My HS Top 200 Highlanders Team

I have talked about this in my Podcast but this Region is the hardest to gather info on and trying to promote the Region and their talent as a whole. I have had my “Rant” on it so I’m not going to do it again on here. The “Deep South” is mostly dominated by two Schools in Otago BHS and Southland BHS but there has been a change in the last few years and two other schools have caught up. Kings HS and John McGlashan College have done so much work with their programs that the Program as a whole has gotten better from top to bottom all grades are getting better. The “Deep South” have so many good players and we need to know more about them and the hidden talent that is there.

My Mid-Season Highlanders Team  

1.    Petelo Amato (Otago BHS)
2.    Keegan Ferguson (John McGlashan College)
3.    Jonty Light (John McGlashan College)
4.    Mitch Morton (John McGlashan College)
5.    Hunter Areaiiti-Burgess (Southland BHS)
6.    Ben Joseph (John McGlashan College)
7.    Archie McRae (John McGlashan College)
8.    Phoenix Tapatu (Otago BHS) Year 12
9.    Dylan Pledger (Kings HS) Y12
10.  Caleb Williams (Southland BHS)
11.  Josh Dent (South Otago HS)
12.  Jack Timu (John McGlashan College)
13.   Richie Kuresa (Southland BHS)
14.  Jerome Buckley (Southland BHS) Y12
15.  Charlie Breen   (John McGlashan College)

16.  Kelfar Morrison (Southland BHS)
17.  Rico Fisher (Southland BHS)
18.  Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu (Kings HS)
19.  Lotu Fifita (Waitaki BHS)
20.  Henry Scott   (John McGlashan College) Y12
21.  Tyree Manaia (Waitaki BHS)
22.  Ryan Kreft (Kings HS)

I looked at the Front Rows and you cant go further than Petelo Amato from Otago BHS who maybe the best players from the region and he brings that explosive run game and go forward ball with every carry. I also like that front row from John McGlashan College Keegan Ferguson at Hooker and a player that could push the best Hookers in the country around. Jonty Light at Tight Head which I think he would fit better as a trio in that front row. Off the bench though I would go with Kelfar Morrison and Rico Fisher both from Southland BHS with Fisher covering the Hooker position. They have done solid work in securing the rucks and cleaning out bodies and so I would love to see them bring that same energy off the bench.

Mitch Morton from John McGlashan and Hunter Areaiiti-Burgess from Southland BHS I would actually put them Head to Head with any other Locking Combos in the other Region and bet you they would both give them all a hard time. Mitch hitting around 6’7 and Hunter 6’6 I think these two boys would give your side toughness and physical confrontation in contact situations and also be that energy boost when the team needs that hit. Off the bench I would go with Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu fromKings HS who has been around for a while and has seen the growth in the School and been a key part of the growth and would be perfect in this side. Also with Lotu Fifita from Waitaki BHS also another player that knows how this level works and the commitment and pressure this brings Lotus run game would be very important for a squad like this. Ben Joseph at 6 and Archie McRae at Open Side both from John McGlashan College have been leading from the front and really brought change to this JMC team and I think it transfers over well. Phoenix Tapatu the Year 12 No.8 from Otago BHS has not had the best start to the season but can still bring it back and I think he is a solid player to setup moves off the back of his run power.

I have two Year 12 Halfbacks in Dylan Pledger from Kings HS and also John Mcglashan College Henry Scott who should maybe get that starting spot, but either way they both would make this team run at pace and in shape on the field. I think with those Southern sides they need those good sets behind the rucks and big boys that just truck up those runs and eat up meters at a time in small doses at a time and win those small battles one after another. I thought Caleb WIlliams from Southland BHS would be the best pick for 1st 5/8 and then give him a midfield with Jack Timu John McGlashan College and Richie Kuresa from Southland BHS that will give them direction and power going into the defence but also that when the ball goes wide to the wingers or fullback you have someone like Jack Timu and Richie Kuresa to then get them the ball. Year 12 Jerome Buckley and Josh Dent on the wings with Fullback Charlie Breen to me have a great mix as the inform guys right now.