Highlanders 2025
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Interesting times coming up at halfback. Pledger is clearly our most talented player in that possie. Just at the moment he still has the physical make up of a kid straight out of school. Which he is. Hastie is contracted through to the end of 2026, Fakatava through to the end of next season and unsure of Arcsott. Fakatava is now a dominant NPC halfback, who has never quite hit the levels expected. With Perenara leaving, he will be at best the 5th best halfback in NZ next year. Eligibility rules means he will be able to represent Tonga by the end of 2025? Seems likely next year will be his last in NZ. Hopefully that will ensure Pledger has a spot available. With Hastie, Arscott and Pledger in the Otago playing group it will be interesting to see how those three are managed at a provincial level. Do one of Hastie or Arscott get encouraged to go and line up for Southland. It seems redundant to have three Super halfbacks in one provincial squad.
Of the young inexperienced lads we signed to deals on promise like the halfbacks, Te Hiwi, the 10s, Michaels, Haig, Whaanga, Bell (his was more performance based), Taylor etc. Who are one and done players, contract wise and who will be mainstays. Some will be under pressure to show they have the ability to be apart of the playing group going forward. While others will be in demand locally and potentially around the world. Jack Taylor has been the best performing of the three hookers durind the NPC. Bells and Vikena have failed to fire during the NPC. Te Hiwi, the halfbacks, Michaels and Wingham probably have the most to prove. As a prop, Wingham will probably get a bit more time than some of the others. Holland, Haig, the 10s, and Taylor are probably the safest.
With Michaels, I was originally a fan. Now I'm seeing a bit more upside in the likes of Taylor and Casey than him.
Then there is the next group coming through. Kiseki Fifita after his mormon mission finishes. The giant lock Josh Tengblad. The Southland Dunedin Shark Josh Augistine. The second Dutchman Quentin Holland. The final Taylor and Muliaina out of Southland Boys. With limited quality coming out of the south and players recruiting from elsewhere difficult, they need to be very deliverate around who they lock down. -
I'd find the Fakatava information to be a bit of a weird decision on his behalf. In 2023 it was confirmed he was re-signed until the end of 2025. Strange for him, off the back of a poor 2024, slipping down the pecking order to re-sign for another three years. My bet, based on vibes and no information is gooooone at the end of next year. I'd expect him to be playing for Tonga at the end of next year. Same with Nareki and Fiji. Hastie being slow? You mean speed? I'd say it is probably his only saving grace, apart from his kicking game. He has filled in from time to time in the back three. Hasn't got into the open field very regularly.
On Casey and Taylor. I wasn't meaning I see them as Super players right now. Just that I don't see them as being any worse than an injury prone Michaels. We also have Max Ratcliffe who was the Highlanders U20 player of the year.
I'd hate to write off Faleafaga from Otago now. I also doubt there is space at Auckland for him with all the talent they have. Best he sticks with us. He is still only 21.
I think you have some loyalty to the Bell boys. I don't think there is anything Henry Bell can do that Jack Taylor can't. Taylor is slightly taller, and will fill out more than Bell. He'd be quicker as well. At 25 Bell is 106kg. Taylor's listed as the same right now, and will fill out over the next couple of years. He has a much high ceiling than Bell.@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Hastie being slow? You mean speed? I'd say it is probably his only saving grace, apart from his kicking game. He has filled in from time to time in the back three. Hasn't got into the open field very regularly.
So slow to the breakdown. He might be quick once he gets moving, but it's all about ruck speed. No coincidence we looked better when Pledger came on.
I'd hate to write off Faleafaga from Otago now. I also doubt there is space at Auckland for him with all the talent they have. Best he sticks with us. He is still only 21.
Faleafaga needs to be playing. If he goes to Counties for example, it is not writing him off, but at the moment the 10 jersey belongs to Millar.
I don't think there is anything Henry Bell can do that Jack Taylor can't. Taylor is slightly taller, and will fill out more than Bell. He'd be quicker as well. At 25 Bell is 106kg. Taylor's listed as the same right now, and will fill out over the next couple of years.
I never said there wasn't, and I think they can quite easily co-exist as a second and third choice in your squad. My comment was on current evidence. There is a reason why one started as many games as he did.
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@reprobate said in Highlanders 2025:
I'd hope Fakatava would hang around. He still makes too many mistakes / poor decisions, but if you're looking for a sniping halfback offloading to forwards to get go-forward around the ruck, he is probably the pick of the NZ halfbacks, and his speed of delivery from the ruck is pretty good.
FF + Ledger would be a really strong combination.The good advice will be saying to leave, if he is the 5th choice NZ halfback. Especially being eligible for Tonga at the end of next year. Of the players rated above him, only Christie is older. He'd be much better off to take the money and have a long career with Tonga internationally. He's also got a young child, and it looked like his partner was up in HB during the Super season.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@reprobate said in Highlanders 2025:
I'd hope Fakatava would hang around. He still makes too many mistakes / poor decisions, but if you're looking for a sniping halfback offloading to forwards to get go-forward around the ruck, he is probably the pick of the NZ halfbacks, and his speed of delivery from the ruck is pretty good.
FF + Ledger would be a really strong combination.The good advice will be saying to leave, if he is the 5th choice NZ halfback. Especially being eligible for Tonga at the end of next year. Of the players rated above him, only Christie is older. He'd be much better off to take the money and have a long career with Tonga internationally.
He sacrificed a lot to come to New Zealand though don't forget. He'll want to be an All Black... can take a while to shake off an injury, he has been excellent and accurate for Hawke's Bay. I don't think it is inconceivable he sticks around until 2027, when he will still only be 27. The money for top-end Super players is also a lot better than people realise.
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I'd hope Fakatava would hang around. He still makes too many mistakes / poor decisions, but if you're looking for a sniping halfback offloading to forwards to get go-forward around the ruck, he is probably the pick of the NZ halfbacks, and his speed of delivery from the ruck is pretty good.
FF + Ledger would be a really strong combination.@reprobate said in Highlanders 2025:
I'd hope Fakatava would hang around. He still makes too many mistakes / poor decisions, but if you're looking for a sniping halfback offloading to forwards to get go-forward around the ruck, he is probably the pick of the NZ halfbacks, and his speed of delivery from the ruck is pretty good.
FF + Ledger would be a really strong combination.Fakatava sounds like a good bench option. In 3 years we will have 2 to 3 good HBS but likely at least one will be injured.
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@frugby you are always going to side with the Bell boys. Henry Bell is a handy hooker. He is just the less good version of his brother. Of course he got the starts this season. Taylor is still filling out, and had played fewer than 10 senior games prior to the season starting. Jackson was a, shit, we have no one else selection. At the moment Bell isn't even the top Otago hooker. Having slipped behind Coltman. Henry Bell's biggest upside has been his running game. Apart from that he is just a small hooker who is currently struggling with his throwing. He's smaller than Ricky Riccitelli. There isn't a lot between the three hookers. Any of them can start next year. I think Jospeh will go with the beat thrower. We aren't good enough to throw ball away in attacking positions with good lineout options. On NPC form, Taylor has been the best of the three.
With Fakatava, certainly agree he moved to NZ and away from his family for footy. So do dozens of young lads from the islands each year. His priority, like many others will be to get as much as possible for his family, both here and at home. This will be a wait and see approach.
Faleafaga, as soon as you say off you go, you lose oversight. With a player who is still that young. It is a foolish decision. It is my preference we keep him for at least another couple of years. -
Fifita still in NZ so his mission hasn't started yet and his mission will be for two years I beleive
@ploughboy said in Highlanders 2025:
Fifita still in NZ so his mission hasn't started yet and his mission will be for two years I beleive
Disappointing if he is still waiting that he hasn't played any footy while waiting. Could have played club footy and potentially some rep stuff
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Haig's too articulate to be a tight forward..Needs a few months to practice his grunts. Oh and maybe let slip he could play for others, his agent has probably gone ballistic he's admitted his loyalty...
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Haig's too articulate to be a tight forward..Needs a few months to practice his grunts. Oh and maybe let slip he could play for others, his agent has probably gone ballistic he's admitted his loyalty...
@nostrildamus Scottish grandparents as well. So that’s a fourth country ( though who wants to play for Scotland)
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@nostrildamus Scottish grandparents as well. So that’s a fourth country ( though who wants to play for Scotland)
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders 2025:
@nostrildamus Scottish grandparents as well. So that’s a fourth country ( though who wants to play for Scotland)
Don't tell you know who on here, he's trying to change Scottish rugby into something akin to the French Foreign Legion.
NB Haig (high, noble) is also originally a Viking/Norse name. -
@nostrildamus Scottish grandparents as well. So that’s a fourth country ( though who wants to play for Scotland)
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders 2025:
@nostrildamus Scottish grandparents as well. So that’s a fourth country ( though who wants to play for Scotland)
They are well and truly a team on the up and would probably give us a good run for our money right now
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Looks like we are in agreement Haig will play international rugby. Just a question of for who. Hopefully it will be for us, and we have a dutchman and an English accent in our starting pack.
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Looks like we are in agreement Haig will play international rugby. Just a question of for who. Hopefully it will be for us, and we have a dutchman and an English accent in our starting pack.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Looks like we are in agreement Haig will play international rugby. Just a question of for who. Hopefully it will be for us, and we have a dutchman and an English accent in our starting pack.
And maybe a German.
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i acknowledge my bias right, we can get past that
he's exactly the kind of person i was hoping would be a bolter this year...loosies for the ab's havent really jelled for a while...and yet we still try and use the same 6 guys
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Imagine the poaching chat if we have those three in black. @Kiwiwomble agree, a lot of the loosies we are picking at the moment play in a very similar style to eachother too.
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i acknowledge my bias right, we can get past that
he's exactly the kind of person i was hoping would be a bolter this year...loosies for the ab's havent really jelled for a while...and yet we still try and use the same 6 guys
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
i acknowledge my bias right, we can get past that
he's exactly the kind of person i was hoping would be a bolter this year...loosies for the ab's havent really jelled for a while...and yet we still try and use the same 6 guys
I like the fact he is a specialist 6* and just wants to do the core roles well, plus that height would be useful in the lineout
*ok, can be a lock a well.
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i acknowledge my bias right, we can get past that
he's exactly the kind of person i was hoping would be a bolter this year...loosies for the ab's havent really jelled for a while...and yet we still try and use the same 6 guys
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
i acknowledge my bias right, we can get past that
he's exactly the kind of person i was hoping would be a bolter this year...loosies for the ab's havent really jelled for a while...and yet we still try and use the same 6 guys
Yes plus we have to develop new 7s.
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Any new signing rumours?
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Any new signing rumours?
@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2025:
Any new signing rumours?
Two locks and a prop are where the gaps are... sounds like the prop will come from off-shore (either in the form of a NZer or a straight-up international)
Have heard nothing about locks, other than our only two currently signed being Holland and Dunshea.
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2025:
Any new signing rumours?
Two locks and a prop are where the gaps are... sounds like the prop will come from off-shore (either in the form of a NZer or a straight-up international)
Have heard nothing about locks, other than our only two currently signed being Holland and Dunshea.
@frugby wonder where they’d be getting locks from. NZ in general is incredibly short on locks and no one in club rugby seems to be putting their hands up
