What are peoples thoughts on current club players? Who is in the mix?
Tim Cree
Dan Penca
Rowan Perry
Tom Staniforth
Matt Hawke
Nigel Ah Wong
Rodney Iona
Gareth Clouston
Isaac Thompson
Joel Penders
JP Pradaud
Michael Henry
HP Momsen
Joe Powell
Don't know them all, but I'd expect Cree to come in for Mowen (leaving), Perry a good chance to play 7 to allow Butler to go to 6, Staniforth to replace Carter (Wallabies), Hawke to replace McCabe (Wallabies), Iona to replace To'omua (Wallabies), and Predaud to replace either Sio or Alexander (Wallabies). Can't see Powell getting as go behind Dowsett and Hoffman unless one or other goes to another NRC team. Thompson would also be a good bet but would be behind Cronje and Iona I suspect. Any news on whether the Saffas will be playing? I have assumed so.
Whispers are that the team will be announced on August 1st.
They will televise our second game. Home game at Viking Park against Perth!
Lets all get behind our local boys and get a great first home game crowd to cheer them on. We need to seriously support all our local boys, so this comp can survive. LETS GO CANBERRA!!!
http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/07/08/nrc-update-pt-1-queensland-perth-melbourne-canberra/Home ground: Viking Park, Erindale. Brumbies Rugby confirmed that Fox Sports will not be broadcasting any Vikings home games.
Apologie my bad. First game against Perth Spirit at Viking Park. Second game against Sydney Stars as an opener for the Bledisloe cup. That game is televised!
I think we have chosen the wallabies that are a chance to be outside of the match day 23 and will therefore get some NRC game time. Sio and Lilo especially. No point keeping tomua, white, fardy etc who are almost guaranteed starters and are almost no chance of playing any NRC.So it looks like we have our 4 wallabies announced for the team.
Carter, McCabe, Sio, Lilo. Great to have Carter and Sio, but lilo, i think just starting to get inform (besides his kicking), and McCabe hasn't played 80 mins for the whole season except for a less the handful of games. The Sydney Rams have opted to cut their 33 man squad to have more then 4 Wallabies, and they have the big guns! Thoughts anyone?
I think we have chosen the wallabies that are a chance to be outside of the match day 23 and will therefore get some NRC game time. Sio and Lilo especially. No point keeping tomua, white, fardy etc who are almost guaranteed starters and are almost no chance of playing any NRC.
but not sure why Matty would choose Country over Brisbane.
My understanding is that the players themselves nominated the NRC teams they wanted to be associated with. Maybe the Vikings had a say also if more than 4 players nominated them. Can see the links between Fardy/Rays and White/Country but not sure why Matty would choose Country over Brisbane.
Of the four choosing the Vikings, I'd say neither Sam Carter nor Scott Sio will be any chance of playing while the Wallabies are in camp. Probably one of Christian and Pat might be available for some games as they are probably competing for the same bench spot with the Wallabies.
Really looking forward to this competition. Go Vikings.
To'omua played at least four seasons for Eastern Suburbs which is one of NSW Country's feeder teams. That's the link.
Doesn't his girlfriend live in Sydney too?
Sio is definitely a chance of NRC. He played club rugby during the June Tests this year, as did Lilo.
This is the Vikings team i have pencilled in so far. Few gaps.
1.Smith
2.Lam
3.Smith
4.Staniforth
5.
6.Smiler
7.Butler
8.Fotu
9.Dowsett
10.
11.Coleman
12.
13.Ah-Wong
14.
15.Mogg
16.
17. Allatoa
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Correct. Lala Lam. He's back training with the Brumbies and NRC at hooker. With Man-Rea gone he seems like the likely choice for 3rd string next seasonIs that LaLa Lam you have at 2? Has he indicated he will be returning to Canberra to play hooker?