Highlanders 2026
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If its those 3 that would be awesome. With Frizzell and Jacomb coming and Pledger and Holland back from injury things will be looking up for Landers next year. Really hope this is accurate.
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@Rugbyman x,y,x player is here the Highlanders should be great next season! Also said pretty much every year in recent memory
@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
@Rugbyman x,y,x player is here the Highlanders should be great next season! Also said pretty much every year in recent memory
You’re back and you didn’t disappoint lol. At least you’re consistent
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@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
@Rugbyman x,y,x player is here the Highlanders should be great next season! Also said pretty much every year in recent memory
You’re back and you didn’t disappoint lol. At least you’re consistent
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@Landers92 sorry next season will be different ofc
@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
@Landers92 sorry next season will be different ofc
I'll take the angle of, if the squad that gathers at the end of 2026/start of 2027 matches the group being spoken about there will be no excuses for them not to perform.
If, key guys are fit and healthy, they should be highly competitive with the top sides.
On the flipside. If the group does not perform. There will need to be turnover of the back office. At that point, the fingers cannot be pointed at poor refruitment or a playing group that doesn't match up.
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@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
@Landers92 sorry next season will be different ofc
I'll take the angle of, if the squad that gathers at the end of 2026/start of 2027 matches the group being spoken about there will be no excuses for them not to perform.
If, key guys are fit and healthy, they should be highly competitive with the top sides.
On the flipside. If the group does not perform. There will need to be turnover of the back office. At that point, the fingers cannot be pointed at poor refruitment or a playing group that doesn't match up.
@SouthernMann I completely agree but I’d say the same about the past two years. Should have been a lot more competitive and organised.
Certainly on paper the squad next year looks better. But every team has 2-3 key injuries across the season, that’s rugby. How Jospeh coaches and selects is the key point. Also, who the attack and defence coach is key (though Kidwell is staying?).
But then what is the definition of success? Top 6? Winning 1-2 more games? Getting to the semis?
Whatever it is, it will have to be worth the past two years then the logical dip in players post next season.
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@SouthernMann I completely agree but I’d say the same about the past two years. Should have been a lot more competitive and organised.
Certainly on paper the squad next year looks better. But every team has 2-3 key injuries across the season, that’s rugby. How Jospeh coaches and selects is the key point. Also, who the attack and defence coach is key (though Kidwell is staying?).
But then what is the definition of success? Top 6? Winning 1-2 more games? Getting to the semis?
Whatever it is, it will have to be worth the past two years then the logical dip in players post next season.
@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann I completely agree but I’d say the same about the past two years. Should have been a lot more competitive and organised.
Certainly on paper the squad next year looks better. But every team has 2-3 key injuries across the season, that’s rugby. How Jospeh coaches and selects is the key point. Also, who the attack and defence coach is key (though Kidwell is staying?).
But then what is the definition of success? Top 6? Winning 1-2 more games? Getting to the semis?
Whatever it is, it will have to be worth the past two years then the logical dip in players post next season.
What would success look like?
In my eyes it would be undefeated at home. Beating at least one NZ side away. Getting wins across the Ta$man. Playing an attractive style of footy. Defending well. We tick those off we will be in contention to be involved in the post season. Post season is a lottery.
As for 25/26. If we take a pragmatic view of those playing groups. They were so far behind the NZ sides and some of the Aussie groups.
The 26 season was over before we ran out to be the Crusaders. JJ then ran a lot of other guys into the ground. Which he needs to reflect on.
We still don't have an attack coach for next year. That is a wait and see.
I'm not blindly saying this group will be the magic elixir. I'm saying there is no reason why it won't measure up well, if it is the group we see gather for pre-season late this year.
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As per Highlanders socials. Jack Taylor extended through 2028. Loving the approach this off season of getting extensions done early and actually informing the fans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZgRDCZT3zQ/?igsh=NTNyMGlnajJyajgz
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As per Highlanders socials. Jack Taylor extended through 2028. Loving the approach this off season of getting extensions done early and actually informing the fans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZgRDCZT3zQ/?igsh=NTNyMGlnajJyajgz
@Landers92 as someone who works in marketing it boggles my mind that it’s taken this long for Super Franchises to do this.
Any decent marketing manager would be spending the next six months hyping fans for the building of the team for next season. You can build a train of momentum doing this, and the fact it’s only just happening now speaks to an archaic approach to promotion.
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Hopefully they can sign a decent lock to replace Lavanini. He didn't really live upto expectations but a decent 2m 120kg plus dude like Dearns would be good. Not many flying around though.
@Rugbyman said in Highlanders 2026:
Hopefully they can sign a decent lock to replace Lavanini. He didn't really live upto expectations but a decent 2m 120kg plus dude like Dearns would be good. Not many flying around though.
I'd be very interested in Cahill, but we're not going to offer him a guaranteed start with the other 3 signed I guess.
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@Rugbyman said in Highlanders 2026:
Hopefully they can sign a decent lock to replace Lavanini. He didn't really live upto expectations but a decent 2m 120kg plus dude like Dearns would be good. Not many flying around though.
I'd be very interested in Cahill, but we're not going to offer him a guaranteed start with the other 3 signed I guess.
@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@Rugbyman said in Highlanders 2026:
Hopefully they can sign a decent lock to replace Lavanini. He didn't really live upto expectations but a decent 2m 120kg plus dude like Dearns would be good. Not many flying around though.
I'd be very interested in Cahill, but we're not going to offer him a guaranteed start with the other 3 signed I guess.
Could guarantee him a bench spot though
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Xavi Taele is going to be an exciting addition beside Big Jim next year. Thought he was very impressive last night considering the scoreline.
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Xavi Taele is going to be an exciting addition beside Big Jim next year. Thought he was very impressive last night considering the scoreline.
@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Xavi Taele is going to be an exciting addition beside Big Jim next year. Thought he was very impressive last night considering the scoreline.
Maybe because there was about 4 Taeles on the park according to Nisbo?
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Xavi Taele is going to be an exciting addition beside Big Jim next year. Thought he was very impressive last night considering the scoreline.
Maybe because there was about 4 Taeles on the park according to Nisbo?
@Bones hahaha yeah I did notice that, but nah watching him individually I thought he was great.
