Canberra Vikings - Offical NRC Team Thread

[amirite]

Bobby is also in Year 12 Caputo, and he's just backed up an 80 minute game for Colts with an appearance with an appearance off the bench in firsts (losing both, haha Quins).

Don't worry about him not being in the NRC squad.

He's dead to the Rebels.

He wasn't in the quite successful Vic 18s side either. I think they feel he was their golden child and now he's gone. I'm very much hoping for a prodigals son type-scenario. This is different to Jooste, who signed post-NRC.

I imagine he's working on his Y12 and getting a nice extended preseason.

 

[Forcefield]

I believe I read about the financials and why some leave early to go to overseas clubs. Example Cheika complaining about Gill and Holmes released early.

Contracts are to largely end of the year, with 7 year veterans were after the 3rd Bledisloe on 22 Oct 16.

I noticed no Lolo Fakaosilea likely to be QLD Country or Chris Alcock Or Robert Valetini.

Chris Alcock not included in Perth Spirit whilst Robert Valetini (Not Contracted) not included with Melbourne Rising.

Be interesting whether Alcock is a Western Sydney Ram

Could this because of financial prudency.

I thought it might have been due to restrictions in Super Rugby player numbers. I count at least 18 in that Vikings squad. Maybe Lolo and Chris would be two too many. The competition has to stay competitive and the Vikings have the potential to roll out a pretty unbeatable pack. I know winning is the most important, but I hope we don't see too much of Mann-Rea where you could develop future options.

 

[Highlander35]

He's dead to the Rebels.

He wasn't in the quite successful Vic 18s side either. I think they feel he was their golden child and now he's gone. I'm very much hoping for a prodigals son type-scenario. This is different to Jooste, who signed post-NRC.

I imagine he's working on his Y12 and getting a nice extended preseason.

Given the Rebels thread got derailed by the Brumbies talk, I don't really feel any shame derailing this onw with Vic talk.

I think it's both a good thing and a bad thing in terms of our growing maturity as a Rugby Team. Getting players pinched before you can sign them is a sign of your own improving talent spotting and development. Unfortunately for the Rebels, 3 of the best talents that have come up in the last few years have all been 6/8 style backrowers in Ta Hosea, Rob Leota and Valenti. Ta is clearly somewhat happy to stick around without a contract, particularly since his not so little brother is coming back from his QLD Rugby Scholarship, and Leota is obviously signed up.

Fox is the one that irks me. Not because he's not a good player. I've watched him for the U20s, and the Schoolboys, he's a very talented player. But AFAIK, we brought him down promising him a contract, trying to turn him into a hooker, but failing, and in the process, turning our own chunky backrower in Uelese into a good front rower. When that pursuit had failed, we should have backed in one of our boys onto an EPS deal and let Fox go home.

I don't know what the future holds for some of these Vic Boys. But with Josh Coward off in Queensland and Valenti now off to Canberra, I really hope we keep a close hold on the half dozen or so talents between 18 and 22ish with the potential to get at least to Super Level.

 

[amirite]

Given the Rebels thread got derailed by the Brumbies talk, I don't really feel any shame derailing this onw with Vic talk.

I think it's both a good thing and a bad thing in terms of our growing maturity as a Rugby Team. Getting players pinched before you can sign them is a sign of your own improving talent spotting and development. Unfortunately for the Rebels, 3 of the best talents that have come up in the last few years have all been 6/8 style backrowers in Ta Hosea, Rob Leota and Valenti. Ta is clearly somewhat happy to stick around without a contract, particularly since his not so little brother is coming back from his QLD Rugby Scholarship, and Leota is obviously signed up.

Fox is the one that irks me. Not because he's not a good player. I've watched him for the U20s, and the Schoolboys, he's a very talented player. But AFAIK, we brought him down promising him a contract, trying to turn him into a hooker, but failing, and in the process, turning our own chunky backrower in Uelese into a good front rower. When that pursuit had failed, we should have backed in one of our boys onto an EPS deal and let Fox go home.

I don't know what the future holds for some of these Vic Boys. But with Josh Coward off in Queensland and Valenti now off to Canberra, I really hope we keep a close hold on the half dozen or so talents between 18 and 22ish with the potential to get at least to Super Level.

Coward is on the 7s path and TBH, his shape is not one that will be suited to 15s in the short term. I'd like to see us bring home another Victorian, Laloifi - similar mould, but a bit older, wiser, and most importantly, heavier.

Fox is a strange one. He's not a bad rugby player but I don't see him going places professionally as a 6/8 in the short term. At 1.86cm that'd be a tall hooker too.

Ta is a good honest 6 but his role looks too much like Leota's and he'd probably be best running around in Sydney and getting into one of their 3 NRC squads and using it as a springboard. His brother has the luck of being a tall mofo and being blooded as a lock, which means there's no clash with Leota.

Valetini is a good player that would've got a contract but didn't show the patience. He's probably super rugby ready by 2018. Shame, the brumbies are onto a good one, but maybe he's a tough one to manage.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Any inside intel on how Southwell might prepare the side and what his game plan might look like?

 

[Caputo]

Having time to digest the release of the UC Vikings I would like to make some observations about the construction of UC Vikings III.

There seems an over abundance in numbers of Front Rowers, with all the Brumby Locks and more and diminishing Back Row. No third Half Back, no change in plans to cover Christian Lealiifano long term. The backline is full of utilities. It seems to me there is a tighter financial cord this year about importing players to trial. I have been mildly disappointed with the initial bleat about where’s our players from the Queanbeyan Mafia and the Perth people late 15 over Jooste and Melbourne to Robert Valetini leaving home for 2017.

Props – The team seems to be on the backfoot with word from Wallaby Central is that Allan Ala'alatoa is being trialled for THP. Should the Brumbies and Vikings accommodate this to help the Wallaby cause. There are three Brumby Props in the squad Sio as a Marquee not expected to play and Ala'alatoa with Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin. Should we play Les at LHP and in preparation for the Brumbies in 2017. Would liked to have had one of Alexander or Smith but not to be. Were the Brumbies and both Vikings slow to react to Lomax’s move to the Rising/Rebels. I hope and anticipate he will be soon compared favourably with PAE. Let’s see what Faalelei Sione has about him.

The Hookers will be interesting to see if Abel is favoured over the veteran in Mann-Rea whether this influences the Brumbies with Saia Fainga'a in their mix. In junk time or injury the development by Connal McInerney is worth watching.

Locks – The only squad with four Super Rugby Locks and two Walllabies. Seems to be one too many. Happy with Swain over Wilson as there is only scraps for game time. Let ‘s develop the Under 20’s. Maybe Staniforth or Enever will be trialled at 6 or 8.

Back Row – The mysterious Bermuda triangle only five chosen for four positions. Does this mean Penca has the chance to perform and potentially be the back up to Alcock at 7 with the Brumbies or will it fall on Butler. Or OJ Noa v Dean Oakman-Hunt chasing Smiler. They could have plucked another Under 20's player to fill the void.

Half Back – where is the back up is it the utility in Edan Campbell-O’Brien why not Mitch Douch. Maybe they are waiting for Ryan Lonergan if there are injuries.

Five Eight - are we handing the reins to Jooste. Even though Christian Lealiifano was to play in Japan and return to the Brumbies. Should they have started on Plan B for the long term. The rumours of Tim’s little boy in Alex Horan from UQ to reprise Mitch Third’s trial last year.

Wing – who replaces Tomane? Will it be the youth of Kotz or former NSW Country and NSW Cockatoo Eli Sinoti coming via a season in JID or will the two fringe Brumbies steal the show in James Dargaville and Lausii Taliauli

Full Back – where are the options to find the new Mogg or Roff. Is it Coleman full time or back up 5/8 in Isaac Thompson what about the Dargaville Express.

 

[TOCC]

With the number of locks in the squad and the seemingly understrengthed backrow do you think there's a chance we may see one of the locks playing a bit of time at blindside flanker?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Lots of very good questions raised by Caputo. On the face of it, the Vikings could be struggling in a number of areas this year.

I am not impressed at all by the move of AA to THP in the Wallabies. He is an outstanding prospect at No 1 and the back up to Scott Sio at the Brumbies. No way should either of the Vikings or Brumbies cooperate in his move to the other side. That said, there is a bit of a hole then backing up Makin at THP. Guess he'll have to play almost the whole game, most games with short term backup provided by one of the Dobsons.

The issues in the backline have been described clearly by Caputo. Who are the backup players to Powell and Joost at 9 and 10. Jackson-Hope can play 10 I believe but is likely to be the starting 12 imo. And 15 is a real problem. Coleman has been a great stalwart for the Vikings/Brumbies but he is now struggling at Super level imo. Where is the development of a long term option for 15 for the Brumbies?

Looks like the Vikings are taking a very low-cost approach to this year's NRC which might flow over to the Brumbies next year and beyond. Hopefully, a few of the local JID players in the squad come good at this level and answer some of the questions about the team's makeup.

 

[Lindommer]

I am not impressed at all by the move of AA to THP in the Wallabies. He is an outstanding prospect at No 1 and the back up to Scott Sio at the Brumbies. No way should either of the Vikings or Brumbies co-operate in his move to the other side.

I am not impressed at all by the move of AA to LHP in the Brumbies, Allan did play in the 3 jumper before moving to Canberra. In his best career interests I'd suggest he either consider changing sides (good one, Cheks) or move franchises to start in the 1 jumper. In the bigger picture having Ala'alatoa and Robertson coming through as good quality young THPs has gotta be good for Oz rugby.

 

[Slim 293]

But the Brumbies have two good young THP's coming though, plus Alexander for another year............

Ala'alatoa has been re-signed as a LHP and that's where he's likely going to keep playing for the Brumbies.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Lindo, I disagree - AA's best career interests lie with him playing LHP imo. He is guaranteed good game time at the Brumbies as a LHP backup to Sio, and will be the starting LHP if Sio goes down with injury or has a brain snap and signs for the Tahs at some later date. He is not needed to play THP at the Brumbies.

I am a believer in Robertson being the next big thing as THP, and as he is playing behind Kepu at the Tahs, would you suggest his career interests are served by switching to the LH side?

 

[Forcefield]

But the Brumbies have two good young THP's coming though, plus Alexander for another year....

Ala'alatoa has been re-signed as a LHP and that's where he's likely going to keep playing for the Brumbies.

Then stop warehousing talented players.

 

[Slim 293]

Then stop warehousing talented players.

I'll get onto the phone with the Brumbies first thing in the morning and demand they stop trying to roster the best players available............

 

[Highlander35]

Brumbies should have left him at tighthead in the first place.

Given that they didn't, Chieks putting him back to tighthead is also a mistake.

I also think that with the quality of Slipper, Sio and (Toby) Smith he shouldn't really be in contention for that loosehead spot anyway. Nothing against him, he's an amazingly talented player, but when you have a number of quality options with not much between them, you pick the starters first.

 

[kiap]

Allan did play in the 3 jumper before moving to Canberra. In his best career interests I'd suggest he either consider changing sides (good one, Cheks)

One of Cheika's better attributes. Can't see any downside of him bullying the Brumbies on this.

 

[Highlander35]

Cheiks is getting quite good at the bullying thing isn't he?

 

[kiap]

Absolutely. It's not always a bad thing, though.

 

[Highlander35]

No, but as a NH fan, I must admit to a little schadenfreude when he was having a whinge about releasing Gill and Holmes early.

 

[kiap]

No, but as a NH fan, I must admit to a little schadenfreude when he was having a whinge about releasing Gill and Holmes early.

Was Gill really in the frame for the next 4 months? Dunno. Not that Cheika came up smelling of roses over it but it seemed more like making a bit of ambit noise about chalking up a non-obligatory release.

Holmes, I'd grant, would've been in the mix.

But we've digressed away from the NRC and Vikings.

 

[neilc]

Ignoring Cheika's hypocrisy, what's the Vikings lineup look like from a local development pathway? Are there some good local club comp guys coming through?