Otago 2025

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

@Landers92 said in Otago 2025:

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

@SouthernMann said in Otago 2025:
I'm expecting to see some plonker from outside Otago bought in at lock.

Could be headed the same way with our midfield again after the news that Josh Whaanga has injured his knee. Doesn’t sound too great at the moment.

At the moment it’s looking like TUJ, Gilbert could be asked to play there and a Josh Timu recall. Expect Joe Cooke to be around the squad again too.

Whaanga as you say is MCL - but I've heard he is gone for the season. Timu trained as a tackle bag holder with the ABs, so expect him to get named. With Te Hiwi & probably TUJ that should leave us reasonably covered in the first instance. Gilbert will probably be used as an outside back?

Wonder if Creighton is coming back.

He is out for 8 weeks. The goal is he will be back by the middle of the season

I'd treat Gilbert like a band-aid. Just go where the gaps are. Everywhere from 10 out. Spend most of the year in the 22 jersey

@SouthernMann For right or for wrong, I'd expect him to be captain which means he basically has to start. I suppose they might use him at 12 as a glue kind of guy.

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

@SouthernMann For right or for wrong, I'd expect him to be captain which means he basically has to start. I suppose they might use him at 12 as a glue kind of guy.

That would be massively disappointing from a succession planning perspective. He is leaving. He has guys in the positions he plays staying and available. Leadership group, fine. Captain, just stupid. There are a lack of options, but a roadblock is not the right one. Give it to either Haig or Stodart.

Side will be announced on Tuesday at a breakfast.

@SouthernMann can you copy the text? Thanks

@macmanus said in Otago 2025:

@SouthernMann can you copy the text? Thanks

Nah. The forum has a policy of not copying text from behind paywalls. ODT subscriptions are only $17 a month. It helps ensure content keeps getting delivered.

@SouthernMann sorry, I didn’t know.

Paul Dwyer talking about three guys coming in from out of province. Two from Australia and one from Christchurch. Likely filling the obvious holes at lock, midfield and probably outside back.

Fairly confident the overseas midfielder is Charlie Powell who played for Southland last year.

I believe the midfielder from Canterbury is Jae Broomfield. Was Canterbury B player of the year last season and can also cover wing. Very classy player with great turn of pace

Otago squad.

Players unavailable:

Holland, Christian Lio-Willie and George Bower are with the All Blacks, and Finn Hurley (quad, 10-12 weeks), Oliver Haig (ankle, 4-6 weeks), Jona Nareki (knee, 4-6 weeks), Josh Whaanga (knee, 6-8 weeks) and Jake Te Hiwi (groin, 4-6 weeks) are sidelined.

NPC squad

Hookers: Liam Coltman (Utah Warriors), Henry Bell (Kaikorai), A-One Lolofie (Zingari-Richmond).

Props: George Bower (Harbour), Benjamin Lopas (Green Island), Saula Ma’u (Harbour), Abraham Pole (Harbour), Moana Takataka (Kaikorai), Rohan Wingham (Dunedin).

Locks: Fabian Holland (Dunedin), Joseva Tamani (Fijian Drua), Will Tucker (Kaikorai).

Loose forwards: Lucas Casey (Kaikorai), Max Ratcliffe (Dunedin), Will Stodart (University), Harry Taylor (Southern), Konrad Toleafoa (Southern), Christian Lio-Willie (Kaikorai), Oliver Haig (Green Island).

Halfbacks: Nathan Hastie (Harbour), Dylan Pledger (Kaikorai), Bob Martin (Taieri).

First five: Cameron Millar (Taieri).

Midfield backs: Sam Gilbert (Green Island), Jake Te Hiwi (Green Island), Josh Timu (Southern), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (University), Josh Whaanga (Taieri).

Outside backs: Jeremiah Asi (University), Finn Hurley (Green Island), Jona Nareki (Alhambra-Union), Charlie Powell (Manly Marlins).

With all the injured players. There wil be several listed as cover/development players

Tengblad has indeed been lost then... had some sauce last week that he was sticking around for this season but clearly that was referring to the Highlanders.

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

Tengblad has indeed been lost then... had some sauce last week that he was sticking around for this season but clearly that was referring to the Highlanders.

Nah. If you read the article you'd see he is mentioned. Should likely be listed as a development player. Reading between the lines.

"Lock was always going to be a position of concern now Fabian Holland is virtually certain to be a regular in the All Blacks and New Zealand under-20 giant Josh Tengblad is being developed carefully."

@SouthernMann would hope Rique Miln is in as injury cover, he's a 10 but might be able to provide similar dynamic plays to Finn Hurley

@Grooter said in Otago 2025:

@SouthernMann would hope Rique Miln is in as injury cover, he's a 10 but might be able to provide similar dynamic plays to Finn Hurley

I want to see Miln get some starts at 10. We all now know what Millar can do. Try to see what some of the other options are like.

Not naming Tengblad in the full squad is just ridiculous. He can be ‘developed carefully’ in the full squad, he’s clearly up to NPC level. Unless there is some loophole they are utilizing where they can elevate him due to other injuries it doesn’t really make much sense. Same for Kyan Rangitutia. Get your young guys locked in.

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

Tengblad has indeed been lost then... had some sauce last week that he was sticking around for this season but clearly that was referring to the Highlanders.

This was posted in another thread:

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2025:

NZ U20 lock Josh Tengbald has also signed with Auckland but for the 2027 season , will be linking up with the Highlanders for 2026

The Otago line about him "being developed carefully" is strange. If the above rumour is true they have two years to make use of him. Are they punishing him for moving at a later date?

@Duluth said in Otago 2025:

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

Tengblad has indeed been lost then... had some sauce last week that he was sticking around for this season but clearly that was referring to the Highlanders.

This was posted in another thread:

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2025:

NZ U20 lock Josh Tengbald has also signed with Auckland but for the 2027 season , will be linking up with the Highlanders for 2026

The Otago line about him "being developed carefully" is strange. If the above rumour is true they have two years to make use of him. Are they punishing him for moving at a later date?

Probably a Highlanders directive of don't break our injury prone big man before the start of the Super season by thrashing him every week during the NPC

@SouthernMann

Which could achieved with a normal contract. I know NPC isn't lucrative but I assume a dev contract will pay less

@Duluth said in Otago 2025:

@SouthernMann

Which could achieved with a normal contract. I know NPC isn't lucrative but I assume a dev contract will pay less

My understanding is all national U20 players get NPC level contracts anyway.

@SouthernMann said in Otago 2025:

@Duluth said in Otago 2025:

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

Tengblad has indeed been lost then... had some sauce last week that he was sticking around for this season but clearly that was referring to the Highlanders.

This was posted in another thread:

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2025:

NZ U20 lock Josh Tengbald has also signed with Auckland but for the 2027 season , will be linking up with the Highlanders for 2026

The Otago line about him "being developed carefully" is strange. If the above rumour is true they have two years to make use of him. Are they punishing him for moving at a later date?

Probably a Highlanders directive of don't break our injury prone big man before the start of the Super season by thrashing him every week during the NPC

That’s possible but I hope not. He needs NPC time before being thrown into Super rugby, especially in the tight 5. Would be counter productive in my opinion.

Like I said above, there has to be some loophole here or else it just doesn’t make sense at all…

@Duluth said in Otago 2025:

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

Tengblad has indeed been lost then... had some sauce last week that he was sticking around for this season but clearly that was referring to the Highlanders.

This was posted in another thread:

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2025:

NZ U20 lock Josh Tengbald has also signed with Auckland but for the 2027 season , will be linking up with the Highlanders for 2026

The Otago line about him "being developed carefully" is strange. If the above rumour is true they have two years to make use of him. Are they punishing him for moving at a later date?

I think this rumour is definitely true, hence why everyone heard he was leaving (clearly he just isn’t leaving yet)

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

@Duluth said in Otago 2025:

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

Tengblad has indeed been lost then... had some sauce last week that he was sticking around for this season but clearly that was referring to the Highlanders.

This was posted in another thread:

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2025:

NZ U20 lock Josh Tengbald has also signed with Auckland but for the 2027 season , will be linking up with the Highlanders for 2026

The Otago line about him "being developed carefully" is strange. If the above rumour is true they have two years to make use of him. Are they punishing him for moving at a later date?

I think this rumour is definitely true, hence why everyone heard he was leaving (clearly he just isn’t leaving yet)

Yeah. Well Steve Harris has been saying will depart in 2027

This whole squad feels like talent mismanagement. What happened to Ale Aho - he's gone from hugely promising prospect to MIA. Reuben Palmer was on a national development contract and is nowhere to be seen. No Tengblad to pure madness which feels like the Hotham situation all over again. Quentin Holland presumably should have been in the frame. While No Rangitura feels just dumb, especially after the season he had last year. Stan Mclurie is another prospect who seems to have gone missing too.

It's hard to understand how Otago is SO bad to developing talent.

@handa457 I think developing talent is fine. It’s how they are handling them once they reach certain levels.

Here’s hoping we see some injury cover updates and a lot of these guys added. I’ll ask around.

@handa457 Aho went to Aust (NSW).

@Fredsaua12 said in Otago 2025:

I believe the midfielder from Canterbury is Jae Broomfield. Was Canterbury B player of the year last season and can also cover wing. Very classy player with great turn of pace

Following up on my oil here, I believe Jae was offered a contract but it wasn't taken up. unsure on whether he will end up with Canterbury or elsewhere. Trying to find more info now

@Bovidae he did. But didn't someone say he got dropped from Tah's on here? Feels like there's a bit of a story there. He was a massive unit, and you have to feel highlanders would have been interested in a 135kg lock.

Interested if anyone has the inside word on what happened, and where he landed?

@handa457 said in Otago 2025:

Interested if anyone has the inside word on what happened, and where he landed?

As Bovidae posted, he’s in NSW. Linked up with the Waratahs and is playing in the Shute Shield.

@handa457 said in Otago 2025:

This whole squad feels like talent mismanagement. What happened to Ale Aho - he's gone from hugely promising prospect to MIA. Reuben Palmer was on a national development contract and is nowhere to be seen. No Tengblad to pure madness which feels like the Hotham situation all over again. Quentin Holland presumably should have been in the frame. While No Rangitura feels just dumb, especially after the season he had last year. Stan Mclurie is another prospect who seems to have gone missing too.

It's hard to understand how Otago is SO bad to developing talent.

stan mcure did a knee training with otago npc last year and has not played this year as he recovers

Have thought about how the Union has gone about things since it dropped the squad this morning. And have a few thoughts

• A part from the ring ins. The rest of the squad was confirmed months ago

• We wouldn't be able to strip a fit team out of the named squad.

• not naming the back up players diminishes the likely significant role they are likely going to play in the campaign

• the current named group lacks balance. We have no back up 10. No fullback, and like the Highlanders, only two locks.

• Almost reads as if there was little wiggle room around adding additional guys.

Nothing against the guys who are named. Injuries sadly will be impacting several of our key guys.

The lads I'm hoping will get a good go are A one Lolofie, Lucas Casey, Konrad Toleafoa and Dylan Pledger.

While Nareki, Te Hiwi, Whaanga, Haig and fingers crossed Hurley will be champing at the bit if they can recover from their injuries.

I'm also hopeful we see the likes of Rique Miln, big Tengblad, Christian MacEwan and Kyan Rangitutia. It would be disappointing if Rangitutia got a decent run last year and not seen this season.

Much more pessimistic this year than last.

Hi everyone, just got put onto this forum by a work colleague here in Dunedin. Great to see people actually talk about this stuff, been a long time sufferer relying on the Roar for rugby chat.

Seems like it might be another season of hurt unless everyone can stay 100% fit. 10 and lock remain massive issues, particularly if Holland is out on All Black duty. Shoe horning Haig in seems like a waste. Will be interesting to see who the captain is

Hurley being gone for the season is a blow for us, but Gilbert is a very tidy 15 at NPC level - to say we have no fullback is harsh. Ditto, to say 10 is an issue I think is equally harsh. At NPC level, Cam Millar is a very good first five - getting a run of games will probably do him a world of good. Accounting for injuries, here is what we could look like v the Stags in R1:

1. Lopas
2. Bell
3. Ma'u
4. Tamani
5. Tucker
6. Toleafoa
7. Casey
8. Stodart
9. Hastie
10. Millar
11. Asi
12. Umaga-Jensen
13. Timu
14. Powell
15. Gilbert
16. Coltman
17. Pole
18. Wingham
19. ?
20. Taylor
21. Pledger
22. ?
23. ?

@frugby in fairness...he said no BACK UP 10...

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:

@frugby in fairness...he said no BACK UP 10...

Cheers for that. If he read the post properly it would have blunted his swipe a bit.

I stand by what I wrote yesterday. The fact the team listed above has question marks instead of options is reflective of the issues with the squad that was named yesterday.

I'd change that pack around a bit. I do not want to see Coltman there unless we have to. So same front row. Then

Stodart and Tucker at lock. With Casey, Taylor and Toleafoa in the loose.

@SouthernMann said in Otago 2025:

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:

@frugby in fairness...he said no BACK UP 10...

Cheers for that. If he read the post properly it would have blunted his swipe a bit.

I stand by what I wrote yesterday. The fact the team listed above has question marks instead of options is reflective of the issues with the squad that was named yesterday.

I'd change that pack around a bit. I do not want to see Coltman there unless we have to. So same front row. Then

Stodart and Tucker at lock. With Casey, Taylor and Toleafoa in the loose.

There’s two posts mate. Was referring to the other one which said 10 is an issue

@frugby in that case i would saying only having one proper 10 is an issue

@frugby said in Otago 2025:

@SouthernMann said in Otago 2025:

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2025:

@frugby in fairness...he said no BACK UP 10...

Cheers for that. If he read the post properly it would have blunted his swipe a bit.

I stand by what I wrote yesterday. The fact the team listed above has question marks instead of options is reflective of the issues with the squad that was named yesterday.

I'd change that pack around a bit. I do not want to see Coltman there unless we have to. So same front row. Then

Stodart and Tucker at lock. With Casey, Taylor and Toleafoa in the loose.

There’s two posts mate. Was referring to the other one which said 10 is an issue

I meant 10 is an issue if Millar goes down injured. The same way lock “isn’t an issue” Holland can play and there aren’t any injuries. The lack of cover is an issue, particularly if Hurley is out. Gilbert shifts to 10 then who plays fullback? That’s definitely an issue wouldn’t you say?