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Waratahs 2025

M

Major Tom

Larry Dwyer (12)
Gordon doesn't strike me as overly composed. He just wastes more time at the back of the ruck only to send a "usually" average box kick to the opposition.
Whilst I never wish an injury upon anyone this should actually be pretty good for the Tahs long term. Teddy getting more minutes can only benefit them when Gordon leaves the setup next year.
 
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Dctarget

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
Michael McDonald signed as injury cover for Gordon. I always rated Michael, he was part of that golden generation of u20s with: Frost, Reilly, Donaldson, Harris, Nawaqanitawase, Van Nek, McReight, Nasser, Harry Wilson, Isaac Lucas, Hosea and Tizzano.

Only 25 years old, will be interesting if we can see him get on the field. He didn't have the meteoric rise in Ireland that he might have hoped a la Mack Hansen.

On that list, I wonder if Lucas watches his former peers, with jealousy, absolutely tear it up and get paid bucket loads back home in front of friends and family.
 
Wilson

Wilson

John Eales (66)
Dctarget said:
Michael McDonald signed as injury cover for Gordon. I always rated Michael, he was part of that golden generation of u20s with: Frost, Reilly, Donaldson, Harris, Nawaqanitawase, Van Nek, McReight, Nasser, Harry Wilson, Isaac Lucas, Hosea and Tizzano.

Only 25 years old, will be interesting if we can see him get on the field. He didn't have the meteoric rise in Ireland that he might have hoped a la Mack Hansen.

On that list, I wonder if Lucas watches his former peers, with jealousy, absolutely tear it up and get paid bucket loads back home in front of friends and family.
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Bit of a surprising one that. No shade on McDonald and good to see him back however briefly, but I thought Gordon was only out for another ~3 weeks? I would've thought with the quality they've got coming through at 9 in their under 20s program they would've just backed Sharples and maybe Grover in as cover for such a short period. Might indicate McKellar is pretty keen on signing him for next year if he's going to lose Gordon (and/or Wilson). He doesn't look to be getting much game time over there, so I imagine he'd be pretty cheap to repatriate.

Either way, it does look a fair bit better than last years head in the sand approach to prop injuries, not calling in pro cover until it was much too late.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
The injury report was, Jake Gordon (medial ligament), possibly it is worse than expected or it is the Tahs looking at options for next year's roster when Gordon is eating baguettes or pork pies
 
JRugby2

JRugby2

Cyril Towers (30)
Did we ever lose Michael from an eligibility perspective? From memory that was one of the drivers of him leaving to Ireland in the first place
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
JRugby2 said:
Did we ever lose Michael from an eligibility perspective? From memory that was one of the drivers of him leaving to Ireland in the first place
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He was always eligible for Ireland as he was born there.

I would assume he still has Australian eligibility unless that only ever came about from residency as a child rather than any permanent eligibility criteria.
 
JRugby2

JRugby2

Cyril Towers (30)
Braveheart81 said:
He was always eligible for Ireland as he was born there.

I would assume he still has Australian eligibility unless that only ever came about from residency as a child rather than any permanent eligibility criteria.
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More asking was he ever capped for their 'A' team and therefore no longer wallaby eligible (at least in the immediate term)
 
Wilson

Wilson

John Eales (66)
JRugby2 said:
More asking was he ever capped for their 'A' team and therefore no longer wallaby eligible (at least in the immediate term)
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No, he's barely played for Ulster and then they loaned him to Connacht last year where he got 10 gamed for about 30 minutes a piece off the bench. I don't think he was high up on the radar there at all. Closest he got was the emerging Ireland side (Not the Wolfhounds, who are the a-side) that played against the Force/Cheetahs in the off season.

As far as Australian eligibility goes, I don't know anything about his parents/grand parents, but I he was out here from around 2013 and left in 2022, so he has around 9 of the 10 years required for cumulative eligibility. This period won't add to it (it's not 'exclusive registration' if he's on loan), but I'd expect he'd be qualified by the time he was in contention if he signed for next year. That would also shape as pretty quick rise, though if Gordon departs and White ages out it could be a pretty open field next year.
 
The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Michael Lynagh (62)
He looked the goods coming through the 20s. Who knows at only 25 he may have a good stint in him like Goddard is at the brums and he's 26 and looked like an absolute gun coming through the youth ranks. Goddard is a bloke that owes a lot to Coleman after not being brought through well at the Rebels. Got him to Gordon, LA, Tahs and then the Brums picked him up now.
 
Wilson

Wilson

John Eales (66)
The Ghost of Raelene said:
He looked the goods coming through the 20s. Who knows at only 25 he may have a good stint in him like Goddard is at the brums and he's 26 and looked like an absolute gun coming through the youth ranks. Goddard is a bloke that owes a lot to Coleman after not being brought through well at the Rebels. Got him to Gordon, LA, Tahs and then the Brums picked him up now.
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Look you'd hope so, but McDonald hasn't exactly been playing a lot of rugby - 11 pro games in 2 years, averaging around 20 minutes per game. Compare that to Goddard's 2 years in MLR where he played 31 games, averaging 73 minutes per game after not getting much game time at home.

Don't get me wrong I don't think it's a bad call at all to bring McDonald in, but there is a reason he's available for loan - he's only played 19 minutes for the team he's actually signed for and this will be his second loan deal in 2 years, so it doesn't look like Ulster are particularly keen on keeping him. I suspect if he's going to put in any sort of decent showing it won't come until next year (assuming he's signed), but he'll have his work cut out for him if he's looking to push past 2 of Grant, Wilson and Gordon.
 
The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Michael Lynagh (62)
Tricky time of year to be looking for these sorts of depth pick ups. No local Club seasons have started so as a GM your'e trying to find blokes with a bit of current fitness. I hope we don't see him tbh and Wilson can fire and stay healthy but I understand the pickup if that makes sense.

I'd have him in a training battle with the U20s 9s to see who deserves it really. In my eyes the Tahs should be all about getting guys in and together who can take the group forward for seasons to come. Right now some stop gap pick ups are nice to not just go winless over and over but I hope over the next 18 months we see plenty of the academy guys appear.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I wonder if part of the reason to recruit McDonald is he's there as the third string option for (hopefully) not very long and is unlikely to play much whereas they'd prefer Sharples etc. to play the under 20s games.
 
Filipo Daugunu

Filipo Daugunu

Herbert Moran (7)
Wow that is a surprise, and very good news for Aus Rugby. Thought he would go overseas for sure considering he is not getting any game time at the Tahs. With Slipper retiring from internationals post-Lions and Bell contracted through to 2027, really important to lock down guys like Kailea and Schoupp who seem to be the next 2 loosehead options coming into the home World Cup.
 
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