After a comprehensive first up win against Moana, the Canes now travel to Lautoka to play the Drua, before jetting off to Sydney for the week.

It's almost guaranteed Cameron will be out for the season by the looks of his leg on Friday so I'm hoping they persist with Harkin at 10.

A little worrying that Laidlaw didn't realise Harkin had played plenty of 10 for Wellington in the last couple of years. He's quoted saying in the presser post-game on Friday that Harkin 'had played 10 at club level so this was a couple notches up'.... like really? Isn't your job in the off-season to watch these guys?

It's expected Walker-Leawere, Lomax, Tosi and Punivai will all be available for this clash, Kirifi likely available for the Tahs clash next week. Higgins is in doubt after taking a head knock for the Hunters on Saturday. Doesn't mean he was concussed as such, but he does have a massive shiner which indicates heavy contact.

My predicted 23 for this game is:

1. Numia
2. Aumua
3. Tosi
4. Plummer
5. Dearns
6. Flanders
7. Lakai
8. Iose
9. Roigard
10. Harkin
11. Fineanganofo
12. Barrett (c)
13. Proctor
14. Sullivan
15. Moorby
16. Devery
17. Mafileo
18. Lomax
19. Walker-Leawere
20. Poliko
21. Enari
22. Cashmore
23. Punivai

@Canes4life Since Harkin’s match winning penalty against BOP in the 24 Final he has played 0 minutes at 10 for the Lions. The evergreen and ever reliable JGB has that position sewed up. So Laidlaw is more right than wrong

Another dooley to the mix eh...

@SecFid said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life Since Harkin’s match winning penalty against BOP in the 24 Final he has played 0 minutes at 10 for the Lions. The evergreen and ever reliable JGB has that position sewed up. So Laidlaw is more right than wrong

Yeah, but he alluded to the fact he had never played 10 at NPC level, he played there quite a lot in 2024 when the Lions won the thing.

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Another dooley to the mix eh...

Just need Higgins in the 23 to make it 7 Dooley's.

@Canes4life Laidlaw said that he had played a lot of 10 at club level and didn’t even mention NPC.

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Another dooley to the mix eh...

Just need Higgins in the 23 to make it 7 Dooley's.

He's not injured, he's gone to Scotland for contract negotiations.

@MN5 said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Another dooley to the mix eh...

Just need Higgins in the 23 to make it 7 Dooley's.

He's not injured, he's gone to Scotland for contract negotiations.

That's a common symptom from a bad head knock.

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@SecFid said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life Since Harkin’s match winning penalty against BOP in the 24 Final he has played 0 minutes at 10 for the Lions. The evergreen and ever reliable JGB has that position sewed up. So Laidlaw is more right than wrong

Yeah, but he alluded to the fact he had never played 10 at NPC level, he played there quite a lot in 2024 when the Lions won the thing.

Yeah thats extremely weird - ive generally viewed him as a 10 playing out of position this whole time, thinking they just saw him as a better full back (or in the Lions case, 12, 11,14,15)

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Another dooley to the mix eh...

Just need Higgins in the 23 to make it 7 Dooley's.

I meant Sectare Fidem!

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Another dooley to the mix eh...

Just need Higgins in the 23 to make it 7 Dooley's.

I meant Sectare Fidem!

Alright so 5 if Higgins gets back into the 23. Shame TJay Clarke isn’t still around.

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Another dooley to the mix eh...

Just need Higgins in the 23 to make it 7 Dooley's.

I meant Sectare Fidem!

There will be dozens more after we win McEvedy next week.

@Boourns geez that's a blast from the past, did my bit in 96.

Callum Harkin media stand up:

Fehi Fineanganofo media stand up:

Bryn Evans media stand up:

@Canes4life Higgins not in 23 , Lakai 7
Harkin 10

@george33 said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life Higgins not in 23 , Lakai 7
Harkin 10

Thanks for the scoop, didn't think Higgins would be available after the head knock he took in the dev game on Saturday.

Looks like Roigard and Proctor to come into the starting side, Moorby to 15, Harkin to 10, Sullivan to the wing. Cashmore onto the bench.

Drua

Haereiti Hetet, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Motikiai Murray, Elia Canakaivata, Frank Lomani (c), Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Epeli Momo, Isikeli Rabitu, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Joji Nasova, Ilaisa Droasese

Replacements: Kavaia Tagivetaua, Emosi Tuqiri, Peni Ravai, Vilive Miramira, Kitione Salawa, Isoa Tuwai, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Inia Tabuavou

Hurricanes

Pouri Rakete-Stones, Asafo Aumua, Tevita Mafileo, Hugo Plummer, Warner Dearns, Devan Flanders, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Cam Roigard, Callum Harkin, Fehi Fineanganofo, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan, Josh Moorby

Replacements: Jacob Devery, Xavier Numia, Siale Lauaki, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields, Ereatara Enari, Lucas Cashmore, Ngane Punivai

Can anyone shed some light on whether that Drua side is strong or not?

Interesting that all of Lomax, Higgins and Tosi are all available but not selected.

Delany and Kirifi likely back next week as well so still plenty of firepower to return.

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Can anyone shed some light on whether that Drua side is strong or not?

Interesting that all of Lomax, Higgins and Tosi are all available but not selected.

Delany and Kirifi likely back next week as well so still plenty of firepower to return.

That seems like a lot of firepower to not even have on the bench. We don't want to needlessly ship points

@canefan said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Can anyone shed some light on whether that Drua side is strong or not?

Interesting that all of Lomax, Higgins and Tosi are all available but not selected.

Delany and Kirifi likely back next week as well so still plenty of firepower to return.

That seems like a lot of firepower to not even have on the bench. We don't want to needlessly ship points

I think our squad is strong enough to get the job done in Fiji. We still need fresh players for Sydney next week so it’s smart holding a few of our ABs back.

Just confirming that the advance party of kiwis going to the game arrived in Nadi yesterday. The welcoming grog session was relatively short and finished sometime between midnight and 1.00am (lots of the locals present had work today) but can report that I have not lost any of my touch. I have another one tonight to present my sevusevu but again with work tomorrow it might last only a couple of hours. The Fijians tend to mix a strong brew compared to most of the other Islands but somehow I seem to be able to cope reasonably well without the after effects being all that obvious!!!!

As an aside I ran into a one time nanny of Lucas Cashmore at a barbershop in downtown Nadi this afternoon (her son was getting his hair cut). She is getting excited about the 'Canes arrival on Thursday when she will again meet up with her former charge at Nadi Airport. I left her my phone number just in case she scores any free tickets from the players on the off chance she might have one left over!!!!!

Not as hot as normal today and thankfully the humidity was slightly more bearable for palagi intruders. Haven't looked ahead as far as Saturday but I expect no matter what the weather throws at us it will be a challenge for the visitors to get through.

Even worse, Higgins has travelled ahead of the squad and still isn't playing.

@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

Even worse, Higgins has travelled ahead of the squad and still isn't playing.

I brought my mouthguard, boots and jockstrap with me just in case of any late injuries.

The sevuevu presentation went pretty acceptably given my lack of reasonably recent practice. Have managed to get myself invited to the Natubua High School Inter House Athletics up in Lautoka tomorrow but a bit worried about the 1000hrs start which means getting myself picked up about 0900hrs to make it in time for the 100m races in which one of my sort of grandkids is taking part in. Might have a bit of trouble recognising him as he will have grown a bit in the last 14 years since I last saw him but at least he will have ditched the shitty nappies in the intervening years (or at least I hope so!).

@Higgins have a great time mate

@canefan said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Higgins have a great time matey

Thanks, it is certainly bringing back memories from over the almost 25 years I have been coming to Fiji. Admittedly it is been 14 years since my last visit (personal things have not always worked out to give me the freedom to come up) but there has been plenty of talk about things that we got up to during those visits and a lot of emotion felt on both sides when talk centered around the passing of at least four people from my "family" during those intervening years. I will be visiting their resting places, probably on Friday, to spend time sitting and talking with them. I think it will be extremely therapeutic for me just spending private time with them, especially as I am now reaching the age where life becomes more of when full time is going to be called rather than something that might happen in thirty or forty years time.

Despite the length of time the "family" connection is probably stronger now than it was when I came more regularly with everyone just so happy to see me and to know that I have not forgotten about them. Have still yet to meet up with my namesake but that will definitely happen on Saturday when Grandpa takes his boy to watch rugby together for the first time ever up at Churchill Park (he does not even know I am in the country so it will be a massive surprise). More particularly poignant will be both of us sitting together listening to my very special Daniel Rae Costello song that I have used to comfort me since his birth knowing that having a standard grandpa grandson relationship in the normal sense is neigh on impossible.

The last time I was here I went to his fifth birthday party and this Saturday will be his 20th birthday so he is not my special little boy anymore but a full grown man. Where have all the intervening years gone, missing out on so much development he has gone through without me?

As you can guess I am very emotional at the moment writing this with lots of tears freely flowing and backed up by some power from above sending down quite an unexpected heavy rain shower indicating that something else is also sending me a message that I am not the only one feeling the same.

Strangely enough writing this has given me great personal comfort. despite inflicting it upon any or our members that might take the time to read it.

Vinaka from a mercifully cooler (or should that really read "not so stinking hot") Nadi.

That looks a fairly weak side for Drua. Several of their best players either not involved or on the bench. Canes will have to wait another week before their first hit out against a strong team.

Reconnaissance mission to Churchill Park completed yesterday and have already staked out the best viewing spots. In reality the word cheapest is more appropriate as I have discovered that at least half a dozen or so kids apparently had been promised by someone else that I would be taking them!!! I have grave fears that that number might raise to upward of thirteen as that's about the number of seats in the minivans that ply their trade between Nadi and Lautoka.

Having so many kids in tow sort of solves the quandary I noticed of not spotting any places you could drop into for a quiet beer or three close to the ground. There must be one or two tucked away somewhere but not really an option available now for a supposedly responsible adult entrusted with kids to look after.

Man these conditions are sub-standard.

Aumua back to his best with his throwing. Ffs. Get it straight. Can’t hookers throw in this competition?

2 butchered throws by Aumua - admittedly tough conditions

There’s some real class about Harkin.

love having Fineanganofo in my fantasy team

Very nice play Canes for a try

@Grooter said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

love having Fineanganofo in my fantasy team

I swapped him out last minute because of the rain. Argggh

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

There’s some real class about Harkin.

He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs

@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

There’s some real class about Harkin.

He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs

Not at 10 but he would’ve been starting at 15

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

There’s some real class about Harkin.

He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs

Not at 10 but he would’ve been starting at 15

At 10 I meant. He suits 10 better.

@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:

There’s some real class about Harkin.

He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs

Not at 10 but he would’ve been starting at 15

At 10 I meant. He suits 10 better.

Yeah funnily I actually think he could be our best 10.

Just needed a chance.

Canes just need to go up the guts in this game.