Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
The Tahs? With their roster with the addition of the Rebels? Performed worse than the Force.
Western Force 2025
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
He’s far better than Coleman. That’s a dud comparison.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
We'll see. Rugby folk love to say Rugby IP and use all the other terms that make them better than others.
Right now he's 12 wins from 42 games and DC went 16 wins from 44 games and we all seem confident in saying he was average.
Right now he's 12 wins from 42 games and DC went 16 wins from 44 games and we all seem confident in saying he was average.
Tomthumb
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Can he? Because he was given a good enough squad this year and dished up more dross. And he needs to look at his training methods as the amount of injuries year after year cant be just bad luck
Mr Pilfer
Ron Walden (29)
I think the fact that the Force started so strong and then ended so badly does highlight lack of depth, travel burden etc. They started to rest and rotate players but unfortunately didn't have the depth to do that. The big issue with the Force I think is the quality of the players from numbers 25-41 in the squad.
Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
Which the Tahs and Reds definitely benefited from with most Rebel players joining their franchises. The depth at those sides was far greater. Travel schedule as you say was hardly fair. Hopefully that improves next year and they get some more quality signings to help boost their depth. Kalani Thomas would be good. Having Hoopert and Johnson-Holmes fit again would be a good boost.
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
Kalani just re-signed with Reds.
If the travel distance was so bad you'd think the Force would be able to turn Perth into a fortress.
The Force are exactly where their squad is. A good team that can occasionally go toe-toe with the Kiwis. There aren't many teams in Super any more, so if you're not a top team, you're at the bottom. Nature of the comp doesn't allow middling teams. Maybe that's the Reds and Blues this season. Don't think Aus has talent to create more than 1 exceptional team each year.
You'd need some remarkable signings to change that narrative. New centres, fullback would be a start. Another quality backrower and props that can stay fit.
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
Yep, would happily change my description of them. I think sadly their injury list is unsurmountable though.
Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
Imagine if they didn’t have all the Rebels in their squad. A luxury.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
And unless they have 6-7 new signings about to happen I see the same happening. They aren’t sitting in the system below. Guys who were touted signings from NSW like Cummins has already been released.
If Thomas has stayed with the Reds you gotta think the Force are throwing a lot of money at Wilson who is the last young option and the one they wanted first apparently.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
With his brother Harry on the market and apparently returning to Australia I wouldn't be surprised if they made a play for both to sweeten the deal/offset the cost. Of course the tahs could be doing the exact same thing.
Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
True. Although Gordon has been resigned at the Tahs who I suspect will start most games. At the Force, White has resigned but may be used to mentor with a thought to transition to coaching and this would possibly see Wilson a starting option? I’d have him ahead of Robertson.
Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
It does make me wonder though the intelligence of Rugby Australia. You are trying to grow the game. Wouldn’t you want to see the sides in the less rugby loving cities become successful? The Brumbies hit the ground running early back in the early 90’s with a stack of great players that helped build them into a winning franchise. The Force have always been dribbled a few stars over the years since they have been in… Pocock, Giteau, Mitchell, JOC (James O'Connor), Shepherd among quite a few. Never though enough to win regularly and make finals and possibly win finals. Then the ill fated Rebels were the same. You had to laugh to see most Rebels on their demise going to the Reds and the Tahs. Then the Tahs don’t make the finals with quite a strong roster. The Reds are up against it in their final clash and if they lose what have they achieved? A strong squad and only one game in the finals. Let’s see, because they may surprise, but the bookies are rarely wrong. The Red supporters keep going on about injuries but your squad depth is far stronger than what the Force have. That’s allowed the Reds to keep winning games. With the NRL putting a team in Perth it would be great to see the Force building a stronger side with no restrictions from Rugby Australia to start winning on a regular basis to counter the league interest. I have heard that certain players who may be interested in going West are discouraged although I’m not sure how true that is. Anyway, the Brumbies are our best Aussie side and I hope they go all the way.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
I don't think anyone would be discouraged. Especially if your'e a player of national interest, Wallabies coaches would want you playing as much as possible.
It was the noise that when Crichton was genuinely looking at Rugby a couple of years ago when on the outer at the Roosters for a period he was told by RA that they'd only chip in if he went to the Force and he said no thanks and stayed in league which was probably the preferred option for him anyway.
It was the noise that when Crichton was genuinely looking at Rugby a couple of years ago when on the outer at the Roosters for a period he was told by RA that they'd only chip in if he went to the Force and he said no thanks and stayed in league which was probably the preferred option for him anyway.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
Salary cap/RA offered allowances in the past for recruitment retention for foreign players to improve the competitiveness of Rebels/Force in the short term whilst they improved their development pathways, It worked in some cases but failed in plenty of others with foreign players offering little and take a spot.
the other disruption to any equalisation measures in Australia is the RA top up for PONIS, which the Brumbies have certainly benefited from this disproportionately(as has Tahs, Reds, Rebels) in the past with top ups excluded from salary cap, meaning discrepancy in the total value of squads when including RA top-ups. I agree Force sit well below the rest on this one. But it’s also a RUPA and player rights issue, they don’t want this top-up to vary between states as it’s for their national representation, not club.
Finally there is the critical financial aspect, Brumbies and Waratahs both ran at multi-million losses last year, likewise Rebels. You could increase their salary cap but it only accelerates their financial decline. salary cap serves two purposes, equalisation but also to save clubs from themselves.
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The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
The only way I see the Force taking a leap into a top 5-6 team for a period of time is to go to Syd and Bris and sign the best 5 kids for 3-4 years and wait it out. If 7-8 of the 20 kick on and have been in the system for a few years you then have the base of a side that know each other which is clearly key to successful sides. Essentially what the Brums have done after their inaugural period.
Force have always made signings but guess what, new guys need time before being effective and gelling with the side. Then the Force lose guys all the time who tend to be foreign players which again puts them back a step as you need more signings.
Force have always made signings but guess what, new guys need time before being effective and gelling with the side. Then the Force lose guys all the time who tend to be foreign players which again puts them back a step as you need more signings.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
They’ve been doing that to an extent. There’s 3-4 of the current crop of U18s/U20s from QLD that they’ve signed.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
Good to hear. Hard to know other states Schools talent but as far as NSW guys go they have picked up it's been 1 in 2024 and 1 in 2025 that are in that elite category.
After this it's guys that fit the 1st grader category. Don't want to throw these guys names out there as it doesn't feel fair on them.
After this it's guys that fit the 1st grader category. Don't want to throw these guys names out there as it doesn't feel fair on them.
Mr Pilfer
Ron Walden (29)
Yeah I think they have tried a few different approaches over the years with varying success. Bringing back NCD and Harry Potter for example from overseas is definitely a better option than signing the likes of Kahui and Rob Kearney.
Email came out from Cron today not really excuses but highlighted the travel factor, not so much the travel itself but the fact that it only really allows 1 proper training session per week in between games which limits opportunity to fix things. I think if they can get their wish for home games and away games to be put into blocks next year that could really help.
Email came out from Cron today not really excuses but highlighted the travel factor, not so much the travel itself but the fact that it only really allows 1 proper training session per week in between games which limits opportunity to fix things. I think if they can get their wish for home games and away games to be put into blocks next year that could really help.