Three Key Men

Anyone who watched the Highlanders play in 2020 would have seen the value of Aaron Smith.

Both on and off the ball, he was the team's best and most influential player. Expect more of the same in 2021 from the ageless halfback. Shannon Frizell should also resume his influential role in the side, despite the return of Liam Squire putting a question mark around how Frizell will be used.

His running game can be a thing to behold and he has a knack for finding the try line.

Josh Ioane continuing to develop as a playmaker could be a big factor in the success of this team.

In 2020, Frizell (4), Ash Dixon (4) and Mitchell Hunt (3) accounted for nearly half of the Highlanders' 24 tries. If Ioane can orchestrate the play to either put others away in open play or put his team in a position for the forwards to strike, that will only lead to good things