Steve_Grey
Watty Friend (18)
Off to Leicester?
Aussie Player Exodus
- Thread starter swingpass
- Start date
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Do a Porecki?
It is a shame but these movements are inevitable as DM makes calls. If fit they do have an OK group of them.
I know he's 29 but Fonokalifi was a good find last year for the Tahs. Don't know if he's still around.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
I don't think this was a McKellar call - article has the tahs offering him a 2 year deal for 26/27 that he knocked back. It's possible the situation wasn't helped by Raiwalui being out of action with health issues, but more them not being able to match the overseas offer for a player they wanted to keep. He's also eligible for Spain, so may be looking to pursue that route, over trying to push past a fairly young crop of hookers ahead of him for the wallabies.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
He's probably played more than they ever planned so good on him for getting the exposure to get an overseas offer. First choices would have been Porecki and Vailanu and Heaven has benefited from opportunity. In reality it isn't a huge loss and way better for his Rugby then going to the MLR. A backup/3rd option Hooker contract I assume isn't going to be awesome in Super Rugby...
Having said that. Besides Billy Pollard I can't really think of any Hookers under the age of 25 that have shown heaps. George Blake is probably one to keep an eye on and they do tend to develop a bit later. Most of recent young Hookers still can't throw to save themselves
Having said that. Besides Billy Pollard I can't really think of any Hookers under the age of 25 that have shown heaps. George Blake is probably one to keep an eye on and they do tend to develop a bit later. Most of recent young Hookers still can't throw to save themselves
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
I'm not so sure it would've been a 3rd string offer - Porecki is 32 and his body is breaking, I'd expect them to be planning for him to drop right back down the order in 26/27. There's also a good chance Vailanu ends up getting capped by Tonga soon and that will complicate his retention.
As far as the broader landscape looks, Nasser, Lonergan and Dolly are all 25, and Faessler is 26. Along with Pollard all of those guys are in the same age bracket as Heaven, likely to get more game time then Heaven, and with the exception of Dolly, clearly ahead of him in the Wallabies pecking order right now.
As far as the younger guys go, both Bowron and Craig look like good prospects, but they're still very early right now. I don't really rate Blake personally (swapping between hooker and loose head isn't helping), but he could still come good. Dobbins I really liked in club rugby, but it remains to be seen if he can make the step up to super.
wamberal99
Dave Cowper (27)
Where's Nic Dolly?
He signed with the Western Force.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Maybe you missed Liam Bowron from the U20s get a couple of games with the Brumbies last year? He's a tough young bugger and plays with aggression and intent. So much so, he has been elevated to the full Brumbies' squad this year.
Beyond that, Lipina Ata from Eastwood had an exceptional series in the U19s last year with the Brumbies and looks a special for Super Rugby at some stage soon.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Tough go of it if both Lonergan and Pollard are fit though. If he's good enough others will come looking for his services I'm sure but being 21 a few appearances and a lot of Club footy can be good for him. Ata is a good prospect but a bit to happen before we see him go into Super Rugby yet. Hope he focuses on Hooker.
I personally don't rate Nasser all that highly but Schmidt did. At least for a while to test him out. He'll be a better player for the experience.
Pollard and Faessler are the stand out young Hookers and I don't think it's close with others. Definitely a never ending chat around the position being so important like a 9. BPA is only 29 as well which shocked me since it feels like iv'e seen him playing forever since the Southern Districts days.
I personally don't rate Nasser all that highly but Schmidt did. At least for a while to test him out. He'll be a better player for the experience.
Pollard and Faessler are the stand out young Hookers and I don't think it's close with others. Definitely a never ending chat around the position being so important like a 9. BPA is only 29 as well which shocked me since it feels like iv'e seen him playing forever since the Southern Districts days.
Armchair Selector
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Porecki spent a few years in the UK plying his trade prior to returning to Australia to become a Wallaby. In terms of the pecking order of Hookers in Australia, I suspect we will have a better idea after the local derby's in the Super Rugby Season. Heaven is 24 and most likely will be better for the experience in the UK.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
L'Equipe have it as confirmed after being originally reported in rugbyrama, so it seems pretty concrete
Transferts : Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) en route pour Montpellier (Rugby)
Le troisième-ligne international australien Langi Gleeson a donné son accord aux dirigeants de Montpellier, septième de Top 14.
www.lequipe.fr
I've not been super hot on Langi, but that's mostly because I think it's still a bit early for him. It would be a big loss to lose him now, just as he should be making the step up. Feels a bit like he's ended up falling down the Hanigan path, being elevated to high too soon and feeling the need to get out of Australia as a result.
Hopefully this means the tahs are hanging onto Leota longer term, I see them as competing for that same role in the wallabies 23 this year.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Nah Hanigan was the starting 6 when we had a dearth of options and was made the patsy for our (perceived) failings. I don't think Gleeson ever really took on such a high level of forced responsibility. He's been solid as a bench impact player.L'Equipe have it as confirmed after being originally reported in rugbyrama, so it seems pretty concrete
Transferts : Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) en route pour Montpellier (Rugby)
Le troisième-ligne international australien Langi Gleeson a donné son accord aux dirigeants de Montpellier, septième de Top 14.
I've not been super hot on Langi, but that's mostly because I think it's still a bit early for him. It would be a big loss to lose him now, just as he should be making the step up. Feels a bit like he's ended up falling down the Hanigan path, being elevated to high too soon and feeling the need to get out of Australia as a result.
Hopefully this means the tahs are hanging onto Leota longer term, I see them as competing for that same role in the wallabies 23 this year.
It's probably just money.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Not to the same degree as Hanigan, but he never should've been on Rennie's final end of year tour and in the World cup squad with so little professional rugby to his name.
And yeah, money is almost certainly a massive part of it, but I imagine it was for Hanigan too. That's part of the issue with promoting some of these guys too high too early, there's an element of wage inflation and expectation to it that's hard to walk back from and makes those stints overseas look even more appealing.
wamberal99
Dave Cowper (27)
Hanigan did a lot of the less glamorous work. Gleeson has always seemed to be a bit of a show pony to me.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Yeah, though that would be a huge step up for him to get to that level of instrumental for the Wallabies. The flipside is that if he's off at the end of the year McKellar may well look to give more time to guys like Kunavula and Talataina as the season progresses, particularly if his form looks like it did during last years super rugby season. There are a lot of 60ish minute ball running backrowers in that squad competing for a couple of spots.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Show pony seems a bit tough to me, but I was surprised Schmidt persisted with him. He didn’t seem to add much from my perspective.
I can see the potential in him - just seems a decent way off that. But he is only young and I won’t be surprised at all if he kicks on this year.
With Gleeson off the books, could it mean throwing some money and opportunity to lure Heinz Lemoto? Longshot I know.L'Equipe have it as confirmed after being originally reported in rugbyrama, so it seems pretty concrete
Transferts : Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) en route pour Montpellier (Rugby)
Le troisième-ligne international australien Langi Gleeson a donné son accord aux dirigeants de Montpellier, septième de Top 14.
I've not been super hot on Langi, but that's mostly because I think it's still a bit early for him. It would be a big loss to lose him now, just as he should be making the step up. Feels a bit like he's ended up falling down the Hanigan path, being elevated to high too soon and feeling the need to get out of Australia as a result.
Hopefully this means the tahs are hanging onto Leota longer term, I see them as competing for that same role in the wallabies 23 this year.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Gleeson unfortunately has a body that doesn't fit a hole we have at the Wallabies.
The closest player to Lang's play style is Bobby V. In the event Rob goes down, Gleeson probably wouldn't be the first choice at 6/8 to replace him with who Joe has currently picked.
I'd imagine we would have Wright, Wilson, Uru, Williams and Cale who would be given a crack at that starting position over him?
The closest player to Lang's play style is Bobby V. In the event Rob goes down, Gleeson probably wouldn't be the first choice at 6/8 to replace him with who Joe has currently picked.
I'd imagine we would have Wright, Wilson, Uru, Williams and Cale who would be given a crack at that starting position over him?