old Mika Muliaina. I think he is the best option available.
Midfield. Grindlay is the rumour. A very useful player to have in this group.
Outside back. I can see it either being Tayne Harvey or Jae Broomfield. We don't need to have another outside back. Harvey has played a fairbit of outside back. We have plenty of guys who can do a role with the outside backs. Knewstubb, Robinson, all the outsides. Harvey can add extra cover both for the midfield and on the wing. As well as prioritising his development.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Will wider training groups be announced with squads tomrorow too? At this stage I’m more interested in that then the squad which as others have said is essentially a known quantity at this stage.
Landers WTG will be named Friday
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Anyone got some Andrew Knewstubb NPC highlights…
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@upthelanders just youtube Canterbury matches from this season, like we all know it's not ideal but him coming down happened very late in the piece when Jacomb couldn't get out of his contract. Fingers crossed Millar avoids injury, if Knewstubb finds himself out there at 10 expect Nareki or Hurley to do a lot of the in play kicking
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Welcome back Tai Cribb.
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First five the big weakness. Everything else well telegraphed.
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Props: Josh Bartlett, Ethan de Groot, Sosefo Kautai, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma'u, Angus Ta’avao.
Hookers: Henry Bell, Jack Taylor, Soane Vikena.
Locks: Tai Cribb, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Tomás Lavanini.
Loose forwards: Nikora Broughton, Oliver Haig, Te Kamaka Howden, Veveni Lasaqa, Hugh Renton, Will Stodart, Sean Withy.
Halfbacks: Folau Fakatava, Adam Lennox, Dylan Pledger.
First five-eighths: Andrew Knewstubb, Cameron Millar, Taine Robinson.
Midfielders: Reesjan Pasitoa, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Tanielu Tele’a, Jake Te Hiwi, Josh Whaanga.
Outside backs: Finn Hurley, Jonah Lowe, Jona Nareki, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Stanley Solomon, Caleb Tangitau, Xavier Tito-Harris.
Ins: Angus Ta’avao, Tomás Lavanini, Reesjan Pasitoa, Dylan Pledger, Andrew Knewstubb, Stanley Solomon, Xavier Tito-Harris.
Outs: Rohan Wingman, Hayden Michaels, Lui Naeta, James Arscott, Nathan Hastie, Ajay Faleafaga, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Sam Gilbert, Michael Manson. -
just noticed theyve photoshopped the 2011 jersey with ben smith to the current SBS sponsor...thats a level of details we havent seen before
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
That for me, is a distinctly ordinary side... we still have a lot of ground to be making up.
It is the best side we have had in a decade with a year on year improvement with the in column v the out column.
I didn't see the Cribb signing as necessary. We already have three locks plus three sixes who can do that job.
10 and hooker are the major weakness.
I'd like to see Paisota given a go at 12 with Jim outside him at 13.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
That for me, is a distinctly ordinary side... we still have a lot of ground to be making up.
Squad isn’t the issue. Plenty of really good players there to rival most squads. Problem is the game plan. Hopefully there is a big improvement in how the players are used.
There should be massive optimism about the quality of the players
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@SouthernMann am I right in thinking if any of the four 6'5" fellas were to go down it would actually be Lucas Caseys entry into selection not Tengblad right?
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I find it unbelievable that Casey will not be part of a main squad. Likewise Mathis. This is insane. We are squandering our best talent.
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@brodean i think its partially weve become quite conservative, lots of comments like "no need to rush him in"....or "let him get a couple of seasons under his belt".....where in the past i think we would have had a more "teenage superstar bursts onto the scene"
...but also the reality of pro sport, lots of players would have been on existing contracts
