Highlanders 2026
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@Duluth said in Highlanders 2026:
I see a few people are claiming Rennie will be Highlanders coach
That's very worrying, with a young group of players he may likely do a better job than Joseph.
I like to go on about Fuck Dave Rennie, but he's been pretty easily one of the absolute best NZ coaches of the last 15 years.
I'd be singing if I were a Landers supporter.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Duluth said in Highlanders 2026:
I see a few people are claiming Rennie will be Highlanders coach
That's very worrying
what is worrying?
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Duluth said in Highlanders 2026:
I see a few people are claiming Rennie will be Highlanders coach
That's very worrying
what is worrying?
Worrying if you are a supporter of any other Super team.
I would have him as the Chiefs coach in a heartbeat. -
Things will continue to move quickly - if it is Jamie to the All Blacks, I suspect that will be sealed by the end of the month (in other words before the start of the season) - but if there is one thing you can guarantee it will be on his terms.
He won't want to leave the Highlanders high and dry, so even if Kidwell or B Smith are in his preferred All Blacks coaching group, I don't envisage us losing them for this season - but we will lose Joseph if he is appointed - I can all but guarantee that he won't see the season out, though there may be a handover period.
To replace Jamie this late in the piece is tough, because this is Year 2 of Jamie's rebuild, and the whole idea internally was to kick on (I have heard the phrase the year before the year) - so do they put a sticking plaster on with an internal interim?
Clark Dermody: Has done it before, but was seemingly building to nowhere - and would he even want it?
David Kidwell: Likely on a Joseph ticket + is not a Union man.
Cory Brown: Feels like the most plausible internal option, given he has 4-5 years of head coaching experiece but notably has stepped back to be an assistant since 2021, and his head coach results were middling at best. From what I hear, not really the personality for the job either.
Ben Smith: Has never head coached before, would be a massive call for him to step up - and again, would he even want it?
Kane Jury: A bit like Smith in that he lacks experience at this level, but has head coaching experience with the NZSS. If he is rated highly internally then he could be a bolter?Overall though, this really paints a picture that any internal appointment would be a sticking plaster, relying on blind luck where an underqualified or an incapable coach is placed in charge - and with the ruthless nature of the current Highlanders board, I don't see them doing that. A fun couple of weeks ahead.
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I will add, and this is just speculation - but they will be looking for a certain type of coach - probably as close to Jamie as they can get.
They'll want experience, hard-bastard (somewhat egotistical in that he dominates the room), and a Southern man...
And all I'll say is Peter Keen owned a horse with Steve Hansen.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Kane Jury: A bit like Smith in that he lacks experience at this level, but has head coaching experience with the NZSS. If he is rated highly internally then he could be a bolter?
Precedence for a bolter from within NZ reps has already been set with the canes coach.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Things will continue to move quickly - if it is Jamie to the All Blacks, I suspect that will be sealed by the end of the month (in other words before the start of the season) - but if there is one thing you can guarantee it will be on his terms.
He won't want to leave the Highlanders high and dry, so even if Kidwell or B Smith are in his preferred All Blacks coaching group, I don't envisage us losing them for this season - but we will lose Joseph if he is appointed - I can all but guarantee that he won't see the season out, though there may be a handover period.
To replace Jamie this late in the piece is tough, because this is Year 2 of Jamie's rebuild, and the whole idea internally was to kick on (I have heard the phrase the year before the year) - so do they put a sticking plaster on with an internal interim?
Clark Dermody: Has done it before, but was seemingly building to nowhere - and would he even want it?
David Kidwell: Likely on a Joseph ticket + is not a Union man.
Cory Brown: Feels like the most plausible internal option, given he has 4-5 years of head coaching experiece but notably has stepped back to be an assistant since 2021, and his head coach results were middling at best. From what I hear, not really the personality for the job either.
Ben Smith: Has never head coached before, would be a massive call for him to step up - and again, would he even want it?
Kane Jury: A bit like Smith in that he lacks experience at this level, but has head coaching experience with the NZSS. If he is rated highly internally then he could be a bolter?Overall though, this really paints a picture that any internal appointment would be a sticking plaster, relying on blind luck where an underqualified or an incapable coach is placed in charge - and with the ruthless nature of the current Highlanders board, I don't see them doing that. A fun couple of weeks ahead.
The Landers and hopefully Joseph needs to hold as firm as long as possible into Super Rugby.
Joseph won't want to abandon the Landers. Even a quick recruitment process will go right up to the pre-season fixtures at the earliest.
If he is appointed. He needs to be allowed to remain a Super head coach.
From next year, NZR needs to assist the Landers in finding a replacement.
