Highlanders 2026
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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.
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@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.
i think in a normal world i would agree with you....but ive lost faith NZR would weigh up the impact it would have on the Highlanders....if they want someone.....
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@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.
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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
Think you have your wires crossed. Mark Brown is the Otago coach. Corey Brown is already the Highlanders attack coach.
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@Landers92 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
Think you have your wires crossed. Mark Brown is the Otago coach. Corey Brown is already the Highlanders attack coach.
of course, ignore me, just glad tony isn't around at the moment
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
Razor to serve out his contract leading the landers to SR victory.
Not without the messiah Dylan Pledger.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
Razor to serve out his contract leading the landers to SR victory.
Not without the messiah Dylan Pledger.
Considering he won multiple titles without even considering Higgins for his squad, he'll cope.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
Razor to serve out his contract leading the landers to SR victory.
Not without the messiah Dylan Pledger.
Considering he won multiple titles without even considering Higgins for his squad, he'll cope.
Definitely a risky move, despite it paying dividends.
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@Duluth said in Highlanders 2026:
I see a few people are claiming Rennie will be Highlanders coach
i dont hate it, hopefully more than just interim
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Yeah there'd need to be some decent horse trading to allow us to release our coach this close to the startnof the season with two years to go on his contract.
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@Duluth said in Highlanders 2026:
I see a few people are claiming Rennie will be Highlanders coach
That's very worrying, with a young group of players he may likely do a better job than Joseph.
I like to go on about Fuck Dave Rennie, but he's been pretty easily one of the absolute best NZ coaches of the last 15 years.
I'd be singing if I were a Landers supporter.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Duluth said in Highlanders 2026:
I see a few people are claiming Rennie will be Highlanders coach
That's very worrying
what is worrying?
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2026:
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2026:
@Duluth said in Highlanders 2026:
I see a few people are claiming Rennie will be Highlanders coach
That's very worrying
what is worrying?
Worrying if you are a supporter of any other Super team.
I would have him as the Chiefs coach in a heartbeat. -
Things will continue to move quickly - if it is Jamie to the All Blacks, I suspect that will be sealed by the end of the month (in other words before the start of the season) - but if there is one thing you can guarantee it will be on his terms.
He won't want to leave the Highlanders high and dry, so even if Kidwell or B Smith are in his preferred All Blacks coaching group, I don't envisage us losing them for this season - but we will lose Joseph if he is appointed - I can all but guarantee that he won't see the season out, though there may be a handover period.
To replace Jamie this late in the piece is tough, because this is Year 2 of Jamie's rebuild, and the whole idea internally was to kick on (I have heard the phrase the year before the year) - so do they put a sticking plaster on with an internal interim?
Clark Dermody: Has done it before, but was seemingly building to nowhere - and would he even want it?
David Kidwell: Likely on a Joseph ticket + is not a Union man.
Cory Brown: Feels like the most plausible internal option, given he has 4-5 years of head coaching experiece but notably has stepped back to be an assistant since 2021, and his head coach results were middling at best. From what I hear, not really the personality for the job either.
Ben Smith: Has never head coached before, would be a massive call for him to step up - and again, would he even want it?
Kane Jury: A bit like Smith in that he lacks experience at this level, but has head coaching experience with the NZSS. If he is rated highly internally then he could be a bolter?Overall though, this really paints a picture that any internal appointment would be a sticking plaster, relying on blind luck where an underqualified or an incapable coach is placed in charge - and with the ruthless nature of the current Highlanders board, I don't see them doing that. A fun couple of weeks ahead.
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I will add, and this is just speculation - but they will be looking for a certain type of coach - probably as close to Jamie as they can get.
They'll want experience, hard-bastard (somewhat egotistical in that he dominates the room), and a Southern man...
And all I'll say is Peter Keen owned a horse with Steve Hansen.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Kane Jury: A bit like Smith in that he lacks experience at this level, but has head coaching experience with the NZSS. If he is rated highly internally then he could be a bolter?
Precedence for a bolter from within NZ reps has already been set with the canes coach.
