Northland Rugby 2026

@Duluth I believe it is last for both, I think this would likely be Cairds & Craigs last campaigns.

Lachlan Hooper was on a 2 year and usually the Aussie guys would end up back in Aus after a couple of seasons, James Raam is only a single season signing I think, unsure if Pasitoa will stay on either (regardless of what his Highlanders status is)

Jordan Trainor is another, been quality for us, I'd hope he sticks about, but wouldnt surprise if he isnt back.

Think Mullan was signed on a 2 year deal, as was Olly Ryan, I would be happy to re-sign Mullan, whereas Ryan hasnt started for Mid Northern when all thier props were availabe as far as I could tell.

@Steven-Harris

Thoughts on ?
The cover guys ..

Matt , Coree, Guy , Kiwi ?

@TimberlandTriton Coree Te Whata-Colley is a seasoned campaigner for us, could do the job if required, but as always, his fitness is an issue.

Guy Visachi-Warehu, big strong and fast, still only 21 I think so has plenty of learning, he has played both centre and wing for MN, is one of a few players I wanted to get a shot, and deserved a shot last year over Balekana.

Kiwi Duncan, he is quick, very strong on contact and post contact, hampered by injury, still have concerns over his decision making at times (ie when to gas it, or to pass it or take contact)

Letoga, when he first played for northland a few years back v NH, thought he would be a fixture for us, but has had injuries and also has got himself fitter, losing some KGs, which I think has taken a little of his punch.

@TimberlandTriton @taniwharugby pretty much summed it up Coree is a bloody enigma got everything required to have played at Super level conditioning always been his weakness

@Steven-Harris great to see Josh Goodhue back , Super Rugby maybe. Still young man.

NSW Waratahs tight head prop Dan Botha has been signed by the Taniwha
Certainly racking up our quota of Aussies

Llachan Hooper
Reesjan Pasitoa
James Raam
Dan Botha

Another one to come

@Steven-Harris another Aussie or another signing? What position?

While id rather we go local, if they commit to more than 1 season and are playing super i can make peace with that.

And no surprises that MN carried on thier winning ways taking the final to remain unbeaten, while tight at halftime, a couple of cards to the Sharks put paid to any thoughts of an upset.

As the season wore on, other sides did seem to close the gap with them being down for parts of.games, but thier overall strength and depth showed through.

@taniwharugby just a shame Western Sharks were missing a decent backline this year
Got a reasonable forward pack who will match it physically with any team but when you have Matt Matich playing centre and Justin Frederick’s who is a lock playing on the wing and I mean this respectfully to both who have been a wonderful servants to the Western Sharks it’s never going to be an easy task against a Mid Northern team that’s looked the team most likely to win despite being pushed in the later round robin
Credit to the Sharks for being in the final but I know backline recruitment is a must for the Dargaville club

@Steven-Harris tbf, Friedrich has played wing most of the year and i think he played there in the final last year, was very good that day and when I watched them in the round robin, he has been very good for them on the wing.

But your comment on matich is valid, as I think he played 13 in the final last year too, and they miss his work around the park and at the breakdown when he is out there.

@taniwharugby Justin is one of those players who play anywhere and will do a job for you but not what you need when your up against teams that have good pace on the outsides
I also gonna mention with the regular halfback Jack Bradley who is possibly the best halfback in Northland not to have played for the Taniwha that’s a massive loss ..unfortunately injured atm

Disappointing some of these guys are only WTG when you look at some of the guys we have bought in from outside

@taniwharugby definetly Grady Forbes can count himself the unluckiest with Guy Waerehu not to far behind

Id have forbes get the nod over shanks at 7.

Northland squad for 2026

Several there i am not happy they have gone outside the local comp for, as someone who watches club footy every week, i think it is a disgrace, especially when you look at what happened with Balekana last year.

Be interesting to know what the goals or KPIs are.for these guys, we.should be aiming for top 4 and ideally a home semi, but i suspect we aim lower, well those setting kpis i suspect aim for mediocrity, although the players no doubt want to win all the time.

Some.good young talent in.the wtg, but whether they get a shot or they call in others over.them if.the situation arises remains to be seen

@taniwharugby Which new local guys are worth keeping an eye on?

@Duluth only 'new' ones in the main squad if they get a shot will be Reuben Stewart, Zion Going, Heath McEwan and Junior Fifita are the in the main squad, Fifita & McEwan both played for Hora Hora, Zion Going is a local, but has come back from MLR, should have been offered a spot about 3 or 4 years back at the start of this current Mid Northern 'run at the top' where he was probably the best 9 in club rugby. Reuben Stewart from Mid Northern will be good if given chances, had alot to do with him as a kid, and he is so naturally talented, whereas his brother Jade, was the worker of the 2.

Those in the WTG, as mentioned by several posters and myself, Grady Forbes def on to keep an eye on, plays similar abrasive style with a huge engine like Rob Rush, possibly just a bit more smarts? Ben Love at 9, is a talent if he gets a shot, still a teenager I think, definite talent, then Henare Parangi, this kid is absolutely good enough to play NPC, maybe a shade undersized still, but he is in his 1st year out of school and probably still growing, if managed properly he is a super prospect once he hits NPC.

@Duluth @taniwharugby it’s a great question that irks me
At the end of the day you really want to be picking players that can progress through your own local systems
If you pick players from outside the union who are unlikely to be contracted to super teams it only confirms a short term fix to ensure you have a competitive team
It burns you long term and you end up doing the same thing again this time next year

Ironically it’s the players that have come into the union and have been playing club whom may pick up either a wider training spot or injury cover at a super rugby club

Heath MacEwan ,James Mullin and possibly Jordon Hutchings

Junior Fifita has some ability as tight head but fitness is an issue so I am unsure how much game time he will get

Eslie Foni apparently impressed the Blues this year , but under a new coach that might change

Riki Heremaia might be one to watch but being converted from Tight head to loose head will be big ask in his first season
However he is a big lad , similar build to Angus Tavaoa

Heremaia Murray and Josh Goodhue have super experience but much will depend on how they look in this years Npc comp

Ironically the player who should be fully contracted is Grady Forbes in the wider group if he gets the opportunity it would not surprise me if he gets looked at

Also in the wider group if they get an opportunity Henare Pairangi is a classy intelligent midfielder and Ben Love would have gone close to making the NZ U20 team this year if it wasn’t for injury
Still only 18 so has another year at 20s

PS despite Auckland’s tough season last year they were still able to highlight the talents of Cody Vai and Xavier Tito Harris who ended up with super contracts

@steven-harris forgot about Ricky, MN was probably the side i watched least given the early season scores they were racking up and the final was on the same time as the AB test v Italy.