Hurricanes 2026
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@Canes4life Yep mate, I realise he won't be here for the Naki this year, but maybe going forward. I actually think he more suited to provincial rugby, as he not really always at top in Super?
@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life Yep mate, I realise he won't be here for the Naki this year, but maybe going forward. I actually think he more suited to provincial rugby, as he not really always at top in Super?
He was looking pretty damn good before his injury.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Sorry ,I missed the rumour, has Naholo lost or pulled out of his Japan contract. As a Naki man, I would be extremely happy if he did.
Yeah, after he was injured, the team he had signed for pulled his contract and now he has an offer on the table from the Canes again.
Unlikely he will play for Taranaki this year and might even miss a big chunk of the Super campaign pending on the extent of his injury.
Naholo accepted the offer. He’s a cane through 2027.
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Sorry ,I missed the rumour, has Naholo lost or pulled out of his Japan contract. As a Naki man, I would be extremely happy if he did.
Yeah, after he was injured, the team he had signed for pulled his contract and now he has an offer on the table from the Canes again.
Unlikely he will play for Taranaki this year and might even miss a big chunk of the Super campaign pending on the extent of his injury.
Naholo accepted the offer. He’s a cane through 2027.
Thanks for always bringing us the scoop
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Landers92 So those confirmed as leaving are.
- Will Tucker
- Daniel Sinkinson
- Kade Banks
- Lucas Cashmore
- Josh Taula
- Umaga-Jensen
- Gallagher
Shame we didn’t keep Gallagher and Banks, I wish Banks got more opportunity to show what he could do at Super after a fantastic NPC.
@Landers92 based on this information, it looks like the Canes only need to confirm three more players for next year if the rumours about Dearns and Naholo re-signing are true, and the fact Raymond Tuputupu/Tjay Clarke aren't on that leavers list.
Updated squad list for 2026.
Hookers
A Aumua
J Devery
R TuputupuProps:
X Numia
T Mafileo
P Tosi
T Lomax
S Lauaki
P Rakete-StonesLocks:
T Allen
C Delany
I Walker-Leawere
H Plummer
W DearnsLoose forwards:
D Kirifi
P Lakai
B Iose
D Flanders
B Shields
A PolikoHalfbacks:
C Roigard
J Vijoen
E EnariFirst fives:
B Cameron
H GodfreyCentres:
B Sullivan
B Proctor
J Barrett
R Higgins
J RovaOutside backs:
R Love
C Harkin
F Fineanganofo
N Punivai
K Naholo
T Clarke
J Moorby (rumoured)@Canes4life Good squad, but we probably need to sign another lock, a utility loose forward and a backup half back.
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@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life Yep mate, I realise he won't be here for the Naki this year, but maybe going forward. I actually think he more suited to provincial rugby, as he not really always at top in Super?
He was looking pretty damn good before his injury.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life Yep mate, I realise he won't be here for the Naki this year, but maybe going forward. I actually think he more suited to provincial rugby, as he not really always at top in Super?
He was looking pretty damn good before his injury.
Yep he had a couple of good games. When he on he is he's certainly a real good player at super, but even for the Naki he at times to be not quite with it at times. I agree he was good at end, but perhaps he needs a little more consistency Don't get me wrong I happy he's still going to be with Canes.
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@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Heard there is another ‘decent’ signing in the works, wasn’t able to get a name just yet.
Could potentially be Josh Moorby with him breaking his contract at Montpellier? That would add some nice balance, depth and experience to our outsides.
@Canes4life heard this was true and he is enroute back to Canes
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@Canes4life , mate I was reading a comment of yours on AB thread (I think), and you were saying next year Laidlaw should/would play Roigard/Love as 9-10. Just thought I would answer in here and ask do you think Godfrey will miss out? I would be happy with Love at 10, but can also see Roigard/Godfrey going well, with JB, Proctor in midfield and Love at 15. Understand also the Higgins think, but I still remember how well JB and Proctor went, especially in defence last year, and perhaps I see Barrett as maybe a better option at 12. Higgins I like, but tends to be a little frail injury wise, and not sure I am convinced on his defence. But once again just an opinion anyway, and no more correct than yours.
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@Canes4life , mate I was reading a comment of yours on AB thread (I think), and you were saying next year Laidlaw should/would play Roigard/Love as 9-10. Just thought I would answer in here and ask do you think Godfrey will miss out? I would be happy with Love at 10, but can also see Roigard/Godfrey going well, with JB, Proctor in midfield and Love at 15. Understand also the Higgins think, but I still remember how well JB and Proctor went, especially in defence last year, and perhaps I see Barrett as maybe a better option at 12. Higgins I like, but tends to be a little frail injury wise, and not sure I am convinced on his defence. But once again just an opinion anyway, and no more correct than yours.
@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life , mate I was reading a comment of yours on AB thread (I think), and you were saying next year Laidlaw should/would play Roigard/Love as 9-10. Just thought I would answer in here and ask do you think Godfrey will miss out? I would be happy with Love at 10, but can also see Roigard/Godfrey going well, with JB, Proctor in midfield and Love at 15. Understand also the Higgins think, but I still remember how well JB and Proctor went, especially in defence last year, and perhaps I see Barrett as maybe a better option at 12. Higgins I like, but tends to be a little frail injury wise, and not sure I am convinced on his defence. But once again just an opinion anyway, and no more correct than yours.
Personally I would start a backline of 9. Roigard 10. Love 11. Naholo 12. Higgins 13. Proctor 14. Moorby 15. Barrett
Godfrey also showed plenty of promise this year, but I feel Love has a better all-round game, bigger boot, better defensively. Godfrey would be my 10/15 cover off the bench and then Sullivan would be my other bench option covering centre/wing.
I'm sure if this season is anything to go by, we will see plenty of different combinations next year due to injuries, but I feel Higgins has to start playing 12 on a regular. His combination with Proctor was superb when they both came back, and I believe Higgins has a much higher ceiling at 12 than Jordie long term. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Higgins is contending for that 12 spot come the WC. He's shown at every level he's played at that he's a classy operator.
Moving Jordie back to 15 means we have a world-class option at the back which Jordan showed over the weekend is absolutely vital come those big games.
Whether it's the way Laidlaw goes remains to be seen but it's what I feel will give us the best chance at a title next year.
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Looks like Peter Umaga-Jensen is suiting up for the Barbarians against South Africa.
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@LABCAT said in Hurricanes 2026:
I highly doubt Jordie won't be playing 12, unless he wants to switch back to 15.
There will 100% be rotation next year in the Canes. Jordie will play 12 but so will Higgins. The luxury of having Jordie in the side is he can play almost every position outside of 9 if required. Higgins will likely also play 13, whatever’s required to keep guys fresh through the season.
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The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
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The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
@Canes4life How good. Shame to lose gallagher but Dearns is a great boost. Locking looked okay-ish this year, line out probably a big work on for next year though. Pretty sure Delaney was exclusively at lock throughout the year, which probably wouldnt change next year. IWL is such a penalty magnet but can have good impact.
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The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
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The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
The source was on the money with the details of the deal too, will keep him on.
Just to balance things out, brace yourself for the Ere Enari announcement next week.
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So weird for the Canes to have big fast locks.
@nostrildamus said in Hurricanes 2026:
So weird for the Canes to have big fast locks.
Might be the key ingredient we are missing.
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@Canes4life How good. Shame to lose gallagher but Dearns is a great boost. Locking looked okay-ish this year, line out probably a big work on for next year though. Pretty sure Delaney was exclusively at lock throughout the year, which probably wouldnt change next year. IWL is such a penalty magnet but can have good impact.
@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life How good. Shame to lose gallagher but Dearns is a great boost. Locking looked okay-ish this year, line out probably a big work on for next year though. Pretty sure Delaney was exclusively at lock throughout the year, which probably wouldnt change next year. IWL is such a penalty magnet but can have good impact.
I think Delany’s size lets him down a bit tbh. He’s a good solid player and all but he was shown up against the Brumbies. We just didn’t have the grunt when him and Devery came into the pack.
Even though IWL is a rocks and diamonds player, he’ll likely partner Dearns next year as I think the Canes will look to play a similar game that resulted in a pretty successful 2024 season where they looked to power up in that tight five which ultimately provided a very good platform for our backs to go to work.
With the return of Jordie and the potential return of Moorby, the team will be stronger next year than the one that topped the table in 2024.
Next year will be the strongest squad we’ve had since the 2015 team IMO. Hope they can get it done. The key will be making sure we are near the top of the table so we don’t have to go to Canberra again in a playoff.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
How would that work? Needs to be playing in NZ to be eligible.
Shame it's just a sabbatical, bloody poaching Japs.
