Highlanders 2025
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Joesph needs to take the blame for his original squad selections at lock. Naeata was his choice. James Thompson, for example, wasn't retained by the Blues and could have been a solid squad member to provide depth at lock. He did well in his brief appearances. He is now in the Chiefs WTG instead. Players will probably move for a full contract but aren't going to swap one WTG contract for another as easily.
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On the squad, is the WTG stacked with locks? Not much room to recruit based on those contract lengths unless they can move along a loosie or two
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2025:
On the squad, is the WTG stacked with locks? Not much room to recruit based on those contract lengths unless they can move along a loosie or two
Very few locks around the squad from a local level. Tengblad will come in on a long-term deal. Dunshea is the big question mark for me. A lot of the commentary you hear around recruitment is that locks are highly sought after. While he is a bit of a country boy. At 30, he could be ripe to be picked up elsewhere. If that's the case I'd expect us to run pretty lean with locks again. With Stodart and Oli Haig being in the locking rotation. Howden at a pinch as well. Time would be better suited investigating him as an 8 though.
Otago will run Holland (depending on international call up), Stodart, Tengblad and may be Christian MacEwan.
Southland is quite lean on locks. It was after Tai Cribb.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2025:
On the squad, is the WTG stacked with locks? Not much room to recruit based on those contract lengths unless they can move along a loosie or two
Very few locks around the squad from a local level. Tengblad will come in on a long-term deal. Dunshea is the big question mark for me. A lot of the commentary you hear around recruitment is that locks are highly sought after. While he is a bit of a country boy. At 30, he could be ripe to be picked up elsewhere. If that's the case I'd expect us to run pretty lean with locks again. With Stodart and Oli Haig being in the locking rotation. Howden at a pinch as well. Time would be better suited investigating him as an 8 though.
Otago will run Holland (depending on international call up), Stodart, Tengblad and may be Christian MacEwan.
Southland is quite lean on locks. It was after Tai Cribb.
Selby-Rickit was signed to the Chiefs on a two year deal. Available for Highlanders to sign now?
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Selby-Rickit was signed to the Chiefs on a two year deal. Available for Highlanders to sign now?
@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
Selby-Rickit was signed to the Chiefs on a two year deal. Available for Highlanders to sign now?
Nah. Not the right sort of move for us. He doesn't scream the sort of guy who is a good follow me type. More of a dickhead type. All he is remembered for down there is bashing some fella on the piss. We've been there done that with him.
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@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
Selby-Rickit was signed to the Chiefs on a two year deal. Available for Highlanders to sign now?
Nah. Not the right sort of move for us. He doesn't scream the sort of guy who is a good follow me type. More of a dickhead type. All he is remembered for down there is bashing some fella on the piss. We've been there done that with him.
@SouthernMann Fair enough!
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2025:
On the squad, is the WTG stacked with locks? Not much room to recruit based on those contract lengths unless they can move along a loosie or two
Very few locks around the squad from a local level. Tengblad will come in on a long-term deal. Dunshea is the big question mark for me. A lot of the commentary you hear around recruitment is that locks are highly sought after. While he is a bit of a country boy. At 30, he could be ripe to be picked up elsewhere. If that's the case I'd expect us to run pretty lean with locks again. With Stodart and Oli Haig being in the locking rotation. Howden at a pinch as well. Time would be better suited investigating him as an 8 though.
Otago will run Holland (depending on international call up), Stodart, Tengblad and may be Christian MacEwan.
Southland is quite lean on locks. It was after Tai Cribb.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
He looks a short lock who hasn't filled out yet. We have guys like Stodart, Haig and Howden who are all similar heights and have filled out. Would just seem like bringing in another guy of the same variation.
Haven't seen much of Makiri @Bones. How does he go. I reckon there could be an NPC outside or two who could play their way in. We could be looking for up to three outside backs with Gilbert leaving, likely Lowe and a question mark over Nareki...
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@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
He looks a short lock who hasn't filled out yet. We have guys like Stodart, Haig and Howden who are all similar heights and have filled out. Would just seem like bringing in another guy of the same variation.
Haven't seen much of Makiri @Bones. How does he go. I reckon there could be an NPC outside or two who could play their way in. We could be looking for up to three outside backs with Gilbert leaving, likely Lowe and a question mark over Nareki...
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Aha, looks like he is only 1.94m. Although ... Jackson Hemopo was about that height, and was a very good player.
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@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
He looks a short lock who hasn't filled out yet. We have guys like Stodart, Haig and Howden who are all similar heights and have filled out. Would just seem like bringing in another guy of the same variation.
Haven't seen much of Makiri @Bones. How does he go. I reckon there could be an NPC outside or two who could play their way in. We could be looking for up to three outside backs with Gilbert leaving, likely Lowe and a question mark over Nareki...
@SouthernMann seems quick with decent smarts, couldn't tell you much else! Stood out to me whenever I saw him play.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Aha, looks like he is only 1.94m. Although ... Jackson Hemopo was about that height, and was a very good player.
@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Aha, looks like he is only 1.94m. Although ... Jackson Hemopo was about that height, and was a very good player.
Yeah was absolute quality. A real what if player interms of what he could have been.
With Cribb, I just think we have several similar players (size wise), and that spot could be better utilised chasing an 8 that can bend the line.
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@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Aha, looks like he is only 1.94m. Although ... Jackson Hemopo was about that height, and was a very good player.
Yeah was absolute quality. A real what if player interms of what he could have been.
With Cribb, I just think we have several similar players (size wise), and that spot could be better utilised chasing an 8 that can bend the line.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
A real what if player interms of what he could have been.
We might not have to wonder if Ah Kuoi gets called up, definitely deserves it.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just done a deep dive and here’s where the squad is at based off the information we have been given. If anyone knows more then feel free to chime in.
Props:
Ethan de Groot (2026)
Daniel Lienert-Brown (2025)
Josh Bartlett(?)
Saula Ma'u (2025? Signed with otago in 2022 on a 3 year deal, assuming Highlanders is the same.)
Sefo Kautai(?)
Rohan Wingham (?)Hookers:
Henry Bell (2025)
Jack Taylor (2026)
Soane Vikena (2026)Locks:
Fabian Holland (2025)
Mitch Dunshea (2025)Loose Forwards:
Oliver Haig (2026)
Hugh Renton (2026)
Hayden Michaels (2026)
Veveni Lasaqa (2026)
Sean Withy (Signed with the Stags for 3 seasons, assuming Landers is similar or close to it. 2026?)
Nikora Broughton (2025?)
Lui Naeata(2025, one and done).
TK Howden(2025?)
Will Stodart(2026)Halfbacks:
Folau Fakatava (2027)
Nathan Hastie (2026)
James Arscott (Gone after this season by what’s been said on here)First Fives:
Cam Millar (2026)
Ajay Faleafaga (2026)
Taine Robinson (2026)Midfielders:
Jake Te Hiwi (2026)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (2025)
Tanielu Tele'a (2025?)
Josh Whaanga (2027)
TUJ(2025?)Outside Backs:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Jona Nareki (2025)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (2025)
Jonah Lowe (2025)
Finn Hurley (2026)
Caleb Tangitau (2026)
Michael Manson(2025?)Quite a few coming off contract with only 1 in season extension so far in Fakatava. Hopefully Holland, Ma’u, JRK and Tavatavanawai are the next extensions we see.
Don’t forget tangitau is back to Auckland next year
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Has this been reported yet?
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/sam-gilbert-joins-connacht-rugby/bp3419/ -
@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
He looks a short lock who hasn't filled out yet. We have guys like Stodart, Haig and Howden who are all similar heights and have filled out. Would just seem like bringing in another guy of the same variation.
Haven't seen much of Makiri @Bones. How does he go. I reckon there could be an NPC outside or two who could play their way in. We could be looking for up to three outside backs with Gilbert leaving, likely Lowe and a question mark over Nareki...
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Tim said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Tai Cribb.
Apparently he is going to play for Auckland this year, but the Blues should have four locks and two lock/six players in their squad too. Worth signing?
He looks a short lock who hasn't filled out yet.
Cribb's best position is 6, but he has got by as a lock at U20 and NPC level.
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Joesph needs to take the blame for his original squad selections at lock. Naeata was his choice. James Thompson, for example, wasn't retained by the Blues and could have been a solid squad member to provide depth at lock. He did well in his brief appearances. He is now in the Chiefs WTG instead. Players will probably move for a full contract but aren't going to swap one WTG contract for another as easily.
@Bovidae I agree, but that also assumes these guys wanted to come. Not signing Will Tucker was a fuck up, but also, the bigger issues was Haig & Naeta, who were probably the two down to cover lock, have been unavailable for most of the season.
Hard to say whether not contracting locks is the issue, because we have refused to play our loose forwards there, which was presumably the plan.
There is a long-term plan, I would not be surprised if someone like James Thompson said no to a one-year deal.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Has this been reported yet?
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/sam-gilbert-joins-connacht-rugby/bp3419/@Daffy-Jaffy yeah, whole discussion just above your post
i agree there are similarities between gilbert and Collins just with their positions switched, Gilbert was growing nicely at 15 and then got moved to the midfield (and every other backline position) when we were short and never quite kicked on...collins was the other way, a very handy midfielder...that got shuffled out to 15 and then got a lot of shit for not being a 15. it maddening in a world where ive seen people have heated debates about the idea of a 13 playing 12....we shuffle other guys around that showed some promise like cheese pieces and then critique them form for not getting better
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@Daffy-Jaffy yeah, whole discussion just above your post
i agree there are similarities between gilbert and Collins just with their positions switched, Gilbert was growing nicely at 15 and then got moved to the midfield (and every other backline position) when we were short and never quite kicked on...collins was the other way, a very handy midfielder...that got shuffled out to 15 and then got a lot of shit for not being a 15. it maddening in a world where ive seen people have heated debates about the idea of a 13 playing 12....we shuffle other guys around that showed some promise like cheese pieces and then critique them form for not getting better
@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
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@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
Specialist no 23.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
Specialist no 23.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
Specialist no 23.
Ah, the Manson clause contract, I believe it's now called in rugby circles.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble It will be interesting to see what position he ends up playing at Connacht.
Specialist no 23.
Ah, the Manson clause contract, I believe it's now called in rugby circles.
