The Cleaner
Billy Sheehan (19)
Why do you feel the need to make a comparison to Kings 'away' crowd? You must admire Kings a lot, #KINGTONGA15 
NSW AAGPS 2025 (banter and commentary)
- Thread starter Joker
- Start date
Rugbynbeers
Tom Lawton (22)
Kings away crowds have been quite big this year as well, so odd comparison.
InsiderScoop
Larry Dwyer (12)
This PONI stuff is completely ridiculous. It instills an arrogance into 17-18 yr olds who are already all full of it. The fact they get a free shot into the Aus u18 side is a complete joke, we saw our u20 side just get rolled by SA who all play upwards of 20 games a year. If anything these "PONI" should be the ones playing in the Aus schools tournament, where they are put through a team rugby camp, play in high pressure matches and where they actually learn to thrive under genuine match pressure. But instead, they do some fitness, PSS and tackle some pads at Tahs HQ. And then we wonder why we'll lose all our U20/senior academy games again.
InsiderScoop
Larry Dwyer (12)
Yes should have included that, it's a large part of my point. Scarce resources, yet we pick these PONI, train them in a small group and assume they'll get better just because they are the pick of the bunch. Then don't even select them because they aren't performing. It's not the boys fault either, I don't understand why they don't all play against each other in the tournament. How do we expect these blokes to get better if they aren't getting tested against people who are "below" them in terms of rep selection. A PONI academy camp with 10 boys is not the answer. They don't need to be rested, they should be proving how good they are against competition.
The only bloke that has benefitted from the PONI program last year is Marshall, who didn't make the cut and realised he had a couple things to actually work on. And now he's played the whole season in Shute Shield first grade.
The only bloke that has benefitted from the PONI program last year is Marshall, who didn't make the cut and realised he had a couple things to actually work on. And now he's played the whole season in Shute Shield first grade.
100% these kids need to be playing on the Sunshine Coast, half of them arent even that good and have been on the famed Pathway. If they are as good as they are alleged to be they should be playing this week and dominating that tournament
The Cleaner
Billy Sheehan (19)
You know, I get that they want to rest these players etc but COME ON THEY ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYERS YET! They are 17 and 18 years old. Play and if you get injured, well sorry buddy that is very unfortunate but that is RUGBY! ITS A BATTLE OF THE STRONGEST AND FITTEST! Instead, they played 2 x 40mins games last Thursday (mind you no stand outs really except maybe for the 2 who will not be participating (Lemoto and Makasini) and 1 x 60 or 70 mins game on Friday and now they're done? They are straight through to Australian U18s? I read someone commenting about the GPS players not caring about their loss to CAS. That person was right, some of those GPS 1 boys especially those in PONI showed no care at all that they've just lost. So arrogant! That is the culture this PONI pathway breeds though. It's not the kids fault, IT'S THE PATHWAY SYSTEM. Anyway, I'll put this to bed now that I've shared my 2 cents worth.
Rugbynbeers
Tom Lawton (22)
Edwin langi and Isaac Fonua you would have to say benefited from it. Not all players do that is correct but it Cleary has some merit.
Langi is starting tonight a year young for the 20s
Fonua won against NZ and currently has his kings side in 1st in GPS
Langi is starting tonight a year young for the 20s
Fonua won against NZ and currently has his kings side in 1st in GPS
RuckReaper78
Stan Wickham (3)
I think the selectors need to be prioritising genuine union players over the legaue players. Why waste the development when their headed to a rival code??
One example is a kid who refused to play 2nds because he didnt make 1s, (2025 schools comp) but yet rumor has it is still going to be plicked in the Waratahs u18 development squad??? When it's comon knowledge he's been signed to league club???
Make it make sense please.
One example is a kid who refused to play 2nds because he didnt make 1s, (2025 schools comp) but yet rumor has it is still going to be plicked in the Waratahs u18 development squad??? When it's comon knowledge he's been signed to league club???
Make it make sense please.
The Cleaner
Billy Sheehan (19)
Fantastic 2 players. Fonua, Lavercombe, Grover I would overlook because they were in the team last year. All 3 continue to perform in GPS 1XV also. The other backrows though. How? One has underperformed in his GPS team. The other 2 from CAS well, they can definitely be challenged but we won't know because they are not participating. There's also a TH prop in there who had a shoulder recon, got injured again this year and hasn't played but is in there also. How is he in there?
The Cleaner
Billy Sheehan (19)
NSW 1#9, 12, 13 are all picked in CIS U18 league team. They have been in the pathway so they have to be picked. When there are GPS 9s, 12 and 13 out there who wants to commit to union yet not picked.
The Cleaner
Billy Sheehan (19)
Rugby AU needs to look at the clowns that are in Tahs. They sign players and are injured all over and rumour to move overseas and they force to make it work? They signed a 9 who has been so poor yet must be in Tahs U18 and play representative because they are paying them. 2 x unfit overweight props must play representative because they are paid. Really? One TH now rumour to move to France ? What type of clowns are running NSW academy. Wasting funds that could be injected to clubs and invest in players that lives and breathes rugby Union and playing for their country?
Handsonheadandblowinhard
Frank Row (1)
Have there been changes made to the NSW Schools 1 side for next week? I thought that Charlie Ghattas was in there but doesn’t seem to be anymore? Also - any idea when u16 schools teams announced?
Alldaysirr
Bob McCowan (2)
Do we know who this is specifically?
The Cleaner
Billy Sheehan (19)
AS A CERTAIN PRESIDENT WOULD PUT IT…..”IT IS TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP IN NSW RUGBY UNION HQ AND MAKE THE WARATAHS GREAT AGAIN”!!
The Cleaner
Billy Sheehan (19)
MAKE WALLABIES GREAT AGAIN!!
fortheloveofthegame
Chris McKivat (8)
I agree 100% with recent posts, Waratahs pathways management is conflicted, corrupt and clueless. The PONI is a horse named Mediocrity, a broken down nag rested for the Hay picnic races.
Running_rugby_1954
Cyril Towers (30)
Absolutely agree. The system feels locked from the moment some kids are selected at 14 — as if no one else can force their way in, no matter how well they develop. Once you’re in, you’re in; once you’re out, it’s almost impossible to break through, regardless of performance. It’s not a pathway, it’s a closed loop. The PONI list seems more about protecting early picks than rewarding current form.
