Melbourne Rebels 2011

[tranquility]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

hahahha

where did you hear that one?

 

[DPK]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Nathan Brown on the other hand... :

.... had the Dragons job too early at age 29, went to the Super League in England and got the Super League Coach of the Year award last year.

Don't you knock Brownie; dem's fighting words. Anyone who got knocked out in a game in Melbourne and when asked when he came to where he thought he was, answered: "The Casino???" - must have some merit.

No-one made him take the job, Lee!

 

[stoff]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Nathan Brown on the other hand... :

.... had the Dragons job too early at age 29, went to the Super League in England and got the Super League Coach of the Year award last year.

Don't you knock Brownie; dem's fighting words. Anyone who got knocked out in a game in Melbourne and when asked when he came to where he thought he was, answered: "The Casino???" - must have some merit.

First bloke I ever heard of who has made that acheivement. Looks like he will fit in nicely to a player welfare role at Rebels.

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

hahahha

where did you hear that one?

I was watching the game Storm v Dragons and he got sent into Disneyland. Apparently one of the "side line eyes" oveheard the question from the zambucks and the answer and relayed it on to the commentators. He was smiling as they walked him off; he must have thought he had a win.

 

[TOCC]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Rebels are expected to sign Cooper Vuna from the Newcastle Knights as early as today

Cooper Vuna

He has scored 7 tries in 9 NRL matches this season, he is a rugby union junior and plays winger in the NRL
Date of Birth : 5 July, 1987
Height : 187 cm
Weight : 103 kg


The Rebels are also allegedly interested in Knights winger Akuila Uate, Kiwi Test centre Junior Sau and Tigers fullback Beau.. I dont know enough about Beau Ryan or Junior Sau to comment, but i do know that Akuila Uate is a pretty awsome talent and could be a good signing.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...lyer-cooper-vuna/story-e6frg7mf-1225869804755

 

[fatprop]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

What he does

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lphcjEccJBU

 

[Scarfman]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Yeah, there's another YT clip of him getting run down by Sisa Waqa (whoever that is) over 80metres, though.

 

[Redsfan]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Just noticed Todd Clever from the Lions/USA is off contract; he'd be a good pick-up, can play anywhere across the backrow I think.

 

[eddo]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Are you kidding ?? Sisa Waga is a friggin flyer..

Wiki Article shows how he got away from union:

Sisa Waqa is a Fijian rugby union and league player. He is currently with the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.

Waqa represented Fiji in Union at schoolboy, under-19s, under-21s and Fiji A level.[1] He is the son of former rugby union international, Etuate Waqa.[2][3]

Waqa played rugby union in Fiji and then with Sydney club, Gordon RFC.[4] Following a successful 2008 season with Gordon, Waqa was offered a contract with the Brumbies in the Super 14 competition.[4] The Australian Rugby Union refused the contract on the grounds that Waqa had respresented Fiji A and would not be eligible to play for the Wallabies.[4] He then joined the Roosters NRL club.

 

[eddo]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Just noticed Todd Clever from the Lions/USA is off contract; he'd be a good pick-up, can play anywhere across the backrow I think.

The word on Clever from the states is that he wants to go to an NZ team.

 

[tranquility]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Good on him. He has really done (Clever) well out of the hype that surrounds him as an American rugby player. He is getting the full experience as a rugby player and playing in the most rugby intensive environments in the world. It amazes me that he was able to get so good playing in America against incredibly sub-par opposition. Although I don't think he is a terribly good rugby player, I think he is great for the game as he continually challenges himself against the best in the world.

He will be a great ambassador for spreading rugby further in the united states in the interim and when his careers ends.

 

[Shaz]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Confirmation: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27163906-5018866,00.html

Cooper Vuna runs to rugby joining Melbourne Rebels for 2010
By Barry Toohey
May 23, 2010
Newcastle Knights winger Cooper Vuna has become the latest NRL star to quit the code after signing with Australia's newest rugby franchise, Melbourne Rebels.

After playing against Wests Tigers on Friday night, Vuna flew to Melbourne to meet with Rebels coach Rod Macqueen and put pen to paper. He will play out the season with the Knights before joining the Rebels next season.

Vuna has been linked to a move to rugby for quite some time and gave club officials an inkling of his plans on Friday when he quietly asked if he could address team-mates at training this week.

After hearing the speculation, coach Rick Stone rang Vuna yesterday and was told of the move.

"It's disappointing, for sure," Stone said. "We've tried to extend his contract several times since late last season, but Cooper was happy to just back himself; I guess we now know why."

The Rebels did need some speed in the outside backs, was looking a bit plodding, another few signings will complete their squad.

 

[RugbyFuture]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

actually sounds like he was quite happy bout being offered a contract in rugby...

 

[RugbyFuture]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/vuna-springs-surprise-on-dad/story-e6frg7ox-1225870282900

Vuna springs surprise on Dad

* Wayne Smith
* From: The Australian
* May 24, 2010 12:00AM

REBELS recruit, Newcastle Knights NRL winger Cooper Vuna expects no more than a momentary scowl of disapproval from his father.

That is, if he runs on to Eden Park next year with the Wallabies to play New Zealand in the World Cup final.

Even though he is a former Tongan Test player himself, Auckland-based John Vuna always hoped his son would one day wear the All Blacks jersey.

And for a time that looked a distinct possibility as Cooper concentrated on rugby from the age of six, being selected in an Auckland under-age team just before he switched to rugby league as a 15-year-old.

A mere two years later, in 2004, he made his NRL debut for the Warriors but he would play only another four games for the club over the next two seasons before switching to the Knights in 2007, seeking a more permanent hold on a first-grade spot.

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After scoring seven tries in nine matches for the Knights this season, he looked well entrenched at Newcastle until his surprise decision to sign on Saturday with the new Super 15 club, the Rebels.

"I wanted to make my dad proud," Vuna told The Australian yesterday.

"My aspiration is to play rugby at the highest level so, yes, I'm talking about the Wallabies.

"I guess if my dad sees me in different colours, gold not black, he'll be a bit disappointed, but only for a moment. He's just proud of whatever I achieve."

Certainly, Rebels coach Rod Macqueen, the last coach to take the Wallabies to a World Cup triumph, sees no reason why Vuna can't realise his dream of playing Test rugby, even making the transition back to rugby smoothly enough to qualify for Australia's 2011 Cup squad.

"I don't think the Wallabies are out of reach for him, not at all," Macqueen said. "He's the sort of player who could adapt to rugby union quickly, especially since he played the game until he was 15."

Vuna, 22, said the timing of the switch back to rugby was right for him.

"I'm a young kid trying to make something out of my life and I was really impressed with what the Rebels were offering in terms of preparing for life after football. And the World Cup is next year," he said.

"It's going to be hard leaving Newcastle and the beaches but I'm really looking forward to the new challenge in Melbourne."

Although he is playing on the wing for the Knights, Vuna does not necessarily see himself only as a winger in rugby, nor does Macqueen.

"I could see him making a success of 13 (outside centre) and later on even moving to 12," Macqueen said.

The other four Australian Super rugby teams are about to start shedding unwanted players but the Rebels coach insisted yesterday he had no interest in any cast-offs.

Instead, he is aiming at academy-age players that Melbourne can groom for the future.

Meanwhile, the Reds are expected to re-sign Wallabies contender Rod Davies this week. The electrifying winger, whose sizzling pace provided a new dimension to the Queensland attack this season, is believed to be poised to sign a new a two-year deal.

_________________________________________________
as i said, it seems like he was extremely happy to come over to rugby.

 

[en_force_er]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Talk of rocking up to the 2011 WC is a bit rich I think. Maybe the 2015 WC.

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

a couple of twitters coming through (from both rugby and league communities) that Ricky Stuart will be assistant coach at the Rebels next year.

Possibly leave the Cronulla Sharks as early as next week (who will be coached by Nathan Brown).

Well it would seem Ricky's leaving the Sharks. Where he goes is the next question...

RT @TripleM_NRL: Sharks call press conf at 12pm. Press release: "This is a major announcement with substantial impact on the Sharks" #nrl

 

[Scarfman]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Last I heard Ricky was playing for the schoolboys. How's he gone since then?

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

List of signed players updated and carried forward

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Last I heard Ricky was playing for the schoolboys. How's he gone since then?

He did OK. Ended up playing for the Wallabies though he was behind NFJ and never played a test. He switched to league which he had played as a nipper.

He's probably a bit old to be playing Super15 though you never know.

Rumour has it that the Tigers want to ease out coach Sheens out and replace him with Stuart.

 

[Ash]

Re: Melbourne Rebels recruitment: update what you hear

Lee - something is out in your numbers. You have 20 signed and say they need 12 more, not 11 - so that's 32.

(You have: 3 props, 1 hooker, 2 second rowers, 4 flankers, 1 inside centre, 1 winger, which equals 12.) </pedantic>

I doubt that the Rebels will have more than 30 in their professional squad though, which means 10 more, plus a heap of Academy.