Highlanders 2026
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Highlanders website is notorious for being poorly updated. I recall in the 2024 season, a lot of the academy info was wrong, player profiles had mistakes around caps and a lot of the team records were wrong or outdated. So hopefully this is another example of poor website management not Wingham not returning.
It is more reflecting the other players that have been removed. None of which appear to be coming back. The only one that could be apart from Wingham is Loft.
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@SouthernMann that's true. Though interestingly Arscott, and Michaels are still listed, as is DLB. So I'm just hoping it's a mistake.
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann that's true. Though interestingly Arscott, and Michaels are still listed, as is DLB. So I'm just hoping it's a mistake.
Michaels is still under contract. He could be, he might not be. Who knows.
Arscott, well we know he is going. Will be working through and removing him I'm sure.
DLB is a strong chance to be returning.
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The website is getting updated as we speak, because player bios have been updated. It seemed like they had pretty much all been updated, but the notable ones which weren't of guys still on there: James, Arscott, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Hayden Michaels, Jake Te Hiwi, Jonah Lowe, Sefo Kautai.
I'd say pretty revealing that nothing has changed for DLB and Michaels.
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So we have
Wingham (full squad gone) - replaced by Ta'avao
Naeata - replaced by Lavanini
Michaels - replaced by???
Arscott - replaced by Lennox
Hastie - replaced by Pledger
Faleafaga - replaced by Knewstubb
TUJ - replaced by Pasitoa
Gilbert - replaced by Solomon
Manson - replaced by Tito-Harris -
Presumably one of Grandly or Casey get shifted to full squad.
How do we feel about DLB returning? I haven't watched his NPC form but he's been quite Dogshite the last few seasons so I'm surprised he's back in the mix. Did his form improve for NPC? Feels like there's surely got to be a young Loosehead who offers more than he does.
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Presumably one of Grandly or Casey get shifted to full squad.
How do we feel about DLB returning? I haven't watched his NPC form but he's been quite Dogshite the last few seasons so I'm surprised he's back in the mix. Did his form improve for NPC? Feels like there's surely got to be a young Loosehead who offers more than he does.
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Presumably one of Grandly or Casey get shifted to full squad.
How do we feel about DLB returning? I haven't watched his NPC form but he's been quite Dogshite the last few seasons so I'm surprised he's back in the mix. Did his form improve for NPC? Feels like there's surely got to be a young Loosehead who offers more than he does.
I'm fine with DLB sticking around. He's clearly the third loosehead.
There are benefits of him being there from a historical standpoint as well. This will be his 13th season. It is his second stint with JJ as coach as well. He has seen, the good, bad and ugly of the last decade and a bit at the Landers. He is an intermediatory between the playing group and the coaching staff.
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Am I the only one that thought Wingham had a really good NPC season? Bit of a shame he’s not in the squad
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I thought Wingham had a good solid NPC, but I think we would be re-writing history to say he looked like anything other than a passable third option - his scrummaging was still hardly convincing. Ta'avao I think will prove a solid third choice.
It's not like he will sign anywhere else, so if he improves, then he is still going to be there for us.
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I thought Wingham had a good solid NPC, but I think we would be re-writing history to say he looked like anything other than a passable third option - his scrummaging was still hardly convincing. Ta'avao I think will prove a solid third choice.
It's not like he will sign anywhere else, so if he improves, then he is still going to be there for us.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
I thought Wingham had a good solid NPC, but I think we would be re-writing history to say he looked like anything other than a passable third option - his scrummaging was still hardly convincing. Ta'avao I think will prove a solid third choice.
It's not like he will sign anywhere else, so if he improves, then he is still going to be there for us.
It is his workrate that impressed me. There were a couple of games where he put in massive shifts. Making 20+ tackles. Managing a fair bit around the ruck and doing a lot of clean out work. That is a huge upside for a prop.
I don't mind the idea of him spending a decent block on the training field. If he is being told a story that it is the priority for thebyewr ahead. That Ta'avao is coming down and will swap in for him and he returns in 2027. That next year is a technical development period.
Have to remember Sefo Kautai is hardly an inspiring player either.
Joseph has talked about being a bit more methodical about bringing in tight forwards. That they can't progress as young guys like halfbacks or outside backs can.
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Few interesting things in here. Sexton is confirmed to have a wider training group Gig with a Super Rugby franchise. Assuming that’s the highlanders, and Hayden Michael’s is apparently returning to the landers.
Aho, Peni and Paula Latu likely off to MP.
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Few interesting things in here. Sexton is confirmed to have a wider training group Gig with a Super Rugby franchise. Assuming that’s the highlanders, and Hayden Michael’s is apparently returning to the landers.
Aho, Peni and Paula Latu likely off to MP.
Sextons wider training group I believe is with the Crusaders for next year
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Didn’t watch the game but hearing comments that Jacomb was very poor. Is this an overreaction? Or was he truly that bad?
@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Didn’t watch the game but hearing comments that Jacomb was very poor. Is this an overreaction? Or was he truly that bad?
He was awful, they won in spite of him. Shining light being I don't see how he could play worse (although his kicking from the tee was very good, so I guess he could miss those).
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Generally on squad announcement day there is always one super random name which pops up, and the Highlanders have somewhat had a history of it in the loose forwards.
Unsure if he has a deal somewhere, but am going to throw out Cooper Flanders as the potential openside flanker.
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Generally on squad announcement day there is always one super random name which pops up, and the Highlanders have somewhat had a history of it in the loose forwards.
Unsure if he has a deal somewhere, but am going to throw out Cooper Flanders as the potential openside flanker.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Generally on squad announcement day there is always one super random name which pops up, and the Highlanders have somewhat had a history of it in the loose forwards.
Unsure if he has a deal somewhere, but am going to throw out Cooper Flanders as the potential openside flanker.
Another back rower?
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Generally on squad announcement day there is always one super random name which pops up, and the Highlanders have somewhat had a history of it in the loose forwards.
Unsure if he has a deal somewhere, but am going to throw out Cooper Flanders as the potential openside flanker.
Another back rower?
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Generally on squad announcement day there is always one super random name which pops up, and the Highlanders have somewhat had a history of it in the loose forwards.
Unsure if he has a deal somewhere, but am going to throw out Cooper Flanders as the potential openside flanker.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Generally on squad announcement day there is always one super random name which pops up, and the Highlanders have somewhat had a history of it in the loose forwards.
Unsure if he has a deal somewhere, but am going to throw out Cooper Flanders as the potential openside flanker.
Unless they are deciding Withy isn't a seven. I can't see it. Squads don't normally carry more than three and we already have our three for 2027 with Withy, Lasaqa and Casey. Bringing in an uncapped 22-year-old for one year doesn't seem likely. Unless they are pushing Withy to another role.
Like many positions we also have the youngest cohort of openside flankers. While the likes of the Blues or Canes have less congested pathway to starting with older guys who may be moving on.
Hoping there is one surprise though. It all seems a bit ho-hum having a fair idea of the squad that will come out.
