Jamie Joseph pinpoints where Highlanders repeatedly fell short in 2026

The Dunedin-based Super Rugby Pacific franchise bowed out of playoff contention on Saturday afternoon when the Queensland Reds overcame a brutal and emotional Moana Pasifika side in Auckland.

It looked like the playoff dream could still be alive during Saturday afternoon’s contest in Auckland, before a late Reds game-winner ruled out any lingering hope for Joseph’s side.

This was prior to their contest against the table-topping Hurricanes in Wellington, a tough challenge in itself, where the Highlanders would have had to win with a bonus point to keep themselves in the playoff mix.

For Joseph, it’s two straight Super Rugby Pacific seasons without a playoff appearance, telling media in Wellington on Saturday that their matchup against the Hurricanes epitomised their 2026 season.

“I guess tonight is kind of a reflection of our season in many ways, you know. There was moments in a games where we created a winning opportunity, and for whatever reason, be it a yellow card, or a red card, or a penalty at the wrong time, the opportunity went,” Joseph said.

“So that’s a massive learning for us. There’s potential in the team, the teams growing, getting stronger every year, but there’s certain work ons constant, that’s for sure.”

When looking towards the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season with the Highlanders, Joseph explained the challenge will be finding guys to add value to their squad of over 50 players.

“Well, it’s a new team, you know. So you’re talking six or seven months’ time, and I think that’s one of the unique parts is that whilst the nucleus of the team remains, there’s always, and now the squads have gone to 50, there’s there’s always a heap of new guys coming in.

“So there’s always there’s always opportunity, and that’s the kind of coaching challenge, is that you can take a hold of new guys and induct them into your into your club, and try and turn them into winning rugby.”

Despite admitting the Bunnings NPC competition isn’t on the same level of physicality and pace of Super Rugby Pacific, the former Japan head coach said the Dunedin-based franchise will shop around for their 2027 squad.

“It’s a bit of a moving jigsaw, performance sort of deals with all problems that if players are performing, then you know you’ll give them another opportunity, and so the NPC is part of that.

“I feel the NPC competition in comparison is not the same intensity or physicality is Super Rugby in every week, so there’s a real demand on the player, especially the forwards, it’s a pretty physical side.

“So there’s room, I mean, the NPC’s is a great competition for us to have a look at players, bring them through, and players like the Dylan Pledger last year came through, Lucas Casey is another one, first year of NPC rugby.”