Hurricanes 2025
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For any Wellingtonians interested: a team full of ex AB and Canes players will be playing a St Pats Town Old Boys side at Porirua Park, tonight from 6pm.
@Canes4life this is great news, i see him eventually wearing a no.10 for Canes further down the track
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@Canes4life this is great news, i see him eventually wearing a no.10 for Canes further down the track
@BerhamporeNinja Harkin is actually 26... everyone assumes he is some youngster because he has burst through from obscurity.
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Poliko locked in until 2027.
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Poliko locked in until 2027.
@Canes4life Hes either extremely optimistic about his development, playing the long game, or really enjoys being a squad member. Good on him
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@Canes4life Hes either extremely optimistic about his development, playing the long game, or really enjoys being a squad member. Good on him
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life Hes either extremely optimistic about his development, playing the long game, or really enjoys being a squad member. Good on him
What’s his form like for the Naki? Shields will likely have one more year left in him. Flanders is the obvious incumbent and with Tuifua going to France it’s not a bad career move.
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@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life Hes either extremely optimistic about his development, playing the long game, or really enjoys being a squad member. Good on him
What’s his form like for the Naki? Shields will likely have one more year left in him. Flanders is the obvious incumbent and with Tuifua going to France it’s not a bad career move.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life Hes either extremely optimistic about his development, playing the long game, or really enjoys being a squad member. Good on him
What’s his form like for the Naki? Shields will likely have one more year left in him. Flanders is the obvious incumbent and with Tuifua going to France it’s not a bad career move.
Honestly havent paid enough attention - was more looking at the fact he'll have flanders, lakai, shields and iose to compete with, and he hasnt actually debuted for the canes yet so might still be a year or 2 before he gets a crack haha
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life Hes either extremely optimistic about his development, playing the long game, or really enjoys being a squad member. Good on him
What’s his form like for the Naki? Shields will likely have one more year left in him. Flanders is the obvious incumbent and with Tuifua going to France it’s not a bad career move.
Honestly havent paid enough attention - was more looking at the fact he'll have flanders, lakai, shields and iose to compete with, and he hasnt actually debuted for the canes yet so might still be a year or 2 before he gets a crack haha
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life Hes either extremely optimistic about his development, playing the long game, or really enjoys being a squad member. Good on him
What’s his form like for the Naki? Shields will likely have one more year left in him. Flanders is the obvious incumbent and with Tuifua going to France it’s not a bad career move.
Honestly havent paid enough attention - was more looking at the fact he'll have flanders, lakai, shields and iose to compete with, and he hasnt actually debuted for the canes yet so might still be a year or 2 before he gets a crack haha
Lakai won't play 6 I wouldn't think, Shields is a broken athlete these days. Iose played a bit there last year but I reckon he'll get a shot this year at some point, especially in the second half of the season when players will need a rest. Flanders is obviously the first man up at blindside.
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Did i see somewhere that Jone Rova has signed to the canes? Is he primarily a centre or a 12? Gives us a solid set up of midfielders
Also - i noted Godfrey was keeping McClutchie out of the 10 jersey most of the season so far, but assuming he might be injured at the moment. Wonder if he'll be more focused on 10 or 15 for the upcoming super season
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Did i see somewhere that Jone Rova has signed to the canes? Is he primarily a centre or a 12? Gives us a solid set up of midfielders
Also - i noted Godfrey was keeping McClutchie out of the 10 jersey most of the season so far, but assuming he might be injured at the moment. Wonder if he'll be more focused on 10 or 15 for the upcoming super season
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
Did i see somewhere that Jone Rova has signed to the canes? Is he primarily a centre or a 12? Gives us a solid set up of midfielders
Also - i noted Godfrey was keeping McClutchie out of the 10 jersey most of the season so far, but assuming he might be injured at the moment. Wonder if he'll be more focused on 10 or 15 for the upcoming super season
No doubt Laidlaw will stick with Cameron at 10 and Love at 15, with Barrett at 12. Godfrey and Higgins off the bench for impact will be the most likely scenario even though the latter should start.
According to @Landers92, Rova has signed a two year deal and can play both 12/13.
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If we can get straight to business and keep key guys healthy we can set ourselves up well. Injuries were a killer last year, when we ended up with a backline with Riley Hohepa, Umaga Jensen, Sullivan, Punivai, Harkin all starting (not that theyre all bad players, but combined they just arent competitive enough). I believe our depth stands up much better this year, so we will be able to weather any injury storms much better
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If we can get straight to business and keep key guys healthy we can set ourselves up well. Injuries were a killer last year, when we ended up with a backline with Riley Hohepa, Umaga Jensen, Sullivan, Punivai, Harkin all starting (not that theyre all bad players, but combined they just arent competitive enough). I believe our depth stands up much better this year, so we will be able to weather any injury storms much better
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
If we can get straight to business and keep key guys healthy we can set ourselves up well. Injuries were a killer last year, when we ended up with a backline with Riley Hohepa, Umaga Jensen, Sullivan, Punivai, Harkin all starting (not that theyre all bad players, but combined they just arent competitive enough). I believe our depth stands up much better this year, so we will be able to weather any injury storms much better
Yep, we had a horrible and unlucky start to the year with injuries last year, so with a bit more luck we won't be chasing our tail as much. I'm expecting us to make the top four this year looking at the roster. Just need to keep key players on the park. The return of Jordie and Moorby will also help with additional depth in the backs.
Probably won’t see it but I’d love to see the below 23 in 2026, I think it’s our strongest available based on who we’ve signed so far.
- T Mafileo
- A Aumua
- T Lomax
- I Walker-Leawere
- W Dearns
- D Flanders
- D Kirifi (C)
- P Lakai
- C Roigard
- R Love
- K Naholo
- R Higgins
- B Proctor
- J Moorby
- J Barrett
- J Devery
- X Numia
- P Tosi
- H Plummer
- B Iose
- J Vijoen
- H Godfrey
- F Fineanganofo
The next best 23 would be something like the below which shows some good depth:
- P Rakete-Stones
- R Tuputupu
- S Lauaki
- C Delany
- T Parsons
- A Poliko
- C Flanders
- B Shields
- E Enari
- B Cameron
- N Punivai
- J Rova
- B Sullivan
- T Clarke
- C Harkin
- V Bason
- J Gavigan
- L Wallace
- T Allen
- M Bason
- N Muriwai
- K Brown
- S Coles
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@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
If we can get straight to business and keep key guys healthy we can set ourselves up well. Injuries were a killer last year, when we ended up with a backline with Riley Hohepa, Umaga Jensen, Sullivan, Punivai, Harkin all starting (not that theyre all bad players, but combined they just arent competitive enough). I believe our depth stands up much better this year, so we will be able to weather any injury storms much better
Yep, we had a horrible and unlucky start to the year with injuries last year, so with a bit more luck we won't be chasing our tail as much. I'm expecting us to make the top four this year looking at the roster. Just need to keep key players on the park. The return of Jordie and Moorby will also help with additional depth in the backs.
Probably won’t see it but I’d love to see the below 23 in 2026, I think it’s our strongest available based on who we’ve signed so far.
- T Mafileo
- A Aumua
- T Lomax
- I Walker-Leawere
- W Dearns
- D Flanders
- D Kirifi (C)
- P Lakai
- C Roigard
- R Love
- K Naholo
- R Higgins
- B Proctor
- J Moorby
- J Barrett
- J Devery
- X Numia
- P Tosi
- H Plummer
- B Iose
- J Vijoen
- H Godfrey
- F Fineanganofo
The next best 23 would be something like the below which shows some good depth:
- P Rakete-Stones
- R Tuputupu
- S Lauaki
- C Delany
- T Parsons
- A Poliko
- C Flanders
- B Shields
- E Enari
- B Cameron
- N Punivai
- J Rova
- B Sullivan
- T Clarke
- C Harkin
- V Bason
- J Gavigan
- L Wallace
- T Allen
- M Bason
- N Muriwai
- K Brown
- S Coles
@Canes4life Caleb Delany instead of Hugo Plummer? He is 1.97cm according to allrugby.com and I know he has been playing blindside recently but he seems too talented to be left out in my opinion
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@Canes4life Caleb Delany instead of Hugo Plummer? He is 1.97cm according to allrugby.com and I know he has been playing blindside recently but he seems too talented to be left out in my opinion
@jamsb said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life Caleb Delany instead of Hugo Plummer? He is 1.97cm according to allrugby.com and I know he has been playing blindside recently but he seems too talented to be left out in my opinion
Either or IMO, both have been the more solid players in an underperforming Wellington side this year, they are also similar players, but Plummer offers more size which is important at the next level.
I wouldn't be surprised if Delany gets plenty of mins at 6 this year in rotation with Flanders.
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@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2025:
If we can get straight to business and keep key guys healthy we can set ourselves up well. Injuries were a killer last year, when we ended up with a backline with Riley Hohepa, Umaga Jensen, Sullivan, Punivai, Harkin all starting (not that theyre all bad players, but combined they just arent competitive enough). I believe our depth stands up much better this year, so we will be able to weather any injury storms much better
Yep, we had a horrible and unlucky start to the year with injuries last year, so with a bit more luck we won't be chasing our tail as much. I'm expecting us to make the top four this year looking at the roster. Just need to keep key players on the park. The return of Jordie and Moorby will also help with additional depth in the backs.
Probably won’t see it but I’d love to see the below 23 in 2026, I think it’s our strongest available based on who we’ve signed so far.
- T Mafileo
- A Aumua
- T Lomax
- I Walker-Leawere
- W Dearns
- D Flanders
- D Kirifi (C)
- P Lakai
- C Roigard
- R Love
- K Naholo
- R Higgins
- B Proctor
- J Moorby
- J Barrett
- J Devery
- X Numia
- P Tosi
- H Plummer
- B Iose
- J Vijoen
- H Godfrey
- F Fineanganofo
The next best 23 would be something like the below which shows some good depth:
- P Rakete-Stones
- R Tuputupu
- S Lauaki
- C Delany
- T Parsons
- A Poliko
- C Flanders
- B Shields
- E Enari
- B Cameron
- N Punivai
- J Rova
- B Sullivan
- T Clarke
- C Harkin
- V Bason
- J Gavigan
- L Wallace
- T Allen
- M Bason
- N Muriwai
- K Brown
- S Coles
@Canes4life Can anybody confirm whether we will have TJ Clarke next year? I heard he had only ever had a one year contract and decided to head off to Japan.
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@Canes4life Can anybody confirm whether we will have TJ Clarke next year? I heard he had only ever had a one year contract and decided to head off to Japan.
@SecFid said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life Can anybody confirm whether we will have TJ Clarke next year? I heard he had only ever had a one year contract and decided to head off to Japan.
Not sure if he's been re-signed. He hasn't played that well this year so they may look to someone else, I guess we'll find out as we get closer to the squad naming. Moorby coming back won't help his cause.
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@ploughboy said in Hurricanes 2025:
peter lakai needs to be playing 7
Agreed, but I’ve got Kirifi at 7 above because I can’t see him being moved out of there. And I think he’ll get the captaincy next season.
The best the Canes have looked in the last three seasons was when they had Flanders, Lakai and Iose together in that loose trio.
