Former lock Joe Wheeler believes the Highlanders’ biggest downfall in 2023 so far has been their lack of firepower on attack.
In the first two games of the season, the Highlanders conceded more than 100 points, while an improved performance against the competition-leading Chiefs still saw them lose four tries to one.
With just one All Black in their starting backline in veteran halfback Aaron Smith, Wheeler fears the side has become too predictable with one real game-breaker in their back five.
“They’ve just got no firepower,” Wheeler told SENZ’s Super South.
“Outside of Thomas Umaga-Jensen in the midfield, there’s no one there when Jona Nareki (foot injury) isn’t playing that can create something out of nothing.
“You look at the other sides across the board; you look at the Blues’ backline, they’ve got seven All Blacks in their backline, any one of those guys can break a game open from nowhere.
“In the Highlanders, the only bloke that can do it at the moment is Thomas Umaga-Jensen.”
The Highlanders had plenty of opportunities against the Chiefs but failed to capitalise on possession and strong ball carries.
“I look at their attack, last week they had seven visits into the opposition 22 and they only came away with one try,” Wheeler added.
“They had 87 carries and only 31 of them were across the gain line.
“Why is that? Because they’re so predictable, they’ve only got that one real threat.”
With few players able to break the game open, Wheeler believes the Highlanders’ recruitment team should throw everything they have at elusive backs from other franchises to boost the firepower in their backline.
Chiefs’ fullback and winger Shaun Stevenson would be the first player Wheeler would target.
“If I was the Highlanders and I was recruiting for next year, I would be going super, super hard at a guy like a Shaun Stevenson, and just throwing the kitchen sink at the bloke,” he said.
“They need a guy like (him). They’ve been searching for a fullback, no disrespect to Sam Gilbert, brilliant footballer, but is Sam Gilbert a world-class X-factor player? Probably not but I would be going hard at a Shaun Stevenson because he would solve a lot of your issues.”
Stevenson leads the competition for tries scored (five) after three rounds and has been at his slippery best alongside returning five-eighth Damian McKenzie and halfback Brad Weber.
The Highlanders may have their first opportunity to gain some points on the ladder this weekend as they host the Western Force at Invercargill Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon.