Highlanders 2026
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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lot of the academy info was wrong, player profiles had mistakes around caps and a lot of the team records were wrong or outdated.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lot of the academy info was wrong, player profiles had mistakes around caps and a lot of the team records were wrong or outdated.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.
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I thought Wingham had a good solid NPC, but I think we would be re-writing history to say he looked like anything other than a passable third option - his scrummaging was still hardly convincing. Ta'avao I think will prove a solid third choice.
It's not like he will sign anywhere else, so if he improves, then he is still going to be there for us.
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Didn’t watch the game but hearing comments that Jacomb was very poor. Is this an overreaction? Or was he truly that bad?
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
I thought Wingham had a good solid NPC, but I think we would be re-writing history to say he looked like anything other than a passable third option - his scrummaging was still hardly convincing. Ta'avao I think will prove a solid third choice.
It's not like he will sign anywhere else, so if he improves, then he is still going to be there for us.
It is his workrate that impressed me. There were a couple of games where he put in massive shifts. Making 20+ tackles. Managing a fair bit around the ruck and doing a lot of clean out work. That is a huge upside for a prop.
I don't mind the idea of him spending a decent block on the training field. If he is being told a story that it is the priority for thebyewr ahead. That Ta'avao is coming down and will swap in for him and he returns in 2027. That next year is a technical development period.
Have to remember Sefo Kautai is hardly an inspiring player either.
Joseph has talked about being a bit more methodical about bringing in tight forwards. That they can't progress as young guys like halfbacks or outside backs can.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Few interesting things in here. Sexton is confirmed to have a wider training group Gig with a Super Rugby franchise. Assuming that’s the highlanders, and Hayden Michael’s is apparently returning to the landers.
Aho, Peni and Paula Latu likely off to MP.
Sextons wider training group I believe is with the Crusaders for next year
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Didn’t watch the game but hearing comments that Jacomb was very poor. Is this an overreaction? Or was he truly that bad?
He was awful, they won in spite of him. Shining light being I don't see how he could play worse (although his kicking from the tee was very good, so I guess he could miss those).
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Generally on squad announcement day there is always one super random name which pops up, and the Highlanders have somewhat had a history of it in the loose forwards.
Unsure if he has a deal somewhere, but am going to throw out Cooper Flanders as the potential openside flanker.
