Highlanders 2023

[cgrant]

What about Melani Nanai ? He's rather old but talented, with lots of experience. Fitness could be a problem though.

[frugby]

So that's it for 2023. A season which truth be told, we probably didn't expect to get much out of, yet still was disappointing. I feel we certainly showed signs of improvement, it can be seen by the difference between the 60-20 in R1, and the 16-9 defeat on Friday, but we do need to continue to improve - and I feel we will. Before we go too much into 2024 (probably need to start the Landers 2024 thread!) I thought I would give each of the players and coaches a rating for the season out of 10:

Props:
EDG - 8.5
DLB - 6.5
Johnstone - 5
Ainsley - 8
Thwaites - N/A
Ma’u - 7
Inch - N/A
Sheck - N/A

Hookers:
Makalio - 5
Marshall - 5
Apisai - 6
Taylor - N/A

Locks:
Parkinson - 5
Dickson - 5
Tucker - 5
Holland - 6
Hicks - 6

Loosies:
Harmon - 9 (POTY)
Withy - 8
Lentjes - N/A
Frizell - 6
Broughton - 7
Mikaele-Tu’u - 6
Renton - 8
Haig - N/A

Halfbacks:
Fakatava - 7
Smith - 7.5
Arscott - 6
Hastie - N/A

First Fives:
Burns - 6.5
Hunt - 4.5
Millar - 6
Banks - N/A

Midfielders:
Umaga-Jensen - 6
Paea - 5
Gregory - 4.5
Timu - 6
Whaanga - 6

Outside Backs:
Nareki - 7.5
Lowe - 4
Bogado - 6
Gilbert - 7.5
Garden-Bachop - 6
Dawai - 5
Koroi - N/A
Hurley - N/A

Coaches:
Dermody - 6.5
Donnelly - 6
Dillon - 7.5
Whiffin - 4

[Bones]

@friedrugby I feel like those ratings are a bit mixed in how they went for the team (e.g. props) and how they went for them (e.g. halfbacks).

[Kiwiwomble]

@friedrugby surprisingly large agree, except TUJ, would have him at least half if not a point higher than timu and whaaga...because he actually did something on attack

and the locks, only half a point better than hunt?

I actually made the mistake of getting my hopes up pre season, actually though on paper the team looked semi competitive, at very least should have comfortably mae payoffs...but that went out the window pretty quick

[frugby]

@Kiwiwomble Why surprisingly haha!

Perhaps I was harsh on TUJ, I guess maybe I could sit him at 6.5 with Timu at 5.5. Feels harsh to punish Timu for being injured, because as an individual prior to injury he was fine, hence a 6 - Just him and TUJ a poor combo. In truth, Whaanga probably should have been N/A.

Thought our locks were pretty poor this year if I'm honest. If anything, I was tempted to go lower on Parkinson. Holland is probably more a 6.5/7 to be fair.

As for Hunt, I think it would be harsh to give anyone lower than a 4. He had his moments, and tbf to him, it isn't his fault that the coaches had to keep picking him, making him look even worse than he is. He can only give his best, which wasn't enough.

Think all good fans get their hopes up during pre-season, but for every year since 2020, my reaction to the squad has been one of ill feeling, and even though I then do get my hopes up, I'm generally proven to be right. Despite what Stuff are saying, I don't think the Landers get worse before they get better, partially because I fail to see how we get any worse! Frizell and MMT have been disappointing this year for varying reasons, and whilst a love Aaron Smith, his time has come, and in both positions we have already secured good replacements. Losing Burns is a bigger issue IMO, because by the end of the year felt like he was key to us looking competent. Hopefully Millar can make the step up, but ideally, we need to get another experienced head, e.g Sopoaga to guide him.

[Duluth]

From an ODT season summary

Only the Force scored fewer than the Highlanders’ 48 tries. The Highlanders ranked dead last for clean breaks (61) and second-last for defenders beaten (269).

[Kiwiwomble]

@Duluth really sums it up, for the first 2/3 of the seasons our attack was so predictable, it really was just through the hands and crash ball, id love to see those stats per game as it felt like we did better in the last few games with some variety...not much but a little

[frugby]

Josh Dickson will join Toyota Verblitz alongside Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith and Tom Robinson.

[frugby]

Here is where I'm roughly at for 2024... bit of guestimating, but will briefly explain.
White - Already Here
Blue - Confirmed
Gold - Rumour
Yellow - Guesses/Guides on Type of Player

[Stargazer]

@friedrugby I read constantly on this thread that you want more players from the Highlanders catchment, and you have 7 players on your (yellow) wish list from outside the region, 5 of them from the Crusaders catchment?

Have all those departures in red been confirmed?

[Kiwiwomble]

Re Sopoaga, i think im burnt with the idea of a senior player to help blood the next generation, i just dont think the season is long enough to do it properly, we'll default to him starting most games because every win is important, i fear all we'll do is frustrate the next generation parking them behind someone that might be past it...baptism of fire time, go all youth for new signings cream will rise to the top and all that stuff

@Stargazer i think its more me thats normally pushing more local talent rather than @friedrugby

[Nepia]

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:

Re Sopoaga, i think im burnt with the idea of a senior player to help blood the next generation, i just dont think the season is long enough to do it properly, we'll default to him starting most games because every win is important, i fear all we'll do is frustrate the next generation parking them behind someone that might be past it...baptism of fire time, go all youth for new signings cream will rise to the top and all that stuff

At least Five is a NZer, better than defaulting to an aging Pom (International) journeyman.

[Bovidae]

Ayden Johnstone can sign with the Chiefs if he leaves. An experienced squad member as the no.3 LH.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Nepia true, i think it was pretty clear that was a random last minute opportunity we grabbed, i think the original plan was millar and hunt to so it all with banks as back up...but then we really needed someone else

[Kiwiwomble]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/things-will-get-worse-before-they-get-better-for-the-highlanders/?fbclid=IwAR0vLCL7SDiGVi8Te-uq6fB4p39DJiafaKOYPSQG0ZJ_fi8yARkEGyqYGSo

sums up a lot of whats been said on here quite well i think

[SouthernMann]

Without knowing too much my thoughts are

• I reckon Hunt will be retained. He will be the experienced 10 cover, although unlikely to play in that position except off the bench.
• Gregory to potentially also be retained. It appears as if both of those guys are seen as good team men.
• It will be interesting to see whether Ajay Faleafaga performs well in the NPC. I expect he will be in the squad for next year.
• Also believe Rohan Wingham will be a loosehead replacement
• Wouldn't mind thinking they might try and get Solomon Pole back to Dunedin as well
• Locks will be fascinating. Don't see much floating around. I wouldn't be surprised if Max Hicks gets told he is a lock for next season.
• If Hicks is pushed into a locking role, they might bring Will Stodart in early.
• Midfield and outside backs will be fascinating. It looks like they have a lot of faith in the midget Hurley. Fihaki would be a decent get. Potentially two spots available. Some of the depth players in the Blues would be ideal. They would walk into our starting side. Just need some out and out pace.

[Kiwiwomble]

im not too worried if he kept Hunt as a 15 that covers 10 on occasion...but not as his primary postion

Midfield is what im most worried about

i also wish we'd kept Vahaakolo, had a knack for getting over the advantage line, given our below average midfield i think someone that can take coal and make slightly shiny coal would have been useful...rather than several "wings" that seem to require thing to be absolutely perfect

[SouthernMann]

Freedom is an interesting case. It seems as if something went on behind the scenes. I do think there is an opportunity for Bogado to give things a bit of a shake. I wonder if he is sticking around for the NZ domestic season? Interested to see how Jeremiah Asi potentially goes for Otago. I do wonder whether Oscar Schmidt-Uili will get a run for Otago. He has been fantastic in club rugby for three years. He out and out pace.

The key to any Highlanders turnaround will be focused on having a commanding 10, a quick centre, another strike winger alongside Nareki and a commanding fullback. Having some luck with injuries and managing the roster well.

[Kiwiwomble]

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:

Freedom is an interesting case. It seems as if something went on behind the scenes. I do think there is an opportunity for Bogado to give things a bit of a shake. I wonder if he is sticking around for the NZ domestic season? Interested to see how Jeremiah Asi potentially goes for Otago. I do wonder whether Oscar Schmidt-Uili will get a run for Otago. He has been fantastic in club rugby for three years. He out and out pace.

The key to any Highlanders turnaround will be focused on having a commanding 10, a quick centre, another strike winger alongside Nareki and a commanding fullback. Having some luck with injuries and managing the roster well.

thats the Dunedin left wing? i watch the highlights when i can and he's scored some awesome tries

[SouthernMann]

Bang on. I understand there was talk of him focusing on his study for the last few years. Although it looks like he is available for the NPC. Is in one of the training groups.