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.