The Silver Fern

@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:

@WoodysRFC Well he did have a kid recently ...

Just taking the piss. Handa's comment does leave quite a lot up to the imagination none the less.

Did he get a vesectomy?

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

@SouthernMann I believe Robertson is staying, but if JJ does become All Blacks coach, I can’t see how he could stay on with us this season, given some of the alleged biases Robertson had.

I just don't think, even in a wildly speculative world you can pull a coach out two weeks from the first pre-season fame for a team that doesn't play for five months.

Also a different calibre of players between the Crusaders and Landers. He goes and selects Withy as his 7, Jim as his 12 and Jack Taylor I'm sure there would be some eyebrows raised. I just can't see it.

His selections for the ABXV were also clear of bias. He picked Boshier over a few Highlanders options.

It's a deep squad considering matches against provincial sides, I'm not sure it'd be controversial to play a handful of those players listed, not as though they're not amongst the best in their position anyway.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

too be clear, i feel mostly likely very little changes with the AB's

BUT....to fill in a boring afternoon at work....some wild speculation and chat

Is my thinking too

Scott Eade had the Highlanders U20 prior to Southland head coaching gig, can't recall James Wilson having too much experience prior, I'd imagine Jury would be fine to step into Otago job.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby

Kane Jury. He coached the NZ Schools when they last beat Aust (twice).

Be a big step up having never coached at NPC level.

what is the step before NPC now days? what do we think is the minimum to have before your first NPC gig?

Seems the entirety of our current super coaches all have significant experience coaching overseas.

yeah super level....but i feel expecting NPC coaches to have international experience might be a stretch

Apologies, I may not be following the discussion, thought we were considering JJs replacement?

no, if corey brown stepped up, just for ease due to having worked with so many of the squad recently.....who comes in to otago

Gotcha!

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby

Kane Jury. He coached the NZ Schools when they last beat Aust (twice).

Be a big step up having never coached at NPC level.

what is the step before NPC now days? what do we think is the minimum to have before your first NPC gig?

Seems the entirety of our current super coaches all have significant experience coaching overseas.

yeah super level....but i feel expecting NPC coaches to have international experience might be a stretch

Apologies, I may not be following the discussion, thought we were considering JJs replacement?

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby

Kane Jury. He coached the NZ Schools when they last beat Aust (twice).

Be a big step up having never coached at NPC level.

what is the step before NPC now days? what do we think is the minimum to have before your first NPC gig?

Seems the entirety of our current super coaches all have significant experience coaching overseas.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

All will be revealed tomorrow, but if hypothetically Razor goes and JJ replaces him, given the Springbok Tour I can’t see him steering us through the season - though I would expect him to have some involvement through a handover period - but how will they replace him?

Dermody has previously failed, Kidwell isn’t a Union man, Bender has never head coached ever… Corey Brown?

you would think thats a likely outcome off the back of such a good season...just sad/annoying that Otago will end up with another change rather than building on last year

Seems that the likes of Withy, Howden, and Taylor have good relationship with JJ, could see him taking all three in an extended squad to SA, which would only benefit the Highlanders long term.

maybe, i think i would take some stability over a couple of seasons if im honest, JJ and Corey Brown working "together" to lift both the Landers and Otago

Inclined to agree. Upside is the entirety of our longterm core are under the age of 25. I'd expect our most competitive years are post the 2027 RWC.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

All will be revealed tomorrow, but if hypothetically Razor goes and JJ replaces him, given the Springbok Tour I can’t see him steering us through the season - though I would expect him to have some involvement through a handover period - but how will they replace him?

Dermody has previously failed, Kidwell isn’t a Union man, Bender has never head coached ever… Corey Brown?

you would think thats a likely outcome off the back of such a good season...just sad/annoying that Otago will end up with another change rather than building on last year

Seems that the likes of Withy, Howden, and Taylor have good relationship with JJ, could see him taking all three in an extended squad to SA, which would only benefit the Highlanders long term.

Circling back re half back replacement - wondering if any Ta$man fans could comment on Jay Rentons season?

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

If I were NZR, I'd still look at Rennie pretty closely.

Rennie is a good bet for turning around an underperforming team in a short period of time.

Fair, he's a win now sort of coach, I'd back him in the lead up to 2027. If eyes are post RWC then I'd prefer a Schmidt type coach, blood juniors in crucial positions and build depth.

Curious to see which nine will be added to that WTG squad.

@African-Monkey said in Exodus:

@hikastags said in Exodus:

Apparently ABs, Super players and the Black ferns are getting a pay increase next year. I can only assume it's a crap increase if all these players are still leaving...

One of my good mates plays at a shit club in the URC and gets around €200k (400k NZD). Compared to the 185k players are paid here, which is only for the top players, it's a no-brainer financially for mid-tier players to leave if they aren't making ABs.

Well there you have it. Lets us Taina Fox-Matamua, who was a bit part player for Ta$man who ended up spending a few seasons at Zebre in the URC. He was nowhere near Super Rugby level yet if he can demand that sort of money (in that ballpark), then it's not only mid tier players that are going to be targetted by overseas clubs, we'll end up with fringe NPC players taking up super rugby spots going forward like we're already seeing happen (Mason Tupaea and Hamdahn Tuipulotu at the Blues being an example of that last season). This isn't even taking into account the MLR which is diluting the depth in this country.

So yes, our contract model is broken and as @mariner4life pointed out, the NPC is part of the problem (sadly).

Hamdahn isn't super standard, but he was also used as a fourth / fifth choice due to an injury crisis. I'll add there's only a handful of super standard kiwi props playing overseas, Ainsley and Kaivelata? Bit rough on Tupaea by the way, he's fine as a third option, in this case he's a fourth option.

Sean Withy featuring once at 7 is surprising.

Let's just remove those players, a 2028 starting team could look like:

1. Fusitua

2. Oudenryn

3. ??

4. Darry

5. Beehre

6. Christie

7. Woodley

8. Wrampling-Alec

9. ??

10. Simpson

11. Clarke

12. Taele

13. Cameron

14. Saunoa?

15. Spencer

16. Slater

17. Ake

18. ??

19. Cook

20. Clark

21. ??

22. ??

23. Vai?

Any one able to fill out the question marks? I've assumed a lot of the younger players will be coming through by then.

@zedsdeadbaby said in School Rugby 2026:

Cheers - makes sense although I am not sure of the justification for it being an 'all boys' comp, when STAC could clearly hold their own.

Yeah from a Southern Schools perspective I see the reasoning for it, greater level of competition, since there is only four schools down there up to it competitively. Not sure of the Crusaders schools justification for excluding STAC though.

@zedsdeadbaby said in School Rugby 2026:

Anyone got any insight as to how the new South Island comp(s) are working?

This looks to outline the format and structure https://nelsonapp.co.nz/news/articles/691ceffe2b7137038bf85ddc

@DaGrubster said in Scotland v All Blacks:

@Jet said in Scotland v All Blacks:

@DaGrubster said in Scotland v All Blacks:

@Jet said in Scotland v All Blacks:

Brothers on 3......123 Brothers.......cheeeeeeeehooooooo

Casual racism

Thats what they say in the huddle at the end of every game.

Oh do they? Fuck me!

Sorry dude didnt realise that

They do, I love it, some on here don't like the cheehoos though.

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

Trying to get a gauge of where our squad sits prior to Thursday's announcement.

These are the players that I've either seen confirmed or rumored to have signed.

It's pretty infuriating that we've signed guys like Enari and Filimone over guys like Preston and Solomon in the last couple years. Don't get the logic at all.

Updated squad list for 2026.

Hookers
A Aumua
J Devery
R Tuputupu

Props:
X Numia
T Mafileo
P Tosi
T Lomax
S Lauaki
P Rakete-Stones

Locks:
T Allen
C Delany
I Walker-Leawere
H Plummer
W Dearns

Loose forwards:
D Kirifi
P Lakai
B Iose
D Flanders
B Shields
A Poliko

Halfbacks:
C Roigard
J Vijoen
E Enari

First fives:
R Love
B Cameron
L Cashmore

Centres:
B Sullivan
B Proctor
J Barrett
R Higgins
J Rova

Outside backs:
C Harkin
F Fineanganofo
N Punivai
K Naholo
J Moorby
T Filimone

The Fimone v Solomon from all accounts one is a WTG player (Filimone) while Solomon is a full squad guy for the Landers. Not a fair comparison.

Also, apparently Josh Timu is a WTG member.

Right, I thought Filimone had secured a main contract. I'm happier to hear that now. Hopefully we've signed a better winger on a full contract.

Have just gone over the posts. All @Steven-Harris said was he is going to the Canes. I was presumptuous thinking it was a wider deal. So might be a full-time deal. From a now perspective. He is a better option that Solomon. He has played Super and done a good job.

I would personally prefer someone like Kade Banks, odd that he was never given more opportunity last year.

Yeah I was just comparing a seasoned winger in Fimone to Solomon. Solomon is a heck of a talent. Very small though. The times I have seen him in person he still looks like a kid. I was to see him develop physically before getting f a decent shot at Super level. Compare him and Finn Hurley (a couple of years older) and Hurley looks a lot more robust.

Yeah, totally get that. I thought the Canes would definitely have protected him though, maybe they see his size as a limiting factor at the next level. Time will tell. He could be sensational in a couple years time when he develops.

The kid could be anything. He just needs to ensure he has the physicality to stand up week in week out. I see him and Hurley as being interchangeable in the 23 jersey. Just need him to get some more size.

Do think his decision was an odd one though, two young players in his preferred position. Surely he'd have more of a chance seeing game time at the Hurricanes?