Aussie Player Exodus

[Wallaby Man]

RugbyPass article (so take it with a pinch of salt) saying Luke Jones is returning to Australia. No mention of team. He’s 31, so still has some footy in him but wouldn’t be the strangest age to retire. Would offer good quality to most of the squads.

 

[Dctarget]

RugbyPass article (so take it with a pinch of salt) saying Luke Jones is returning to Australia. No mention of team. He’s 31, so still has some footy in him but wouldn’t be the strangest age to retire. Would offer good quality to most of the squads.

Jones is the most handsome, ineffective rugby player I’ve seen. Constantly looks like he’s about to do something cool and does fuck all

 

[Wallaby Man]

Jones is the most handsome, ineffective rugby player I’ve seen. Constantly looks like he’s about to do something cool and does fuck all

He’s a very good line out lock with incredible work rate, however has hands of butter

 

[Wilson]

I'd happily take him at the Reds right now. Probably long odds to put himself in the Wallaby frame in time for the world cup, but he'd be a great experienced lock to add to a young super rugby pack.

 

[Rugby Head]

I'd happily take him at the Reds right now. Probably long odds to put himself in the Wallaby frame in time for the world cup, but he'd be a great experienced lock to add to a young super rugby pack.

With Cridge departing, he should go to the Tahs.

 

[Braveheart81]

With Cridge departing, he should go to the Tahs.

We've got more than enough hybrid 6/lock options.

 

[Rugby Head]

We've got more than enough hybrid 6/lock options.

Jeremy Williams, Cridge both gone. Only left with Sinclair, Holloway and Max Douglas. I'd suggest they need some replacements.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

RugbyPass article (so take it with a pinch of salt) saying Luke Jones is returning to Australia. No mention of team. He’s 31, so still has some footy in him but wouldn’t be the strangest age to retire. Would offer good quality to most of the squads.

Does returning to Australia count if its the LA Giltinis?

I could see him at the Tahs as purely a 2nd Rower. Please don't let him take any minutes off Wilson, Gleeson if he does.

He is a Sydney boy originally.

Rae Rae

 

[Braveheart81]

Jeremy Williams, Cridge both gone. Only left with Sinclair, Holloway and Max Douglas. I'd suggest they need some replacements.

Plus Hanigan with Swinton hopefully healthy to return next year.

We need a big tight head lock but they also have to good to make it worthwhile.

Douglas fits the mold as the development player there. He's 2m tall and needs to add a fair amount of bulk but he's young enough.

My starting point is that anyone we recruit as that big lock needs to be good enough to provide a better combination than Holloway and Hanigan together.

Luke Jones is the same height as Holloway and potentially a bit lighter. He doesn't fit the bill.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

With Cridge departing, he should go to the Tahs.

Yeh we would take him. Force could also use him. Brumbies, rebels and reds less need.

 

[RugbyReg]

Yeh we would take him. Force could also use him. Brumbies, rebels and reds less need.

Reds have lost LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), ASY (Angus Scott-Young) and Tualima. Of course we could do with him.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Reds have lost LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), ASY (Angus Scott-Young) (Angus Scott-Young) and Tualima. Of course we could do with him.

So someone took the bait…

 

[Tazzmania]

Happy to see Andrew Ready has a gig for the next two years.

He has joined Colomiers in France D2

Source: all.rugby.com

 

[Tazzmania]

Not sure if he can still be classified under the Aussie player exodus, however it appears that Solomone KATA (ex Brumbies, now ex Moana Pasifika) has signed with Exter Chiefs for 2023.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Capped for Tonga so no loss for Aus. Surprised the Dolphins in the NRL didn't sign him tbf. Wasn't bad when at the Brums

 

[Jimmyjam]

Douglas was announced as one of the Tahs departing this year. Destination unknown.

 

[Braveheart81]

I reckon he just wasn't offered a contract by the Tahs and hasn't signed elsewhere at this point in time.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Douglas was announced as one of the Tahs departing this year. Destination unknown.

View attachment 14391

Impressive part about that for the Tahs is that none of them really hurt as a fan looking inwards. Newsome, Ramm, Tizzano really put in for them for a few bad seasons.

 

[John S]

Impressive part about that for the Tahs is that none of them really hurt as a fan looking inwards. Newsome, Ramm, Tizzano really put in for them for a few bad seasons.

Yeah they all had upside, but unfortunately they won't get a regular starting spot now that "better" regular players are available (Hooper/Gamble in Tizzano's case), injury for Ramm put him behind the Tahs regular back three in 22 etc. - no point them wasting away.

 

[Drew]

Probably doesn’t belong on here, but Payne Haas “apparently” being offered lucrative contract to play rugby in Europe. Not sure if it’s genuine interest, his manager trying to drive up his market value, or big European clubs trying to fill a spot with a big, athletic body while the RWC is on. A league forwards upright running style and lock up the ball/high tackling would find it hard to transition to rugby.