Highlanders 2027

Looking forward. With this likely squad, if things don't turn around, it needs to be the administration which is looked at.

Tab odds to win the comp as of July 2026, $23.

Highlanders

Vikena is confirmed gone

Has Broughton actually been a rumoured departure?

@frugby said in Highlanders 2027:

Has Broughton actually been a rumoured departure?

Nah. It is just the game of not being confirmed to come back yet. With Frizzell coming in for Haig. Casey in fulltime and talk about STT (hopefully). More joining unknown dots.

I think we still have spots open for a loosehead replacing DLB. Hopefully a spot in the loose for STT. One or two midfield spots and an outside back. Every other spot seems to be locked in.

Hope to see breakout season's from Harvey, Grindlay, and Whaanga.

@woodysrfc break...out?

Oh, you can add Grindlay to rumoured arrivals. I believe he has a full contract.

Have we heard anything about new coaches?

Here's a wee nugget. Te Hiwi has been in talks with both the Force and Crusaders but has not signed anything... still a possibility he stays at the Landers yet because we can't find a midfielder (and I am going to assume he is waiting and hoping for that to eventuate).

This probably also confirms the simple reason that the others not announced as leaving haven't signed anything elsewhere.

Had a chat with a mate last night. Has an extremely reliable contact. They have started looking overseas for what midfielders are available that would fit what they are looking for.

Also noted they were happy with their 3rd hooker. No name provided but believed it was Moananu.

Te Hiwi remains an absolute mystery for me. He's barely played for the Highlanders or even Otago. He's not sure if the Highlanders will want him next year but apparently the Crusaders have seen enough of him to be interested? I know they've lost a few midfielders but it still seems strange.

@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2027:

Te Hiwi remains an absolute mystery for me. He's barely played for the Highlanders or even Otago. He's not sure if the Highlanders will want him next year but apparently the Crusaders have seen enough of him to be interested? I know they've lost a few midfielders but it still seems strange.

Seems strange to me as well.
They have,Roberts,Bell,Evans and LF as mid fielders next season, they are looking for another, but I haven't heard anything about Te Hiwi.

@Chris said in Highlanders 2027:

They have,Roberts,Bell,Evans and LF as mid fielders next season, they are looking for another, but I haven't heard anything about Te Hiwi.

Well I guess they are running out of new positions to try LF...

@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2027:

@Chris said in Highlanders 2027:

They have,Roberts,Bell,Evans and LF as mid fielders next season, they are looking for another, but I haven't heard anything about Te Hiwi.

Well I guess they are running out of new positions to try LF...

2nd Five under Hanson.

@Chris said in Highlanders 2027:

@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2027:

@Chris said in Highlanders 2027:

They have,Roberts,Bell,Evans and LF as mid fielders next season, they are looking for another, but I haven't heard anything about Te Hiwi.

Well I guess they are running out of new positions to try LF...

2nd Five under Hanson.

I hope he's collected all the badges!

Just asked AI which ABs have played the most positions (tests and nontests) and there were a few surprises there..

@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2027:

Te Hiwi remains an absolute mystery for me. He's barely played for the Highlanders or even Otago. He's not sure if the Highlanders will want him next year but apparently the Crusaders have seen enough of him to be interested? I know they've lost a few midfielders but it still seems strange.

This is literally down to the midfielder shortage. Is it 11 leaving across the franchises? Need to have someone to fill the void...

This NPC will be Te Hiwi's first full run as a starting midfielder. Since 2022 the guy has only played 25 games of first class rugby. Game time has been limited due to injuries and other lads being preferred. He never got any momentum or the ability to string four or five games together.

I have a bit of a soft spot for the guy. He is an inside centre instead of a playmaking second five. I hope he is given a good clear opportunity to show he is worth persevering with.

He isn't the quickest midfielder going around. Neither is Jim Tavatavanawai though.

We have invested four years into the guy. This is the time you want to get some return on it.

He is still relatively young at 24.

@SouthernMann i find the so surprising, looking forward to seeing what he can do as a starter

The run into the NPC I like to think about whether there is space for us to pick up a player or two. Seems the answer is no this year.

I like big ben Lopas as a loosehead.

Still plenty of WTG spots. We might see a few younger lads pop into those. Houghton at haflback, Irving at lock. Tayne Harvey back again. Will probably need to raid some other sides to get

Wasn’t there a rumour that we were chasing an MP winger? Which you’d assume would be Vaihu?

Hope to see Laiaki back in the wider training group.

You’d think Lam and Hughnan would be fighting for the WTG spot.

What’s the size of Irving? He’s not one I’ve come across before. Is he another short lock similar to Crib, Dunshea and Stodart? Or does he offer a bit of height?

Quietly hoping Moana Takaka has a decent Campaign and picks up the tighthead spot. Lopas would be great to bring back. Possibly even in the main squad.

Lolife and Kempton could be fighting it out for hooker. But both need a strong NPC, and neither has so far convinced me they’re ready to step up a level. I wouldn’t be upset if we looked elsewhere.

Loose forwards are interesting. We’ll probably need to go outside the region. But Caleb Karangaroa is one I’m quietly watching. While Konrad Toleafoa seems like he could force his way into the conversation with a strong NPC too.

I imagine Jae Broomfield will end up back at the crusaders which is a shame.

Unless they set the world on fire wouldn’t be a fan of rushing Rutledge, Reihana or Jimmy Taylor into the WTG. Give them another season to develop.

@handa457 said in Highlanders 2027:

You’d think Lam and Hughnan would be fighting for the WTG spot.

Joel knows he can do better than a WTG spot if he is happy to leave New Zealand. Will come down to if he plays well enough to earn a WTG offer and if he wants to essentially waste a year hope he gets a chance through an injury to someone.

There is currently some interest in him from an Australian super rugby side.

Few Things

• Heard (and said) a while back we had picked up a winger from MP which I assumed to be Vaihu but haven’t heard anything more on that… given nothing further has been announced could be a WTG player e.g Denzel Samoa

• STT was also talking to a couple of other franchises, I think he is likely to side with the Landers but time will tell

• R.E Loosehead prop, I am intrigued because everyone I have spoke to believes DLB to be gone but nobody knows who is coming in. Lopas was said to be too small last year and I doubt that has changed.

@frugby said in Highlanders 2027:

Few Things

• Heard (and said) a while back we had picked up a winger from MP which I assumed to be Vaihu but haven’t heard anything more on that… given nothing further has been announced could be a WTG player e.g Denzel Samoa

• STT was also talking to a couple of other franchises, I think he is likely to side with the Landers but time will tell

• R.E Loosehead prop, I am intrigued because everyone I have spoke to believes DLB to be gone but nobody knows who is coming in. Lopas was said to be too small last year and I doubt that has changed.

Nice intel as usual.

Wonder how we can fit another winger into the group, apart from them being in the WTG.

With STT, I wonder if we need to drop someone else out to fit him in?

@SouthernMann My theory on the winger, is they will be an injury replacement for Tangitau, who will presumably miss most of the season.

For STT, I guess maybe we’d carry one less midfielder? I also think it is entirely possible he turns around and gives us the middle finger given we turned him down previously

@handa457 said in Highlanders 2027:

What’s the size of Irving? He’s not one I’ve come across before. Is he another short lock similar to Crib, Dunshea and Stodart? Or does he offer a bit of height?

Irving is really a 6, as he would be another undersized lock at this level.

On DLB. As it stands, there is nothing signed to return next year and it doesn’t sound like there is anything on the table for him.

@frugby I've been thinking a bit about this.

As a Christchurch lad am sure that Sexton would prefer a Crusaders contract. But I haven't heard any rumours about props moving on there. Wonder if we'll try and pick him up. He wouldn't make a bad stopgap option if the coaches are cold on Lopas. But seems a bit of a gamble, at 25 and fighting for a bench spot with the younger Josh Bartlett ahead of him, couldn't imagine we'd get more than a two year deal from him before he looks elsewhere.

Otherwise I imagine we'll be looking outside the region to fill that gap.

@frugby said in Highlanders 2027:

@SouthernMann My theory on the winger, is they will be an injury replacement for Tangitau, who will presumably miss most of the season.

For STT, I guess maybe we’d carry one less midfielder? I also think it is entirely possible he turns around and gives us the middle finger given we turned him down previously

Don't pick Te Hiwi. Still try and get that starting centre and hold an extra loosie.

From a New Zealand rugby perspective if you can have

STT
Lio-Willie
Lakai
One of the Chief's All Blacks
Wrampling/Savea

starting each week, it will give the best 8s getting gametime week in/week out.

@SouthernMann ODT was still reporting Xavi Taele as a possible highlanders target last week. So could still be something in the pipeline there. @frugby / @landers92 and news on the midfield situation?

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2027:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2027:

Few Things

• Heard (and said) a while back we had picked up a winger from MP which I assumed to be Vaihu but haven’t heard anything more on that… given nothing further has been announced could be a WTG player e.g Denzel Samoa

• STT was also talking to a couple of other franchises, I think he is likely to side with the Landers but time will tell

• R.E Loosehead prop, I am intrigued because everyone I have spoke to believes DLB to be gone but nobody knows who is coming in. Lopas was said to be too small last year and I doubt that has changed.

Wonder how we can fit another winger into the group, apart from them being in the WTG.

any chance there is a wing looking to move to midfield ala big jim/ Lowe etc?

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2027:

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2027:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2027:

Few Things

• Heard (and said) a while back we had picked up a winger from MP which I assumed to be Vaihu but haven’t heard anything more on that… given nothing further has been announced could be a WTG player e.g Denzel Samoa

• STT was also talking to a couple of other franchises, I think he is likely to side with the Landers but time will tell

• R.E Loosehead prop, I am intrigued because everyone I have spoke to believes DLB to be gone but nobody knows who is coming in. Lopas was said to be too small last year and I doubt that has changed.

Wonder how we can fit another winger into the group, apart from them being in the WTG.

any chance there is a wing looking to move to midfield ala big jim/ Lowe etc?

Jona Nareki is the obvious option. Seeing as he played there twice this year.

@SouthernMann i was actually meaning the rumours MP wing and how we would fit it in but yes, i had forgot the resonably successful use of Narkei

And I forgot the other two big acquisitions we need to fill, as @jimmyb correctly reminds us. Who will be the assistant coaches replacing Derms and Cory Brown.

@SouthernMann I sent the CV in, just waiting to hear back

@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2027:

@SouthernMann I sent the CV in, just waiting to hear back

Fire in the coaching box

@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2027:

@SouthernMann I sent the CV in, just waiting to hear back

hope you added a character reference from Jamie Joseph..

@Bones I’m very level headed and calm thank you