Highlanders 2026

[Higgins]

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

Pasitoa being viewed as 10/midfield cover off the bench, which would allow them to have a wing/fullback on the bench.

I think Cribb and Solomon getting close to a full 80 would suggest they aren't viewed as in the frame for R1, and are unlikely to see big minutes next week.

Agree about Cribb. Not on Solomon. I think they will be eyeing him up to play the role planned for Hurley prior to his injury as a 30 minute man covering fullback/wing.

That's all well and good but you better hope that he creates more points than he leaks through his somewhat flimsy tackling.

[frugby]

@handa457 I fancy Lavanini will be used off the bench to start with. People underestimating Dunshea.

Renton also far from guaranteed to start, the guy has hardly played in the last 12 months.

[SouthernMann]

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

@handa457 I fancy Lavanini will be used off the bench to start with. People underestimating Dunshea.

Renton also far from guaranteed to start, the guy has hardly played in the last 12 months.

We went into 2025 with two locks and paid the consequences. Holland will have his workload managed and injuries will happen, all three locks will play similar minutes.

What is clear from last year is we need to be more confident using our squad. Not set in a top team mentality. It isn't good to be having guys play every minute of every game.

[Landers92]

Surprised it hasn’t been shared on here yet. A box ticked for some of us on here who didn’t want him landing at another franchise, especially this early on.

[SouthernMann]

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:

Surprised it hasn’t been shared on here yet. A box ticked for some of us on here who didn’t want him landing at another franchise, especially this early on.

How he is utilised behind Muliaina will be an interesting watch.

I expect he will do a fairbit of switching between 10 and fullback. Will he be elevated to the top squad in 28?

[frugby]

Good article in the ODT this morning with injury updates:

• Jim is not far away and has resumed full contact training. Just needs to get his loads up (I guess that has him touch & go for R1)

• Hugh Renton will have his first full block of training next week (I guess that makes him unlikely to be a starter in R1?)

• Saula Ma’u is still a few weeks away after dislocating his shoulder for Otago.

Given no mentions to the others not missing, think we can assume they are small niggles

[handa457]

@frugby I know it’s been posted on here.

But to me it’s very hard to understand how a bloke who isn’t even back to full contact training and has missed most of the last two years stays captain.

[Kiwiwomble]

@handa457 i can only assume hes has a big a respected presence in the changing room, closer to a club captain in football

in fairness i was surprised when Jim was made captain....but assumed the same, behind the scenes

[SouthernMann]

[frugby]

@handa457 As @Kiwiwomble says, just because he is captain does not mean he has to play.

If Stodart puts the runs on the board over the next two weeks I expect him to stay Game 1 at number eight.

[SouthernMann]

The guy who I have kept thinking of after this game has been Reesjan Pasitoa. I think he can be our first five.

I would like to see him get a decent chance in our next pre-season. Make him kick for touch. Kick at goal. See if he can nail those. I just think inside the attacking half he will create more opportunities.