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Australian Rugby / RA

Jimmy_Crouch

Peter Johnson (47)
Interesting to see Philthy punt Adrian Thompson (GM High Performance Programs) and Marissa Pace (CMO and Sean Maloney's wife) week one.
 

Adam84

Rod McCall (65)
People complain that players are offered contracts straight out of school before they've proven themselves, but this NSW v QLD U19 team lineup highlights the issue faced in recruiting and retaining young talent in the game. Every player is contracted and most of them out until 2025. Plenty of union talent in these teams also.


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Wallaby Man

Nev Cottrell (35)
People complain that players are offered contracts straight out of school before they've proven themselves, but this NSW v QLD U19 team lineup highlights the issue faced in recruiting and retaining young talent in the game. Every player is contracted and most of them out until 2025. Plenty of union talent in these teams also.


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Those people have 0 idea how professionalism works in 2023
 

Wallaby Man

Nev Cottrell (35)
I spoke to Dave a number of times back when I was living in Melb and he’s always been very open about the challenges.

The more games argument is the most important thing to solve in the next 12-24months. That goes for most levels of Aus rugby. We have players that are in their physical prime but the professional rugby experience of players in other countries that are in their early 20s. It means we aren’t getting players at their physical and mental best at the same time. Their rugby IQ is behind where they should be at their respective ages.

We lament players like Fa’amasuili, Uelese, etc. but they have the professional playing experience of a 21-22yr old. The whole system and thought process on how to develop world beaters needs to be re-thought and probably brought into 2023 instead of 2003
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
Chat has slowed recently but the thread on NRC/other options got into this pretty well at times.

More games is a must. But, it does become a quality /quantity conversation as well. The NRC at times had a number of players who should not be in that tier. This isn't their fault they are selected its the fact we don't have a massive player base and stretching it lowers the quality. I personally knew a number of guys who were permanent 1st graders who were asked to play NRC but said no thanks I have to go to work. They then asked the player below them or a Colt.

I know it doesn't seem the popular option but I've supported the idea of Super Rugby A which seems something that could be stood up relatively fast whilst you may establish a comp with private ownership, sponsors, grounds etc.
 

hoggy

Nev Cottrell (35)
Wessels makes perfect sense, but it ain't rocket science it has been bloody obvious for the last 20 years. The issue they have always had is getting to the starting line.
They are short at least 3 teams to make it happen, vested interests have no motivation to change.

How do you start fresh when everything is designed to stay then same.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
There is absolutely no way that any domestic rugby competition could compete with the NRL. Or the AFL for that matter. We had a bit of a chance when rugby went professional, but the game was much more open back then and of course the leaguies were having their own domestic problems. Australians like the more open, simple to understand, and locally governed codes.

Our game now revolves a lot more around the set pieces and the NH unions like it like that, and of course they also like being able to poach our players to their hearts' content.
 

SouthernX

John Thornett (49)
One of the problems with NRC which needs be revisited if Stan decided it wanted proceed

Put games on Saturday night… in prime time. There’s no afl and rl to compete with in October…

If Stan/channel 9 did this on free to air… it would be a ratings bonanza… casual rugby fan isn’t in their right mind tuning in randomly on Saturday afternoon in October…
 

Agent

Billy Sheehan (19)
Is there any merit in playing an interstate 'club championship' after the Syd, Bris and Canberra comps wrap up for the year?

Imagine the top 3 teams from Syd (e.g. Newcastle, Norths & Randwick at the moment) and Bris (e.g Bond, Easts & Wests), and the top 2 from Canberra (e.g Tuggeranong & Gungahlin) playing a one round home and away plus finals comp after the respective club seasons wrap up. Even if the club season is shortened slightly or brought forward. It could coincide with the end of Super Rugby and the start of Wallaby season, players of national interest could be parachuted in if necessary, and it would still tap into the clubland tribal values and supporter base.

Any thoughts?
 

hoggy

Nev Cottrell (35)
Define "successful" please.
Something that will allow the code to grow and be sustained at a natural level and with a structure that is proven over time to work and is clearly what the Australian sporting public prefer.

The problem with the current set up which has operated now for 20 years is it relies on constant Wallaby success, they essentially have to be no1 for the game to grow here.

Where are those World cup winning Wallabies going to come from as the code slowly declines into niche status in its own backyard.
 
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SouthernX

John Thornett (49)
Is there any merit in playing an interstate 'club championship' after the Syd, Bris and Canberra comps wrap up for the year?

Imagine the top 3 teams from Syd (e.g. Newcastle, Norths & Randwick at the moment) and Bris (e.g Bond, Easts & Wests), and the top 2 from Canberra (e.g Tuggeranong & Gungahlin) playing a one round home and away plus finals comp after the respective club seasons wrap up. Even if the club season is shortened slightly or brought forward. It could coincide with the end of Super Rugby and the start of Wallaby season, players of national interest could be parachuted in if necessary, and it would still tap into the clubland tribal values and supporter base.

Any thoughts?

Tbh there’s a huge drop off in quality after QPR and Shute shield…

Some form of rebalancing between qld and nsw clubs would need to happen to account for the weaker rugby provinces in ACT, WA & VIC
 

Agent

Billy Sheehan (19)
Tbh there’s a huge drop off in quality after QPR and Shute shield…

Some form of rebalancing between qld and nsw clubs would need to happen to account for the weaker rugby provinces in ACT, WA & VIC

That's why I left WA and Vic out and 2 from Canberra.
 

SouthernX

John Thornett (49)
That's why I left WA and Vic out and 2 from Canberra.

Even then I don’t think the Canberra clubs are closer to qld/nsw and more terms of quality to the WA comp.

Canberra is a really small town who has to import their rugby talent via the qld/nsw rugby nurseries
 
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