Highlanders 2026

Bones

@Canes4life I hang my head in shame

upthelanders

Xavier Tito-Harris was impressive tonight aswell.

That Canterbury 13 is a great player too, Jone Rova. Imagine a midfield of him and big Jim…

Bovidae

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

They were looking for an experienced tighthead, guess he fits the bill.

As the no.3 TH? Surely Kautai offers more?

SouthernMann

@Nogusta said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

Seems an odd move for him.

Blues left him with not much choice, got squeezed out.
Landers have sounded out Xavier Tito Harris as well about a shift south.
Pretty much straight on the phone to him after his first round hat trick performance

And is he interested?

cgrant

Solomon is talented but not more than Finn Hurley who seems to run faster. Both are midgets and the way Solomon tried to tackle the Waikato hooker on Saturday is an ominous sign of things to come, but I hope I will be wrong and he will become a SR very good player.

handa457

Any updates on the number eight front? Loose head prop or midfield? I remember Meihana Grindlay was being tossed around as an option. Did that go anywhere or die off?

Canes4life

@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:

Xavier Tito-Harris was impressive tonight aswell.

That Canterbury 13 is a great player too, Jone Rova. Imagine a midfield of him and big Jim…

Apparently Rova has signed for the Canes.

Tim

@Nogusta Any word on who replaces Ta'avao at the Blues?

Nogusta

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:

@Nogusta said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

Seems an odd move for him.

Blues left him with not much choice, got squeezed out.
Landers have sounded out Xavier Tito Harris as well about a shift south.
Pretty much straight on the phone to him after his first round hat trick performance

And is he interested?

Yea hes very keen to get a SR gig. Not fussed where it is.

frugby

Tito-Harris would suggest Jonah Lowe has been shown the door.

frugby

Update on the Jacomb situation. Negotiations still ongoing - would seem Jacomb is keen, but there are some complexities to work through in relation to him still being contracted to the Chiefs for next year.

I would be surprised if that deal did not get completed.

Mr Fish

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

Update on the Jacomb situation. Negotiations still ongoing - would seem Jacomb is keen, but there are some complexities to work through in relation to him still being contracted to the Chiefs for next year.

I would be surprised if that deal did not get completed.

Can see a bit of a merry-go-round situation developing around the country with the 10s. Maybe Cashmore ends up back at the Chiefs? Not sure the Hurricanes need all of Love Harkin, Godrey and Cashmore.

Trig

@Mr-Fish Cashmore already announced as a departure from the Hurricanes so could be an option for Chiefs if he hasn't signed elsewhere

Mauss

Jacomb is an interesting one. Liam Napier makes the argument in the Herald that the only thing stopping him from developing is game time at the next level, but I’m not sure I agree. He’s largely built his reputation as a first five from his performances for Taranaki in the NPC, when they won the comp in 2023 with their effective double pod attacking shape. But he hasn’t really been able to transfer these performances to other levels, whether it’s at the Chiefs or All Blacks XV.

Add to this the fact that teams are being increasingly successful at shutting the Taranaki attack down – only 5 line breaks from 149 carries and 61% of possession in last year’s semi-final against Waikato, for a total of 14 points scored in 80 minutes; 16 dominant tackles for the North Harbour defence this Saturday versus only 5 in last year’s match-up – and you’re starting to get the sense that Jacomb is, at his core, a systems player. Someone who is excellent at putting effective attacking structures into place but who can struggle when those shapes are being foiled by opposition defence.

Just to be clear, that’s not necessarily a critique of Jacomb or, at least, not a judgment that he can’t be successful at the Highlanders. Being able to execute attacking game plans is a crucial skill of any first five. But Jacomb doesn’t strike me as a player who will be a success in whatever environment he’s put in (unlike, say, a player of Ruben Love’s calibre who can still impose his athleticism and game-breaking ability, if the attack plan is failing).

Any successful potential stint for Jacomb at the Highlanders, in other words, will also largely depend on the plans and tactics of Highlanders attack coach, Cory Brown. If he can come up with an effective attacking system, then I think Jacomb could be the perfect puzzle piece to take the Highlanders to the next level.

cgrant

Though still very young, Muliaina seems to have all the tools for the upper level. Maybe not in 2026, but probably in 2027.

SouthernMann

We are looking like there wil be a nice arsenal of outside backs for whoever the 10 is to unleash. Albeit quite young.

Fullbacks:
JRK
Hurley
Solomon

Wings:
Tangitau
Nareki
Tito-Harris (may be)

That is a fair bit of raw talent outwide.

With Jacomb, I'm a bit with @Mauss he probably isn't as good as what some think. On the other hand, he is several steps ahead of the two we have on contract at the moment in Taine Robinson and Cam Millar. He will also potentially join a team with seferal familiar faces from Taranaki. Mika Muliaina is the end target for that jersey. We just don't want to have our hand forced and have him starting at 19 or 20. Hurley/Solomon may be seen as 10s as well. Have one of them coming off the bench to lift the tempo.

frugby

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:

We are looking like there wil be a nice arsenal of outside backs for whoever the 10 is to unleash. Albeit quite young.

Fullbacks:
JRK
Hurley
Solomon

Wings:
Tangitau
Nareki
Tito-Harris (may be)

That is a fair bit of raw talent outwide.

With Jacomb, I'm a bit with @Mauss he probably isn't as good as what some think. On the other hand, he is several steps ahead of the two we have on contract at the moment in Taine Robinson and Cam Millar. He will also potentially join a team with seferal familiar faces from Taranaki. Mika Muliaina is the end target for that jersey. We just don't want to have our hand forced and have him starting at 19 or 20. Hurley/Solomon may be seen as 10s as well. Have one of them coming off the bench to lift the tempo.

Whole-heartedly agree. Jacomb might not be what some think, but is the best available and should be an upgrade on what we have.

And who knows, maybe being the main man will see him take his game to new heights.

Fredsaua12

would like to see Nic Shearer involved with the landers in 2026. Has been impressive for Southland so far

Bovidae

@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2026:

Can see a bit of a merry-go-round situation developing around the country with the 10s. Maybe Cashmore ends up back at the Chiefs?

Yes, the Chiefs won't be giving up Jacomb without a suitable replacement. Especially if the story about Trask also leaving is correct.

Canes4life

@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

Update on the Jacomb situation. Negotiations still ongoing - would seem Jacomb is keen, but there are some complexities to work through in relation to him still being contracted to the Chiefs for next year.

I would be surprised if that deal did not get completed.

Can see a bit of a merry-go-round situation developing around the country with the 10s. Maybe Cashmore ends up back at the Chiefs? Not sure the Hurricanes need all of Love Harkin, Godrey and Cashmore.

Harkin or Godfrey could be targets after next season. Godfrey might be the guy that eventually loses out on game time, especially if they see Love as the 10 going forward. If Godfrey doesn't see much gametime next year, he will likely look for a new home. Playing under the roof would suit his style. He has also played plenty of rugby with Fakatava at HB.

The Silver Fern

Highlanders 2026