Otago 2025

@handa457 said in Otago 2025:

A few thoughts

1. Surley if Will Tucker is locked in at the Canes he should be with Otago this season?
2. What happened with Ale Aho? Highlanders high performance programme, fast tracked into NPC. Waratahs contract. Then suddenly midway through the super rugby season he's playing club rugby in Christchurch. Can anyone help me understand what went wrong? And where he's off too next?
3. With Fabian Holland potentially in the All Blacks. How the hell did we not lock down Tengblad?
4. How Aione Lolife gone in club rugby this year? He dosn't seem to factor into Highlanders plans with the rise of Kempton and probably has Mcewan, Coltman and Bell ahead of him at Otago. Can't head south either given the logjam of hookers there too.
5. Is Josh Timu still playing? I haven't followed club rugby this season. Feel like he's been made of glass since 2020. Similarly has Tom Sanders retired?
6. Is Waisake still floating around Dunedin? Know he got an NPC contract a year or two back and immediately got injured. Would he still be a chance to make this squad?

Timu is running around for Southern in the midfield, would expect him to be named in the squad again.

Tom Sanders has vanished.

Not a chance with Waisake. He only comes off the bench every now and then for Harbour. His knee is buggered.

The biggest benefit of Waisake Naholo is being a constant at Harbour Rugby Club. Especially around guys who would remember him as the legend he was when he was at his best for the Highlanders.

What I have also been told is Marty Banks is proving to be a heck of a cosch at club level. A heck of a man motivator.

@SouthernMann said in Otago 2025:

The biggest benefit of Waisake Naholo is being a constant at Harbour Rugby Club. Especially around guys who would remember him as the legend he was when he was at his best for the Highlanders.

What I have also been told is Marty Banks is proving to be a heck of a cosch at club level. A heck of a man motivator.

Could definitely see a world where in five years B Smith is Landers coach, and Banks is the attack coach.

Sam Nemec-Vial is currently injured but should be back before club season finishes (fingers crossed) Timu will be back

Otago coaching team confirmed.

Head coach - Mark Brown
Back & Attack coach - Ryan Bambry
Forwards and Set Piece coach - Will Henry
Defence coach - Lee Allen
Back & Skills coach - Mitchell Scott

anyone got the Mark Browns history?

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:

anyone got the Mark Browns history?

Not a household name but I found this was the best information I could find when he was first named. Should give you an idea.

Dunedin man. Played Otago B’s then took off overseas. Coached Canterbury age grade then co coached Canterbury with Rueben Thorne. Those are the key parts.

cheers

Apparently he isn't based in Dunedin yet.

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:

anyone got the Mark Browns history?

He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.

@Chris said in Otago 2025:

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:

anyone got the Mark Browns history?

He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.

Now now, I know Reuben Thorne is a protected species in Canterbury land but Mark can’t take all the blame

@Landers92 said in Otago 2025:

@Chris said in Otago 2025:

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:

anyone got the Mark Browns history?

He didn't have a great record with Canterbury and got moved aside.

Now now, I know Reuben Thorne is a protected species in Canterbury land but Mark can’t take all the blame

I wasn’t talking about Thorne he was shit as well.
Someone asked about Browns record and it was answered Brown was poor.
I have talked to people who were coached by Brown I was not given a great response .

@Chris haha I’m only kidding around mate.

Put it this way though, he can’t be worse than Donnelly.

@Landers92 said in Otago 2025:

@Chris haha I’m only kidding around mate.

Put it this way though, he can’t be worse than Donnelly.

Yeah no idea how he will go in a different enviroment a change maybe good for him.

Max Ratcliffe has been signed for the upcoming season.

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

Max Ratcliffe has been signed for the upcoming season.

for those of us out the the region, good? bad?

obvious will google but in the interest of some chat

From what I have read. Is a Hawke's Bay product out, playing for the Sharks. Primarily a seven, can play eight as well. Big strong kid. Had some injuries. Is still only 21. Played for NZ baabaas during the U20s comp. He was also thr 2024 U20s player of the year for the Landers.

Probably the back up 7 to Harry Taylor. If Lio-Willie is with the ABs all season. One of Toleafoa or Casey will be af 8.

Casey will be 8? Surely Stodart will be 8?

I think Stodart is going to play a lot of lock

@SouthernMann I hope not. Needs to be playing 8.