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Melbourne Rebels 2024

SouthernX

John Thornett (49)
Haha what did I just read?

‘Did you realise there are Mothers on the Rebels board? Surely you must feel sorry for
Them now’

I mean sure - I do feel sorry for them. Not because they are mothers but rather because some were pouring their own coin into an operation.

I know it happens at a grass root levels as well. Someone going above and beyond to make sure the operation is running smoothly as possible
 

Tomthumb

Chilla Wilson (44)
I mean sure - I do feel sorry for them. Not because they are mothers but rather because some were pouring their own coin into an operation.

I know it happens at a grass root levels as well. Someone going above and beyond to make sure the operation is running smoothly as possible
I feel sorry for anyone that read that paid advertisement nonsense masquerading as an article
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
I was waiting to see what Parkes would come up with...

His theory that if McLennan was still in charge the Rebels wouldn't have been axed is rather... fanciful.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Indeed, the very notion that any business could be insolvent in 2018 and in subsequent years have their trading situation worsen (lower revenue, increased costs), endure more than two years of catastrophic commercial damage due to COVID, and continue to trade for a total of six years after first becoming insolvent… without a major creditor winding them up, or the corporate regulator charging the directors, is fanciful.

Any of us who own businesses might consider what would happen if we tried to continuously operate an insolvent business for six years. It wouldn’t be possible; certainly not without doing so knowingly, which is an offence.

Unless perhaps, we had a parent business standing above and behind us, to the extent where a major creditor (like the ATO for example) might be happy to listen to assurances and work with the business, instead of proceeding to a wind-up order.

This bit is just flat-out wrong. Invariably the ATO is the largest unrelated creditor in most insolvencies because they do allow businesses to continue trading without seeking the appointment of an administrator and then wind up action for a long time.

Likewise, the reason why the ATO ends up being the largest unrelated creditor is because businesses continue paying the bills of the things most critical to keep the business running (employees, major suppliers etc.).

It is incredibly unlikely that Rugby Australia stepped in to engage with the ATO on the Rebels behalf to say that those debts would be paid. It just wouldn't have been necessary (and RA would have been insane to entertain the idea of doing that).
 

Strewthcobber

Simon Poidevin (60)
Looks like Geoff Parkes has a book coming out. He was embedded in the Rebels all year, which is both great luck for his journalism, but also explains why he was always so close to the Rebels side of the story.

It's coming out end of the month. Will likely give it a read
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Well, the last Wallabies squad was announced today and the final idea of Rebels representation goes with it.

Fewer Rebels than I expected. I think only 4 & 2 across the squads. Surprised not to see Gibbon in the 'A' squad, is he injured? Any news on where Wilkin ended up?
 

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
Well, the last Wallabies squad was announced today and the final idea of Rebels representation goes with it.

Fewer Rebels than I expected. I think only 4 & 2 across the squads. Surprised not to see Gibbon in the 'A' squad, is he injured? Any news on where Wilkin ended up?
Gibbon not listed as injured, we should know for sure when the Reds announce their touring squad to Japan shortly. Wilkin has been a surprising one, I thought he would've been a big upgrade for the tahs. Might be that because he was off contract there was less scope to offer him money and with younger players ahead of him in the pecking order he doesn't see much point pushing for the wallabies. Would've thought he'd have popped op overseas already though.
 

Mick The Munch

Vay Wilson (31)
Ooo DC Target you are a tease - 6 + 3 injured and 1 left the sport and 3 went overseas , And Wilkin hasn't got a contract who would've been in one of the Squads if RA hadn't ballsed up.
 

oztimmay

Tony Shaw (54)
Staff member
Great news for Sione! Sadly, another example of what if he stayed in Australia.

Go to see Mo in the squad too.

1729732698461.png
 

Strewthcobber

Simon Poidevin (60)
I just finished Geoff Parke's book on the 2024 Rebels (A year in the life and death of the Melbourne Rebels).

It's a mix of the blow-by-blow of the season, along with details of the financial issues told chronologically

It's a bit of a strange one. He obviously had great access, but hasn't done that much with it. Lots of descriptions of the types of conversations had in the change rooms, but none of the actual details which would really make it interesting for a rugby fan.

It also really doesn't dwell on the negatives of the team, coaches or players (some bad games get little more than a paragraph).

He really only gives one side of the Rebels story, which is probably fair enough, and one that should be told....but a little more pushback against some of things he is told would not have gone astray.

For example - a direct quote from the book - "The administrators aren’t going to find any indiscriminate spending or hidden debt. We run this place lean, we have no choice"......CEO Baden Stephenson 30/1/2024. (Somewhat unbelievably it seems Parke's didn't then ask, well how much debt are you actually in?)

Ultimately though, I couldn't help think that he had unfettered access to the CEO and team, plus board members etc, from well before the issues bubbled up, and he just missed the biggest story in Australian Rugby.
 
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Highlander35

Steve Williams (59)
Nothing particularly surprising. RA seeking accommodations due to their own unpreparedness, Consortium less than transparent on funding arrangements, Tim North knows everyone and anyone in the legal profession.
 
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