The Silver Fern

@reprobate said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life I used to really dislike him as a player, thought he was a bit dirty and didn't have much going on, but I'm a convert now. He's got a great attitude: a great super season meant he got a taste of the top level where he didn't set the world on fire, and his response is to come back early and get training.

Yeah he’s turned into one of the best leaders in Nz rugby. I think he even admitted himself he was a bit of a ratbag when he first came onto the scene, but he’s really flourishing. Unfortunately his size means his international experience will be limited but you can’t knock his character and willingness to give everything for the teams he plays for.

Kirifi back at the Canes a month early. Legend

@restofit said in Hurricanes 2026:

So do Canes fans reckon Jason Holland coming back is a good move or not?

I'd be interested to know if he was actually rated by the players between 2016-2023 or if was just a middling coach but nice guy who players wouldn't have a bad word to say about, which like Foster is the overriding vibe I got from him.

The biggest thing I didn't like about Holland was his selections, he was very conservative (a bit like Laidlaw), so with both of them involved I hope it doesn't prevent them from playing Love at 10 next year.

@Boourns said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

From what I've seen of him, he has all the talent in the world, a big boot (bigger than most pro players), size, and he's not afraid of barking orders to older players in his team. If I had to compare his playing style to anyone that we've seen over the last twenty years, he'd be the most similar to Larkham.

I think he's a very good Basketball player as well, so let's hope he chooses rugby and the Canes secure his talents long term.

He was in the NZ u15s basketball team last year but is seemingly concentrating fully on rugby. Imagine getting asked "so what are you doing over the holidays bro?" "just training with Canes, and you?"

Another good prospect his year at Stream is Thomas the Tank Engine's son who is a winger, just ran 10.7 and came third at the nationals in the 100, 200m at the NZSS meet, he is in yr 11 as well, so that's pretty quick.

Maybe the re-financed Canes are getting a bit more serious about player development to ward off the emegering threat from the NRL.

Thanks for the info mate, sounds like you're pretty close to the St Pats Stream setup. I'm glad the Canes have got Cooper in the environment already, it's very obvious from the few matches I've watched that he's class. Haven't really seen a 10 this promising at college level rugby in Wellington for a long time, so great to see.

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

Oh god, if he's 16 now that means we have 9 years of @Canes4life going on about him before he finally makes the ABs.

Will never be worse than the McLutchie hype from you fellas. How did that one turn out?

I won’t have to hype up Cooper once he turns pro anyway, the rugby community will door that for me.

Never be worse than suggesting a player should be given a go by their supposed home Super team (something you yourself even suggested on occasion) while that organisation not only picked Hohepa but also has the second best 10 from our team on their books? Sure ...

I’m talking about the original McLutchie hype when he first came on the scene. Not from a year ago. We already know he’s too small and doesn’t have a boot for Super level.

I was backing McLutchie during the NPC this year before the pressure went on and he reminded me exactly why he’s not built for the next level. Godfrey is also your best ten now by the way.

I’m also not the one that has a chip on their shoulder and has to bad mouth the Canes or Wellington in almost every post I make. Move on man.

Nah, you didn't watch the Magpies enough, we were a far more efficient team with McClutchie at 10 than we were with Godfrey and he was one of our better players in the one game we lost against the eventual champions after he took over fully at 10. You just have Godfrey blinkers.

Also, no I politely decline, it's fun making fun of your franchise and union who can't balance their books despite all their advantages. Although I might ease of a bit if you stop fellating Proctor and Higgins in every post.

Godfrey is a Super level 10 and proved it for the Canes this year before getting injured (even TJ was loving him - refer to vid below) Shit I must have missed how exceptional McLutchie was, surely he has a Super contract?… oh wait.

I don’t go on about Proctor nearly as much as you think. Higgins however, I’ll go on about him all I like, he’s going to be a long term AB and probably would have been there this year if he wasn’t injured, and probably over Proctor might I add. He’s Roigard level class, just needs to stay fit. Much better than his unfortunate brother who has to play provincial footy for the shield breaking grubs up north.

@reprobate said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

Oh god, if he's 16 now that means we have 9 years of @Canes4life going on about him before he finally makes the ABs.

Will never be worse than the McLutchie hype from you fellas. How did that one turn out?

I won’t have to hype up Cooper once he turns pro anyway, the rugby community will door that for me.

Never be worse than suggesting a player should be given a go by their supposed home Super team (something you yourself even suggested on occasion) while that organisation not only picked Hohepa but also has the second best 10 from our team on their books? Sure ...

I’m also not the one that has a chip on their shoulder and has to bad mouth the Canes or Wellington in almost every post I make. Move on man.

Damn, coulda sworn you were that guy.

Bagging the Canes and Wellington? Aye?

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

Oh god, if he's 16 now that means we have 9 years of @Canes4life going on about him before he finally makes the ABs.

Will never be worse than the McLutchie hype from you fellas. How did that one turn out?

I won’t have to hype up Cooper once he turns pro anyway, the rugby community will door that for me.

Never be worse than suggesting a player should be given a go by their supposed home Super team (something you yourself even suggested on occasion) while that organisation not only picked Hohepa but also has the second best 10 from our team on their books? Sure ...

I’m talking about the original McLutchie hype when he first came on the scene. Not from a year ago. We already know he’s too small and doesn’t have a boot for Super level.

I was backing McLutchie during the NPC this year before the pressure went on and he reminded me exactly why he’s not built for the next level. Godfrey is also your best ten now by the way.

I’m also not the one that has a chip on their shoulder and has to bad mouth the Canes or Wellington in almost every post I make. Move on man.

@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

Oh god, if he's 16 now that means we have 9 years of @Canes4life going on about him before he finally makes the ABs.

Will never be worse than the McLutchie hype from you fellas. How did that one turn out?

I won’t have to hype up Cooper once he turns pro anyway, the rugby community will door that for me.

@tubbyj said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life Riley Higgins looking fucking huge, meanwhile Will Cole looks like a teenage soccer player

Yeah he looks ready to go for sure. 2026 is the year of Riley.

Ready to go to Wales?

There's less than a 1% chance of that happening. Wales is for players that can't get Super contracts, i.e. Blair Murray.

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

From what I've seen of him, he has all the talent in the world, a big boot (bigger than most pro players), size, and he's not afraid of barking orders to older players in his team. If I had to compare his playing style to anyone that we've seen over the last twenty years, he'd be the most similar to Larkham.

I think he's a very good Basketball player as well, so let's hope he chooses rugby and the Canes secure his talents long term.

@mikey07 said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life You’d seriously hope we do…

If we are smart, we will do what the Highlanders have just done with Mika Muliana and sign him from 2028/2029

@Bovidae said in Big Bash League 25/26:

@1kiwi said in Big Bash League 25/26:

Tim Seifert with a century opening the batting for the Renegades this evening.

Good timing for the IPL auction.

Finn Allen with a Finn Allen-esque innings in the first game on Sunday. 2 sixes before getting out. Wouldn’t have done his IPL ambitions any good unfortunately.

Good to see one of NZ rugby’s brightest young talents training with the Hurricanes today. With two years of college still to go, Fletcher Cooper is making waves already.

The kid has leadership qualities beyond his years and has the skill set to take him all the way in this game. I can’t remember too many players training with a super franchise that young. Sign him up.

If you want to hear more about the Malcolm Gillie's takeover of the Hurricanes, visit the link below. Sounds like he wants to bring a fresh approach to the team moving forward and thinks the Canes have missed the mark in the last ten years in terms of fan engagement etc. Great to hear.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/new-hurricanes-rugby-chair-malcolm-gillies-chats-with-nick-mills-on-taking-over-the-team/

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Extraordinary. Holland has gone from the AB coaching group back to the Canes as an asisstant coach. Man, think of the paycut!
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/12/11/jason-holland-quickly-swaps-all-blacks-for-hurricanes/

(With no actual knowledge at all) I'm not even sure it's a pay cut, rather than just get rid of him NZR has just moved him inside the organisation. I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the same money.

aren't the Canes a bit bankrupt? Running ongoing deficits at the moment? I would be shocked if a Super assistant got anything like the same money as an AB coach.

Yeah, they're a basket case which should be disbanded and replaced by a fiscally responsible team based in Hawkes Bay.

But, setting that aside, I think he'll just be getting paid out of a broader NZR pool rather than just the Canes assigned pool of money for crappy coaches.

I don't think leaving the Canes in the hands of a bunch of coke heads is a good idea.

If anyone's going to sort the Canes out, Malcolm Gillies is the man for the job. I see that he's also the Chair on the board so he'll be making plenty of changes.

For those of you Landers fans that may have missed this. Some quality content.

Anyone know who this guy is?

Lomax back also.

@Old-Alleynians said in Hurricanes 2026:

Ownership change now announced.

Do you have a source?

@MN5 said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life Riley Higgins looking fucking huge, meanwhile Will Cole looks like a teenage soccer player

Yeah he looks ready to go for sure. 2026 is the year of Riley.

I hope Billy Proctor isn't reading this

Riley has the much higher ceiling in my view.