Highlanders 2025

frugby

@SouthernMann Again, it is totally possible that having been able to get some proper conditioning, he is actually just living up to his potential now.

Folau supposedly signed an extension last year, but don't know whether he had an out clause if he didn't make the All Blacks.

handa457

Based on my understanding of contracting we will probably loose DLB, Naeeta, Falefaga, Arscott, Lowe and Nareki this season with Talea, Fakatava and Sam Gilbert also off the books.

My assumption is that Fakatava and Gilbert both stay for another season. I think the excitement around JJ means a lot of players extend contacts for an additional season or two.

In terms of replacements Tengblad,, Hervey and Pledger seem shoe ins. Haven’t seen enough of Rangitura and Takaka to decide if they’ll fit in. But assume we’ll be after at the very least a 10 and an outside back from elsewhere. Wouldn’t surprise me if we try and grab an another young midfielder too given TUJ and Te Hiwi are off contract end of next season.

Canes4life

@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders 2025:

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:

Injury update list:

Oliver Haig (Foot / 4 weeks )
Jonah Lowe (ACL / 2-3 weeks )
Cameron Millar (Concussion / 1-2 weeks)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Neck / 4-5 weeks)
Finn Hurley (Quad / 1-2weeks)
Folau Fakatava (Hamstring / 1-2 weeks)
Hugh Renton (Groin / 1-2 weeks)

Considering all this players are in the 23 with the expectation of Lowe, that’s massive boost mid season

Lol how does Lowe still get contracts? He's spent more than half his career injured, same with TUJ I guess.

Kiwiwomble

@Canes4life you've got to look at the squad we had when we signed him, i went back and looked at the highlander threads and generally people were ok with it, i think hes been worse than he was when we signed him, length of contract the big thing...

handa457

@Canes4life we were so desperate for outside backs in the 22/3 season I don’t blame the highlanders

He was a ‘big’ powerful winger who was willing to commit to three years in the south. Not many were willing to do that. So it made sense back then.

Then we attracted decent players that outshone him, and people started shutting on him.

Canes4life

@Kiwiwomble @handa457 both fair points. Now you guys are stacked in the outsides so it will be interesting to see if he gets re-signed again after this year.

Kiwiwomble

@Canes4life ZERO chance...at least with us....surely

i dont know how stacked we are, gilbert still getting gametime when im sure we said preseason he was 3-4 choice at 15 and 2-3 choice at 12...dont even remember talking about him as a wing

SouthernMann

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:

@Canes4life ZERO chance...at least with us....surely

i dont know how stacked we are, gilbert still getting gametime when im sure we said preseason he was 3-4 choice at 15 and 2-3 choice at 12...dont even remember talking about him as a wing

The thing with Gilbert is that he is our first choice goal kicker.

A young backline and a steady hand. Kept Gilbert around.

I think he is probably our third string fullback. Behind JRK and Hurley. They were probably a touch worried by the little fella.

With our younger more capable players getting time in the saddle. The need for Gilbert is going.

As for our 2025 specialist tackle bag holder Lowe. Thanks for your service.

There are a few options. Luckily, most will get to start at the bottom.

Where the team is at now, means we aren't having to recruit players into the starting side. We are recruiting young and bringing them through.

frugby

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

The thing with Gilbert is that he is our first choice goal kicker.

Indirectly, the return of JRK might help Cam Millar mount a case for a place back in the starting XV, because in a tight competition goal kicking is so important. How is Robinson off the kicking tee?

UPDATE: He used to kick for Ta$man, so clearly not useless... was even kicking from fullback when Willy Havili played 10, so he can't be too bad.

SouthernMann

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

The thing with Gilbert is that he is our first choice goal kicker.

Indirectly, the return of JRK might help Cam Millar mount a case for a place back in the starting XV, because in a tight competition goal kicking is so important. How is Robinson off the kicking tee?

UPDATE: He used to kick for Ta$man, so clearly not useless... was even kicking from fullback when Willy Havili played 10, so he can't be too bad.

Millar v Robinson and the skillset they provide is an interesting conundrum. If the thought is that Robinson is the better playmaker. If they believe he will get the best out of his outsides and as a result we will score more tries, and be in a better position on the field. The play off between his goal kicking and Millar should not be part of the equation. If Robinson can knock over kicks from 45m and inside, and from the angle of 10 to 15m in from touch. Then he will do.

Then comes to later in the completion. When if the majority of the backs are fit, which one out of Millar and Gilbert make the bench. Or is there a world where neither or them make it? Where management roll the dice, hope Robinson plays 80, with Hurley as the in case of emergency cover.

SouthernMann

@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:

Based on my understanding of contracting we will probably loose DLB, Naeeta, Falefaga, Arscott, Lowe and Nareki this season with Talea, Fakatava and Sam Gilbert also off the books.

My assumption is that Fakatava and Gilbert both stay for another season. I think the excitement around JJ means a lot of players extend contacts for an additional season or two.

In terms of replacements Tengblad,, Hervey and Pledger seem shoe ins. Haven’t seen enough of Rangitura and Takaka to decide if they’ll fit in. But assume we’ll be after at the very least a 10 and an outside back from elsewhere. Wouldn’t surprise me if we try and grab an another young midfielder too given TUJ and Te Hiwi are off contract end of next season.

I think Mitch Dunshea will also be off contract. He initially signed a two year deal. I reckon it will be touch and go whether he stays. If he does. Will be surprised if it is for more than a year.

Thing with Fakatava, if he only wants another year. I don't see the value in it. Especially if Hastie becomes the no1. Let him go and secure Pledger and Lennox.

Gilbert. I agree. Keep for one more year. But will.be up to him. He will see his place in the squad slipping down the pecking order. If I was him I'd be chasing game time.

frugby

I think the idea will be to probably keep most of this year’s squad together. There is always the odd tweak but I’d say likely to only be up to 6 max leave. DLB, Arscott, Faleafaga & Lowe are the main four which spring to mind + probably a loose forward or 2?

SouthernMann

I consolidated the publicly available information about contract lengths. As stated in press releases. Quite a few players it was never stated. Then some who have been around a while are difficult to work out. I had a guess around some of the newer guys that they'd be on two year gigs.

Highlanders contracts:

Ending 2025

James Arscott
Folau Fakatava
JRK
Mitch Dunshea
DLB
Holland
Lowe
Nareki

Ending 2026
Hastie
Millar
Haig
Michaels
Te Hiwi
De Groot
Vikena
Tangitau
Lasaqa
Hurley
Faleafaga
Taylor
Bell
Stodart
Robinson

Ending 2027
Whaanga

Unknown

Naeata
TUJ
Tele'a (two years will run out 25)
Gilbert
Howden (two years will run out 26)
Wingham (two years will run out 25)
Ma'u
Withy
Bartlett (two years will be to 26)
Tavatavanawai (two years will be to 25)
Manson (two years to 26)
Broughton
Kautai (two years to 26)

Landers92

@SouthernMann Can confirm Taine Robinson is on a 2 year deal.

handa457

Interesting hear the TK Howden interview about how badly he wants to prove to the canes they made a mistake not giving him more game time.

He sounds like he’s got the sort of chip on his shoulder that Jamie Joseph loves to leverage

Canes4life

@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:

Interesting hear the TK Howden interview about how badly he wants to prove to the canes they made a mistake not giving him more game time.

He sounds like he’s got the sort of chip on his shoulder that Jamie Joseph loves to leverage

I suppose you can't get everyone on the park and the Canes loosies were on fire last year. Ironically if he stayed he would probably be starting now considering Flanders is out for most of the season.

SouthernMann

That faleafaga try was outstanding. It really reflects the directive of Jospeh. See it, have a go. Tangitau is not a kicking option. 35m out from his line. He had a go. That is a lot of trust for the players give it a nusge. Faleafaga showed good pace to follow it up as well.

As for next week

Id fit; Renton, Fakatava and Hurley come in.

frugby

The backs are what they are... Hurley and JRK make a huge difference, but not sure many other options exist outside those two - but Gilbert is done at this level I'm afraid. It reminds me of when Michael Collins played fullback for the Blues.

We can improve in the forwards, because we're still trying to find the balance. Thought Taylor was a bit disappointing again, but Vikena was good outside of that missed tackle for the try. Personally, I'd leave him as the impact man next week, and bring in Bell. Probably offers the least with the ball in hand, but he is far better around the ruck and on defence than the other two... and if we give him half a chance, McReight will do exactly what Kirifi did. Renton comes back in for the same reason. He has been far from good, but Broughton is too lightweight. Good skills to bring on off the bench, but he isn't the hulking eight we require. Dunshea might be due a partial rest, so we could lineup like:

De Groot
Bell
Ma'u
Stodart
Holland
Howden
Withy
Renton

Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Dunshea
Lasaqa
Broughton

Landers92

Bravehearts squad to take on Crusaders Development today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHMnO69T9IM/?igsh=MmdoNDE0cWI0amlt

SouthernMann

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

The backs are what they are... Hurley and JRK make a huge difference, but not sure many other options exist outside those two - but Gilbert is done at this level I'm afraid. It reminds me of when Michael Collins played fullback for the Blues.

We can improve in the forwards, because we're still trying to find the balance. Thought Taylor was a bit disappointing again, but Vikena was good outside of that missed tackle for the try. Personally, I'd leave him as the impact man next week, and bring in Bell. Probably offers the least with the ball in hand, but he is far better around the ruck and on defence than the other two... and if we give him half a chance, McReight will do exactly what Kirifi did. Renton comes back in for the same reason. He has been far from good, but Broughton is too lightweight. Good skills to bring on off the bench, but he isn't the hulking eight we require. Dunshea might be due a partial rest, so we could lineup like:

De Groot

Bell

Ma'u

Stodart

Holland

Howden

Withy

Renton

Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Dunshea
Lasaqa
Broughton

While you are the president of the Henry Bell fan club. I highly doubt he comes in. Jack Taylor stays at hooker.

With the loosies. Withy actually won at least two really important turnovers. It is just we came up against Kirifi. Who was outstanding. Teams are also combating Tavatavanawai at the breakdown as well. Perhaps we just need to provide some extra numbers to the breakdown.

We need Hurley and Fakatava back. As well as making a decision about Gilbert and backing the other guys available.

The Silver Fern

Highlanders 2025