Highlanders 2026
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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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@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
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@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
The existing contracts thing didn't seem to be an issue in the naughties and even for the tens. I agree with your first comment. Just far too conservative. Casey will be 23 next year so hes not even a teenager.
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@brodean said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@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
The existing contracts thing didn't seem to be an issue in the naughties and even for the tens. I agree with your first comment. Just far too conservative. Casey will be 23 next year so hes not even a teenager.
The contracting situation has changed though. Initially it was a year by year situation. It is what it is with Casey. He will get plenty of game time.
In terms of depth. We are in a better position than what we have been in recent years. Prop and 10 still a big problem. Outside back depth will rival the best in the comp. Especially if the young lads stand up well.
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@Grooter That’s blood money!
FWIW, I don’t think we’d need to improve much to crack the playoffs, but I think Tai Cribb being the 38th name has me extraordinarily underwhelmed.
This season will be a real test of JJ. I cross my fingers we give Stodart a proper go at 8.
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@Yeetyaah he had japan doing some great things around 2019 although they did stagnate afterwards, he still has an eye for talent Tito-Harris & Solomon, I mean he's always had an eye for talent Smith, Lima etc. Yes some of us did take it too easy on him last year, he has to deliver more than 3 fricking wins this coming season, he has 4 internationals, 6 NZ XV players and the 2 best backs from last nz 20s campaign. Basically if we struggle against say the Force again then that's when we'll know he's had his day
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@Grooter said in Highlanders 2026:
@Yeetyaah he had japan doing some great things around 2019 although they did stagnate afterwards, he still has an eye for talent Tito-Harris & Solomon, I mean he's always had an eye for talent Smith, Lima etc. Yes some of us did take it too easy on him last year, he has to deliver more than 3 fricking wins this coming season, he has 4 internationals, 6 NZ XV players and the 2 best backs from last nz 20s campaign. Basically if we struggle against say the Force again then that's when we'll know he's had his day
Well put.
We effectively only struggled against the Chiefs. With a shocker against the Crusaders, and a couple of poor performances against the Reds, Force and Brumbies, although they were still getable games. There were a lot of wins that were left on the table. Most of our loses could have been flipped into wins.
Have a look at the squads we had from 21 to 24. Some of those would have struggled to make NPC finals. This squad looks a lot stronger. Tight forwards and 10s are hard to find. We found a 10, his club refused to release him. Props are hard to find and develop. Bartlett is developing nicely though. I still have hopes for Wingham and hope he is in the WTG focusing on developing for the next year before coming back in fulltime the year after.
We have nice depth at 6 and 7. A few guys should have a go to nail down the 8 spot. It is wide open.
Tha halfbacks are great. The 10s are terrible. This isn't having a go at Millar. It is just looking at the group he is a part of.
I think Pasitoa has the potential to reignite his career. He was seen as one of the top talents over there. He could be the right man to be a playmaker at 12 beside any of the 10s (although hopefully Millar gets the first shot). That could give Jim a go at 13.
Our outside backs in my mind are as good as any group in NZ.
I think this playing group can win more than it loses. Some luck would be helpful. Which we didn't have a lot of this year.
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So the Depth Chart then?
Loosehead Prop: de Groot - Bartlett - Lienert-Brown
Tighthead Prop: Ma'u - Kautai - Ta'avao
Hooker: Taylor - Bell - Vikena - SouchonLock: Holland - Dunshea - Lavanini - Cribb - Haig - Stodart
Blindside: Howden - Haig - Stodart - Withy - Cribb
Openside: Withy - Lasaqa - Casey - Broughton
Number Eight: Stodart - Withy - Renton - BroughtonHalfback: Pledger - Fakatava - Lennox
First Five: Millar - Knewstubb - Robinson - Hurley - PasitoaSecond Five - Tavatavanawai - Te Hiwi - Pasitoa - Whaanga
Centre: Tele'a - Tavatavanawai - Whaanga - LoweWing: Tangitau - Nareki - Tito-Harris - Lowe - Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens - Solomon
Fullback: Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens - Hurley - Solomon
guess at the end of the day as fan all you can do is multi up Tangitau & Pledger to score with the opposition winning and you'll come away with a victory of sorts most weeks