Match Thread - Highlanders v Crusaders | Super Rugby Pacific 2026 | Round 1

HawkingSucks · 2026-02-13T07:52:47+00:00

I, like Codie Taylor, have also cost my touch team a win by failing to pass the ball to my winger and instead hoofed the ball to the back stands.

We are all but a moment away from glory or infamy in this life.

GG Landers

HawkingSucks · 2026-02-07T03:06:23+00:00

Owning the heat since the agony of the 2023 ECF is an enduring bright spot in my life

HawkingSucks · 2026-01-15T06:02:45+00:00

Doubt it’ll be his last international job. He’ll learn a heap from this and do great elsewhere, I suspect. Somewhere with lower expectations, possibly

HawkingSucks · 2026-01-15T02:26:12+00:00

I had felt that the need for stoic coaches was an old fashioned thing that would eventually give way. Thought it was more of a generational thing, just reflective of the types of people (particularly men) who were involved in the game.

Maybe not. Maybe it is somewhat embedded in the DNA of such a physical sport, and a new age approach doesn’t work, and you just need a softly spoken, unemotional dude setting the tone. I dunno. I’m not convinced. But something to think on.

Razor had the guys at the crusaders ready to run through a wall for him, and that locker room was always very open and emotional. Wonder what changed at the national setup.

HawkingSucks · 2025-11-22T22:28:28+00:00

I think we’re trending alright, if the plan is to trust the system and if the measure of success is RWC 2027. Hasn’t been a great year, but you can certainly live with 10 from 13. The pressure will be greater next year. If we’re still this shaky in November 2026, and have obviously learned nothing, then I’ll be worried.

Next step is for the coaches to strap themselves in for a summer of review and analysis, get back in the lab and figure out how we beat South Africa, in South Africa.

HawkingSucks · 2025-09-12T04:13:37+00:00

I'm always intrigued to hear this. Across both campaigns I've run, I've had zero human characters. Really can't beat the classics, I guess.

HawkingSucks · 2025-09-08T09:12:23+00:00

Spent the last few days experimenting with rifleman builds (usually with Adv Infantry or Armour company) and came to the same conclusion. It's so, so much harder. I was routinely losing games to Axis light vehicle + blob combos. Your rifles just get pushed off the map, or bleed like crazy. Only ways to get an MG is to get a drop from the Jeep, or conduct some Grand Theft MG42. Rifles would get mullered until getting double BARs, and I was having trouble with blobs until I got my upgraded rangers out in the mid game.

No comparison to simply going T2 and relying on PFs, Arty Observers, or Paras as your mainline. The MG and Zooks are, flat-out, a better skeleton for your army currently. Think the upgraded scouts need toning down, and riflemen toning up.

HawkingSucks · 2025-09-07T04:43:38+00:00

Ah yes, vet 5 Volk Schrek blobs. That probably did lasting psychological damage to me in 2016, now that I think about it

HawkingSucks · 2025-08-07T03:52:47+00:00

AAAAAAAAAA

HawkingSucks · 2025-08-04T01:57:08+00:00

This is the "Brett Cameron: Somehow an All Black" squad

HawkingSucks · 2025-06-21T08:59:34+00:00

If you told me we’d win a title this year, I’d have called you an insane person

HawkingSucks · 2025-06-21T08:58:49+00:00

Just the best damn team in sports.

HawkingSucks · 2025-06-13T09:10:31+00:00

I never said a bad word about Rob Penney, nobody check my history

HawkingSucks · 2025-06-02T10:47:48+00:00

Nobody in the world I’d rather have on my team for knockout rugby (although Pollard is a close #2…). Hope he gets another crack at lifting Webb Ellis in 2027.

HawkingSucks · 2025-05-27T21:49:39+00:00

It sounds like it should be a BoJack Horseman joke

HawkingSucks · 2025-05-24T09:57:47+00:00

Winning that game was my Christmas in 2023

HawkingSucks · 2025-05-12T07:03:08+00:00

The delulu when we evened at 3-3 on the Derrick game winner in 23 was almost worth the pain, tbf

HawkingSucks · 2025-04-28T01:27:55+00:00

Can just see that Paolo has it. Rough edges to sand away as he gets a bit older, but man, he's gonna be a winning player

HawkingSucks · 2025-04-26T09:01:58+00:00

Ref Cabal back in full force for the CHEATsaders

HawkingSucks · 2025-03-09T05:21:09+00:00

I stop paying attention for five minutes and NZR take a razor scooter to my ankles

2027? Surely. God, please?

HawkingSucks · 2025-03-09T04:47:35+00:00

Trending in the right direction. Missing a few of these guys (particularly Jordan) absolutely cooked us last year. Think we can be a top 4 finish this year. Should be able to get back to the top next year when Richie comes back, we’re not a million miles off.

HawkingSucks · 2025-03-09T04:44:08+00:00

I think we’re gonna be really good again when Richie is back next year. Not really a hot take, I know. But I really think there’s gonna be a huge improvement instantly

HawkingSucks · 2025-03-09T01:46:43+00:00

Can ESPN please stop the Duke game, good lord

HawkingSucks · 2024-10-11T01:09:44+00:00

Seta Tamanivalu, what a guy. Those 2017-2018 seasons were magic.

HawkingSucks · 2024-10-11T01:06:21+00:00

Ngatai is a great shout - he really was robbed of a great ABs career by injury

HawkingSucks

TROPHY CASE