Highlanders 2026
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@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
i dont know how realistic it is but if NZR was to pinch a super coach right before the season starts, could they tap up someone else internationally for a one year gig
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@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.
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@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
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@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.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
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?
@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:
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.
i distinctly remember talking about 2025 being the long term goal....then 2026....
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
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.
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I think we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves. If they want JJ to change to the ABs they will need him to stick with thr Landers until the end of the season.
Next year will be the problem.
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@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
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
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@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:
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?
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@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:
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
thats why i said
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
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?
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@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.
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@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:
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!
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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
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@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
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@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.
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@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
You poor bugger being at work. I've been on the golf course and at the pub. Still another week before the office calls.
