Melbourne Rebels 2011

[Biffo]

i dont think Rod will have that much of an option, when it comes down to it he may get the first I0 players he wants, hemay get the first I5 but to fill a squad of thirty you need some good solid week in week out guys

True, Jay-suss ... but ... I'd take it as given that Macqueen will use the full quota of ten foreigners. Then, I'd expect about five current Wallabies to sign with him. I'd expect no more then three returnee established players from Europe and Japan. Then, there'd be some 5-6 young S14 players with real futures who are held back behind "stars" - the To'omua and Lealiifano types. That's 22-23. I'd expect the remaining 7-8 to be 50:50 between journeyman S14 players and the absolute cream of the other state's acadcemies. So, some 5-7 places for the journeymen?

I've included no leaguies, although I have no doubt Macqueen will sign at least one and get success.

 

[spectator]

Hope they stack the Academy with homegrown products. Victoria has produced some decent schoolboys in the last few years and it would send the right kind of message locally.

 

[chief]

Yes, the signing of the 4 Australian Schoolboys were effectively token signings just to get the message out there, that they are still producing home grown talent.

 

[Lee Grant]

Good point Biffo. We started this exercise a little while back and it has been fun to see our thoughts drift here and there with no regard for harsh reality.


Sometimes things developed to make us change our minds almost as soon as we typed the words out. In particular, the news of the dispensation for Melbourne to use up to 10 foreign players hit like a bombshell. If Macqueen and Co. can afford to employ the foreigners, they will use up a big chunk of the starting spots. The Rebels will be a lot more choosy picking players for the rest of the squad than we though when the thread was started.


In regard to the foreign players: in 2011 European national squads will want to have their players playing in the NH because of the RWC. And don't forget that Euro teams will be in the market for fringe SH players to cover for their players being absent during the RWC and for a decent period before that for training. Though most of such contracts are short term, some of them are not. We may find that some of the players we have earmarked for Melbourne are actually poached.


It's a pity that the new Super team is starting up in a RWC year. The year after would have been better. Perhaps the quality of some of the 2012 players will be better than the 2011 lot.


Melbourne won't be able to compete financially for the overseas guys but it doesn't mean that we couldn't get some good ones who would come here for non-financial reasons. Aussies may return for non-financial reasons also. Being a part of the startup of a new rugby venture and escaping a NH winter for a year or two would have some attractions.

 

[chief]

We have to remember by 2015 it will be scaled back to the one marquee player. So they will definitely try and get some decent overseas Aussie players to return. Maybe SANZAR will also allow Argentinian players to be an exception as they are included in the Tri-Nations in 2012.

 

[James Buchanan]

The McQueen thing will be a big factor. I was concerned that he might be out of the loop re: coaching but his winning track record and his legend for developing players will be a significant allure for a lot of players in the marketplace. For those reasons alone, he's probably the best possible selection for the inaugural coaching role. Hill being there means that there's a seamless transition policy in place.

Despite the acrimony around the organisation of the back of house, the powers that be in the Melbourne bid seem to have a good organisation process for the match staff. It'll be interesting to see what sort of support team they build. McQueen's know for his management of coaches style, so I imagine there will be other coaches on staff by 2011.

 

[en_force_er]

Sorry guys I'm sure this has been covered but when is Brock James off contract?

Thanks.

 

[Newb]

Sorry guys I'm sure this has been covered but when is Brock James off contract?

Thanks.

not sure, but it may not matter since any super14 team probably can't afford his next contract. he had a very good game against the ospreys recently. steady kicking for goal and helped set up a couple of their tries with his high balls that were poorly fielded. the chasers did good work too though.

 

[en_force_er]

not sure, but it may not matter since any super14 team probably can't afford his next contract. he had a very good game against the ospreys recently. steady kicking for goal and helped set up a couple of their tries with his high balls that were poorly fielded. the chasers did good work too though.

his value is set to fall seeing as the top 14 is having a heavily restricting salary cap placed on them.

not to mention he is only 28 and is certainly of a high enough quality to go to the 2011 world cup in some wallaby capacity. surely he could be convinced, based on his age, to take a temporary pay-cut in search of something greater.

im a melbournian and im desperate to see him play for us. it also helps he is victorian born. though i dont think vic raised.

 

[Lee Grant]

Brock James is under contract to Clermont until the end of the 2011-12 season; so he won't be playing in Oz until 2013, if he ever does.

Forget the French salary cap. I'm predicting that it will just apply to salaries and that 3rd party payments will rort the system. But it will have some effect. They wont get away rorting everybody. I reckon only stars like James, Bonnaire, Malzieu, Nalaga and Rougerie will be rorted by Clermont but that average players will be marginalised. It depends what the other clubs do also.

I think the rule that requires them to use more and more players trained in France will have a more significant effect.

They can't afford to lose James, their most valuable player. [But geez Newb he missed a lot of goals on the weekend against the Sprays, though he doesn't usually].

 

[en_force_er]

Surely as a long servant to the club (3 years?) if he asked for a one year break to pursue a international berth they'd allow it. Given it wouldn't be for a rival club.

 

[Lee Grant]

One extra reason James is so valuable to CA is that he is not eligible for France because he's played for Oz Sevens. [Yet he would walk into a France squad when and if he was France qualified on residence. Only Trinh-Duc is close to him on form and Beauxis on a good day - that's when he plays flyhalf, which is not that often.]

Because he's not eligible for France he is available for Clermont for any games played during the autumn tests and 6N plus the training time before these periods. A pay packet premium would be built in for this. And he's a rock star in Clermont. I don't know if he's a married man, or has a partner, but if he isn't, or doesn't, he wouldn't be lonely in CA - and no penalties for diving in either.

Before I say never - who knows? People are too fond of "never". Who really knows? Who can say that if got a call from Deans that he wouldn't ask for a leave of absence so that he starts the 2011-12 season after the 2011 RWC. But if you ask me: would he ask for a leave of absence to miss the whole calendar year of 2011 to play for Melbourne and Oz in the RWC if selected - I don't think so.

 

[en_force_er]

I'll remain an optimist despite the unlikely.

He has been willing to travel alot in the past. Plied his rugby is Adelaide/Sydney at Club, Brissy/Perth at S14, NZ in the Air NZ Cup and France. The man seems to enjoy his travels.

He does seem amerced in the French culture though. He is fully fluent.

 

[Lee Grant]

He's also amerced in the Euros.

 

[en_force_er]

He's also amerced in the Euros.

Haha. How come this forum doesnt have a like button?

Seriously though, surely being back in his city of birth would mean something.

 

[en_force_er]

Guys,

Are Tevita Mailau and Ed O'Donoghue still Australian eligible? One has played for NZ U21 and one has played for Ireland A.
I'm assuming no but I'm not 100% on the eligibility rules.

 

[RugbyReg]

21s is fine, Ireland A is not. Ed O is a Paddy now.

 

[en_force_er]

You'd think he'd be on the Melbourne radar. He is quite handy.

 

[Lindommer]

Are Tevita Mailau and Ed O'Donoghue still Australian eligible? One has played for NZ U21 and one has played for Ireland A.

Yes and no. TM? I can't see where he's had anything to do with Oz, but he hasn't played As or 7s for NZ.

 

[en_force_er]

Yes and no. TM? I can't see where he's had anything to do with Oz, but he hasn't played As or 7s for NZ.

Go to his Auckland Blues profile. It says he was born in Manly, NSW.

His Auckland NPC doesn't have a birth place so I'm inclined to think they wouldn't lie.