Highlanders 2026
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
Yeah that's a bit of a head scratcher thinking Howden is a bit shit. He was probably the best forward on the park for the landers for at least a couple of games.
I recall Howden having a blinder against the Crusaders in Chch, he was everywhere. Definitely someone I think any team in NZ would be happy to have. If I could choose to have him back starting at 6 for the Canes, I'd take it in a heartbeat. I think he has a big future.
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There is a bit of an overhanging obsession in the Landers fandom about who our best guy is, instead of thinking about two or three guys as options that play roles during the year.
At 6/7 we have a few guys who can fill roles. With Howden, Stodart and Haig we have lads who can fill the role at six. With two having the potential to play at 8 as well.
While Withy, Lasaqa and Casey can do roles at seven.
Running 23 guys ragged is not going to end well. We need to have guys who are interchangeable.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Contrary some of my previous information, JJ rates Wingham, but the concern has been an inability to gain weight - looks to me like he has rectified that between Super and the NPC. Expect to see him still in the squad.
Interestingly he is one of four profiles recently removed from the website. Others being TUJ, Hastie and Loft. Makes seven guys pulled prior to that in Ajay, Gilbert and Naeata.
I like Wingham. Good Sharkie. Also not many props can put in efforts like he did during the NPC racking up nearly 30 tackles in a game.
Of course could be nothing. But suggests he may not be back considering the others pulled.
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Highlanders website is notorious for being poorly updated. I recall in the 2024 season, a lot of the academy info was wrong, player profiles had mistakes around caps and a lot of the team records were wrong or outdated. So hopefully this is another example of poor website management not Wingham not returning.
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@SouthernMann Good spot. Yes last year those not back were removed last year. Therefore, I assume WTG for Wingham.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Highlanders website is notorious for being poorly updated. I recall in the 2024 season, a lot of the academy info was wrong, player profiles had mistakes around caps and a lot of the team records were wrong or outdated. So hopefully this is another example of poor website management not Wingham not returning.
It is more reflecting the other players that have been removed. None of which appear to be coming back. The only one that could be apart from Wingham is Loft.
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@SouthernMann that's true. Though interestingly Arscott, and Michaels are still listed, as is DLB. So I'm just hoping it's a mistake.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann that's true. Though interestingly Arscott, and Michaels are still listed, as is DLB. So I'm just hoping it's a mistake.
Michaels is still under contract. He could be, he might not be. Who knows.
Arscott, well we know he is going. Will be working through and removing him I'm sure.
DLB is a strong chance to be returning.
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The website is getting updated as we speak, because player bios have been updated. It seemed like they had pretty much all been updated, but the notable ones which weren't of guys still on there: James, Arscott, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Hayden Michaels, Jake Te Hiwi, Jonah Lowe, Sefo Kautai.
I'd say pretty revealing that nothing has changed for DLB and Michaels.
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So we have
Wingham (full squad gone) - replaced by Ta'avao
Naeata - replaced by Lavanini
Michaels - replaced by???
Arscott - replaced by Lennox
Hastie - replaced by Pledger
Faleafaga - replaced by Knewstubb
TUJ - replaced by Pasitoa
Gilbert - replaced by Solomon
Manson - replaced by Tito-Harris -
Presumably one of Grandly or Casey get shifted to full squad.
How do we feel about DLB returning? I haven't watched his NPC form but he's been quite Dogshite the last few seasons so I'm surprised he's back in the mix. Did his form improve for NPC? Feels like there's surely got to be a young Loosehead who offers more than he does.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Presumably one of Grandly or Casey get shifted to full squad.
How do we feel about DLB returning? I haven't watched his NPC form but he's been quite Dogshite the last few seasons so I'm surprised he's back in the mix. Did his form improve for NPC? Feels like there's surely got to be a young Loosehead who offers more than he does.
I'm fine with DLB sticking around. He's clearly the third loosehead.
There are benefits of him being there from a historical standpoint as well. This will be his 13th season. It is his second stint with JJ as coach as well. He has seen, the good, bad and ugly of the last decade and a bit at the Landers. He is an intermediatory between the playing group and the coaching staff.
