Highlanders 2025
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@Tim yeah had that name in mind but was more looking at tight heads. To my knowledge Brewis plays loosehead.
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@Landers92 I thought he played both sides, but may be completely wrong.
@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 I thought he played both sides, but may be completely wrong.
No specialist LH.
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Hugh Renton and Finn Hurley to be confirmed for two years.
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Can finally shut down the Hurley chat and Renton to league speculation. Good to see both Hurley and Renton locked in on 2 year deals. Continuity and slowly building, good shit. Can’t wait to see what JJ can do with Renton.
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Can finally shut down the Hurley chat and Renton to league speculation. Good to see both Hurley and Renton locked in on 2 year deals. Continuity and slowly building, good shit. Can’t wait to see what JJ can do with Renton.
My mate has now left the Highlanders as their videographer / social media guy but he was asked in a podcast who he thought was the most impressive athlete at the Highlanders. Aside from when A Smith was there, he said Renton by a long way. The preparation he does to get himself ready for match day is something else. Apparently he does extra hours after training finishes at the local gym and makes sure he manages his calorie intake to a t, on top of many other things. I can see him being the Highlanders captain next year.
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did i see Renton has left Ta$man? anyone know where he's going?
@Kiwiwomble Supposedly back to Hawkes Bay is the chat
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Can finally shut down the Hurley chat and Renton to league speculation. Good to see both Hurley and Renton locked in on 2 year deals. Continuity and slowly building, good shit. Can’t wait to see what JJ can do with Renton.
My mate has now left the Highlanders as their videographer / social media guy but he was asked in a podcast who he thought was the most impressive athlete at the Highlanders. Aside from when A Smith was there, he said Renton by a long way. The preparation he does to get himself ready for match day is something else. Apparently he does extra hours after training finishes at the local gym and makes sure he manages his calorie intake to a t, on top of many other things. I can see him being the Highlanders captain next year.
@Canes4life sorry to hear hes moved on, social stuff was definitely improving
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@Canes4life sorry to hear hes moved on, social stuff was definitely improving
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life sorry to hear hes moved on, social stuff was definitely improving
Yeah he's gone back to freelancing. He helped shoot the ABs in Dunners before leaving which was a great opportunity. He really wants the AB job one day so hopefully he can get there.
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To carry on from @frugby post at the top of this thread regarding the 2025 squad, I’ve updated the squad below as well as contract updates I’m aware of.
Props:
Ethan de Groot (2026)
Daniel Lienert-Brown (2025)
Ayden Johnstone (?)
Saula Ma'u (?)
Rohan Wingham (?)Hookers:
Henry Bell (2025)
Jack Taylor (2026)
Soane Vikena (2026)Locks:
Fabian Holland (2026)
Mitch Dunshea (2025)
Will Tucker (Off-Contract - Not yet re-signed)
Max Hicks (?)Loose Forwards:
Oliver Haig (2026)
Tom Sanders (2025)
Hugh Renton (2026)
Hayden Michaels (2026)
Veveni Lasaqa (2026)
Sean Withy (?)
Nikora Broughton (?)Halfbacks:
Folau Fakatava (2025)
Nathan Hastie (2026)
James Arscott (?)First Fives:
Cam Millar (2026)
Ajay Faleafaga (2026)Midfielders:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Jake Te Hiwi (2026)
Tanielu Tele'a (Off-Contract - Supposedly re-signed, no update)
Josh Whaanga (2027)
Matt Whaanga (No update yet, @frugby saying he’s heard he’s re-signed on a 2 year deal further up the thread.)
TUG( Supposedly Re-Signed, No update yet)Outside Backs:
Jona Nareki (2025)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (2025)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (2025)
Jonah Lowe (2025)
Finn Hurley (2026)
Caleb Tangitau (2026) -
clarification in Telea is definitely the next thing i am looking for
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clarification in Telea is definitely the next thing i am looking for
@Kiwiwomble yup agree. For me, a Tele’a extension is essential and an update around Dylan Pledger, either signed in some apprenticeship style capacity or even signed as the third halfback. Just do what we have to do keep him.
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@Kiwiwomble yup agree. For me, a Tele’a extension is essential and an update around Dylan Pledger, either signed in some apprenticeship style capacity or even signed as the third halfback. Just do what we have to do keep him.
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble yup agree. For me, a Tele’a extension is essential and an update around Dylan Pledger, either signed in some apprenticeship style capacity or even signed as the third halfback. Just do what we have to do keep him.
With Pledger, I think it would be sensible for the team to pitch an article to either ODT or Cully to talk about long-term player development. Talk about how Pledger and others are in their programme. They have a plan with the guys. Some they have ear marked for future squad spots. That they are confident the players will be Highlanders. Pledger is only in the first year of the acadamey. We can all see that he is quality. It would just be helpful to be informed the club is making the right moves behind the scene
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To carry on from @frugby post at the top of this thread regarding the 2025 squad, I’ve updated the squad below as well as contract updates I’m aware of.
Props:
Ethan de Groot (2026)
Daniel Lienert-Brown (2025)
Ayden Johnstone (?)
Saula Ma'u (?)
Rohan Wingham (?)Hookers:
Henry Bell (2025)
Jack Taylor (2026)
Soane Vikena (2026)Locks:
Fabian Holland (2026)
Mitch Dunshea (2025)
Will Tucker (Off-Contract - Not yet re-signed)
Max Hicks (?)Loose Forwards:
Oliver Haig (2026)
Tom Sanders (2025)
Hugh Renton (2026)
Hayden Michaels (2026)
Veveni Lasaqa (2026)
Sean Withy (?)
Nikora Broughton (?)Halfbacks:
Folau Fakatava (2025)
Nathan Hastie (2026)
James Arscott (?)First Fives:
Cam Millar (2026)
Ajay Faleafaga (2026)Midfielders:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Jake Te Hiwi (2026)
Tanielu Tele'a (Off-Contract - Supposedly re-signed, no update)
Josh Whaanga (2027)
Matt Whaanga (No update yet, @frugby saying he’s heard he’s re-signed on a 2 year deal further up the thread.)
TUG( Supposedly Re-Signed, No update yet)Outside Backs:
Jona Nareki (2025)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (2025)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (2025)
Jonah Lowe (2025)
Finn Hurley (2026)
Caleb Tangitau (2026)@Landers92 M Whaanga heading into the second year of a two year deal.
You would have to assume that Hicks is out the door if we need two locks... unless Sanders has taken an early release. If we need two props, then I would guess Johnstone is off-contract/Wingham has not actually got a contract for next season yet.
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@Landers92 M Whaanga heading into the second year of a two year deal.
You would have to assume that Hicks is out the door if we need two locks... unless Sanders has taken an early release. If we need two props, then I would guess Johnstone is off-contract/Wingham has not actually got a contract for next season yet.
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@Landers92 M Whaanga heading into the second year of a two year deal.
You would have to assume that Hicks is out the door if we need two locks... unless Sanders has taken an early release. If we need two props, then I would guess Johnstone is off-contract/Wingham has not actually got a contract for next season yet.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 M Whaanga heading into the second year of a two year deal.
You would have to assume that Hicks is out the door if we need two locks... unless Sanders has taken an early release. If we need two props, then I would guess Johnstone is off-contract/Wingham has not actually got a contract for next season yet.
Wingham was named by Jospeh in the interview he did with Cully. So was DLB, Ma'u and de Groot. No mention of Johnstone. He also name checked Tucker, saying he has had major injury issues. Not saying he is in or out though.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 M Whaanga heading into the second year of a two year deal.
You would have to assume that Hicks is out the door if we need two locks... unless Sanders has taken an early release. If we need two props, then I would guess Johnstone is off-contract/Wingham has not actually got a contract for next season yet.
Wingham was named by Jospeh in the interview he did with Cully. So was DLB, Ma'u and de Groot. No mention of Johnstone. He also name checked Tucker, saying he has had major injury issues. Not saying he is in or out though.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 M Whaanga heading into the second year of a two year deal.
You would have to assume that Hicks is out the door if we need two locks... unless Sanders has taken an early release. If we need two props, then I would guess Johnstone is off-contract/Wingham has not actually got a contract for next season yet.
Wingham was named by Jospeh in the interview he did with Cully. So was DLB, Ma'u and de Groot. No mention of Johnstone. He also name checked Tucker, saying he has had major injury issues. Not saying he is in or out though.
Tucker has been battling with a foot issue all year... he currently does not have a contract for next year, but I'm guessing they are keeping an open mind on him should his latest surgery correct the issue.
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To carry on from @frugby post at the top of this thread regarding the 2025 squad, I’ve updated the squad below as well as contract updates I’m aware of.
Props:
Ethan de Groot (2026)
Daniel Lienert-Brown (2025)
Ayden Johnstone (?)
Saula Ma'u (?)
Rohan Wingham (?)Hookers:
Henry Bell (2025)
Jack Taylor (2026)
Soane Vikena (2026)Locks:
Fabian Holland (2026)
Mitch Dunshea (2025)
Will Tucker (Off-Contract - Not yet re-signed)
Max Hicks (?)Loose Forwards:
Oliver Haig (2026)
Tom Sanders (2025)
Hugh Renton (2026)
Hayden Michaels (2026)
Veveni Lasaqa (2026)
Sean Withy (?)
Nikora Broughton (?)Halfbacks:
Folau Fakatava (2025)
Nathan Hastie (2026)
James Arscott (?)First Fives:
Cam Millar (2026)
Ajay Faleafaga (2026)Midfielders:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Jake Te Hiwi (2026)
Tanielu Tele'a (Off-Contract - Supposedly re-signed, no update)
Josh Whaanga (2027)
Matt Whaanga (No update yet, @frugby saying he’s heard he’s re-signed on a 2 year deal further up the thread.)
TUG( Supposedly Re-Signed, No update yet)Outside Backs:
Jona Nareki (2025)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (2025)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (2025)
Jonah Lowe (2025)
Finn Hurley (2026)
Caleb Tangitau (2026) -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Max Hicks (?)
https://rugbyprime.com/2024/07/13/transferts-info-rp-max-hicks-highlanders-vers-perpignan/
Good luck to him. A player like him should be a starting player somewhere. It just wasn't going to be at the Landers. 2024 was a moving year for him, either he was going to be locking down a starting role at lock or six, or it was time to go. He quickly slipped behind Haig as a six and wasn't going to get past Holland or Dunshea.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Max Hicks (?)
https://rugbyprime.com/2024/07/13/transferts-info-rp-max-hicks-highlanders-vers-perpignan/
Good luck to him. A player like him should be a starting player somewhere. It just wasn't going to be at the Landers. 2024 was a moving year for him, either he was going to be locking down a starting role at lock or six, or it was time to go. He quickly slipped behind Haig as a six and wasn't going to get past Holland or Dunshea.
@SouthernMann I mean, if he couldn’t consistently start for the Highlanders he wouldn’t be able to start for any other super team haha.
Good for him, wish him all the best. Can’t help but feel like this is another Manaaki Selby-Rickit kind of player that has all the potential but for one reason or another hasn’t quite clicked.
