Highlanders 2026
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Few guys sitting on the fringes who I’d love to see in the Wider Training group. One each of the midfielders, props, loose forwards and locks get full contracts. Others options for wider training group probably gets
- Rohan Wingham / Jack Sexton / Finley Brewis
- Dylan Eti / Will Tucker / Taii Cribb
- Cooper Flanders / Fletcher Anderson
- Nic Shearer
- Josh Timu / Felitoni Peni / Reesjan Pasetoa / Lima Sopoanga.
- Vereniki Tikisolomone / Michael Manson
Plus the Academy players
- Shaun Kempton
- Josh Tengblad
- Mika Muliania
- Tayne Hervey
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Few guys sitting on the fringes who I’d love to see in the Wider Training group. One each of the midfielders, props, loose forwards and locks get full contracts. Others options for wider training group probably gets
- Rohan Wingham / Jack Sexton / Finley Brewis
- Dylan Eti / Will Tucker / Taii Cribb
- Cooper Flanders / Fletcher Anderson
- Nic Shearer
- Josh Timu / Felitoni Peni / Reesjan Pasetoa / Lima Sopoanga.
- Vereniki Tikisolomone / Michael Manson
Plus the Academy players
- Shaun Kempton
- Josh Tengblad
- Mika Muliania
- Tayne Hervey
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Few guys sitting on the fringes who I’d love to see in the Wider Training group. One each of the midfielders, props, loose forwards and locks get full contracts. Others options for wider training group probably gets
- Rohan Wingham / Jack Sexton / Finley Brewis
- Dylan Eti / Will Tucker / Taii Cribb
- Cooper Flanders / Fletcher Anderson
- Nic Shearer
- Josh Timu / Felitoni Peni / Reesjan Pasetoa / Lima Sopoanga.
- Vereniki Tikisolomone / Michael Manson
Plus the Academy players
- Shaun Kempton
- Josh Tengblad
- Mika Muliania
- Tayne Hervey
Best to just think about players 1 - 38 first.
I'd be very surprised if we double back to some of the guys you have listed.
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Irish Paul dips his toe into the Jacomb rumour.
All fairly similar to what @frugby came in with a few days ago here.Some of his points
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Stating neither the Chiefs or the Landers want to comment publicly
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Players Assn not involved yet
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The Chiefs have no depth under Mckenzie if Jacomb leaves
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The Landers have a vert vacant 10 jersey
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That Jacomb turned down a Japanese contract
On the whole there is a debate around best for player v best for club while acknowledging a contract is in place.
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Didn't have this on the Landers bingo card but ODT reporting that Tomas Lavanini has signed on, with quotes from JJ in the story, so it must be confirmed. Can't see it on Instagram or the Highlanders site.
@Smudge said in Highlanders 2026:
Didn't have this on the Landers bingo card but ODT reporting that Tomas Lavanini has signed on, with quotes from JJ in the story, so it must be confirmed. Can't see it on Instagram or the Highlanders site.
Has the story gone up? Or is it one that is sitting in the can getting ready to have them hit go on?
Certainly not one anyone would have expected for the bingo card as you say
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Didn't have this on the Landers bingo card but ODT reporting that Tomas Lavanini has signed on, with quotes from JJ in the story, so it must be confirmed. Can't see it on Instagram or the Highlanders site.
@Smudge said in Highlanders 2026:
Didn't have this on the Landers bingo card but ODT reporting that Tomas Lavanini has signed on, with quotes from JJ in the story, so it must be confirmed. Can't see it on Instagram or the Highlanders site.
Check those places at 8am
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And there it is. Up on the members page. Locked and loaded. Hopefully he isn't a card magnet
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Holland and Lavanini. The twin towers.
Provides a serious upgrade to the engine room being able to rotate him with Dunshea as well. Like Frugby said, ideal stop gap while Tengblad gets ready for super rugby.
Keep those yellows to a minimum and it’s happy days.
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Awesome signing, the Landers are starting to look real good for 2026. Let's hope they can secure Jacomb as well.
Looking like a top 6 team for sure.
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What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
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What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
That is genuinely a good team
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
That is genuinely a good team
@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
That is genuinely a good team
Exciting for sure, can beat anyone on their day in my view.
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What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
What's everyone's top 15 for the Landers next year? Assuming they also nab Jacomb's signature, I'd be excited to see the below. With good front foot ball, that backline is going to score some sensational tries.
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Lavanini
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Howden - played at 8 for the Hurricanes once and probably had the best game I've seen him play, would love to see more of him at the back of the scrum
- Pledger - absolute gun, get him in the starting jersey
- Jacomb
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
I think it is about having replaceable puzzle pieces. With injuries and attrition a player can drop out and another decent guy can come in to fill the void.
I think with the playing group (and hoping we can land Jacomb) we should nearly be there. That'll mean the only areas of concern will be front row depth, anything after Jacomb and the midfield.
A top 23 is a paper exercise.
It is saying any one of Howden, Stodart or Haig could start at six. JRK goes down and we csn bring in Hurley or Solomon. Pledger - Lennox or Fakatava. Tangitau needs a break, in comes Tito-Harris (potentially).
From a style perspective. We will be picking a running seven with Lasaqa. Withy will be pushed to 8.
