Again this is my interpretation of a "Country" side with an "association with Randwick and Easts as released by the ARU. Thinking for the smoothness of the competition that each NSW side will draw the bulk of there players from the SS feeder clubs
NSW Country - - - NRC Official Team Thread
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Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
According to information on the NSW Country RU web site (and a previous poster on this thread), it is some privateers that are behind the bid.
Some would say that they are romantic dreamers, but the reality is that they have got off their buttocks and put a successful bid together. Their job now is to pull together a coaching, administration, logistics and sponsorship package, along with a player roster.
What we do know is that they have the necessary financial support to meet ARU requirements. We also know that they will be taking home games to some regional NSW locations, and that their training base will be Moore Park and that they will have an association with Easts and Randwick.
One assumes that this means that they will get some players from those two clubs.
ARU have said that franchises will have 15 Super rugby players allocated to each one. The precise details of how these players will be allocated is unknown, but one has to assume that the NSW Country <Whatevers> will "acquire" 15 Super Rugby players. These will presumably be players that have some historic link to NSW Country, Easts or Randwick.
The rest of the player roster will be acquired from players in NSW Country, Easts, Randwick, and aspirational club footy players who are "not selected" by the NRC franchise "covering" their Premium Rugby club. These blokes could come from anywhere, but I reckon the "Owners" would be looking to get as many country lads on the roster as they can, but not to the extent that they are prepared to be flogged by a cricket score every week.
Some would say that they are romantic dreamers, but the reality is that they have got off their buttocks and put a successful bid together. Their job now is to pull together a coaching, administration, logistics and sponsorship package, along with a player roster.
What we do know is that they have the necessary financial support to meet ARU requirements. We also know that they will be taking home games to some regional NSW locations, and that their training base will be Moore Park and that they will have an association with Easts and Randwick.
One assumes that this means that they will get some players from those two clubs.
ARU have said that franchises will have 15 Super rugby players allocated to each one. The precise details of how these players will be allocated is unknown, but one has to assume that the NSW Country <Whatevers> will "acquire" 15 Super Rugby players. These will presumably be players that have some historic link to NSW Country, Easts or Randwick.
The rest of the player roster will be acquired from players in NSW Country, Easts, Randwick, and aspirational club footy players who are "not selected" by the NRC franchise "covering" their Premium Rugby club. These blokes could come from anywhere, but I reckon the "Owners" would be looking to get as many country lads on the roster as they can, but not to the extent that they are prepared to be flogged by a cricket score every week.
Precisely!
Froggy
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I really don't know how this side will be made up, but in addition to some of those mentioned, a few country boys include:
Beau Robinson (Dubbo)
Kane Douglas (Yamba)
Paddy Ryan (Tamworth)
Ben McCalman (Warren)
Luke Burgess (Maitland)
Also, Tom Carter is still running around in SS, he's from Young. I guess these guys will all be playing for other francgises, but if you really wanted a country side it could be pretty strong.
Beau Robinson (Dubbo)
Kane Douglas (Yamba)
Paddy Ryan (Tamworth)
Ben McCalman (Warren)
Luke Burgess (Maitland)
Also, Tom Carter is still running around in SS, he's from Young. I guess these guys will all be playing for other francgises, but if you really wanted a country side it could be pretty strong.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
@Reg - what contractual arrangements were behind Beau crossing the Tasman and playing for Bay of Plenty Steamers in the NZ competition?
Would that have been with QRU blessing, or do they have no say in his off season activities?
It certainly seems to have given him a bit of an edge to his game this year.
I'd imagine with his current paymasters being the "owners" of the 2 QLD franchises, they will be reluctant to let one of the "enemy" get their hands on one of their own. QRU will have 30 places for Super Rugby players (presumably this 30 will not include QRU contracted Wallabies). I can't see too many "spares" from the Reds heading to other NRC teams.
Would that have been with QRU blessing, or do they have no say in his off season activities?
It certainly seems to have given him a bit of an edge to his game this year.
I'd imagine with his current paymasters being the "owners" of the 2 QLD franchises, they will be reluctant to let one of the "enemy" get their hands on one of their own. QRU will have 30 places for Super Rugby players (presumably this 30 will not include QRU contracted Wallabies). I can't see too many "spares" from the Reds heading to other NRC teams.
MACCA
Ron Walden (29)
I agree with Hugh Jarses excellent overview above. I just hope some young up & comers get a gig.
he's contracted to the Reds so they control who he plays for. BOP (or any of those ITM teams) pays QLD money (well, pays the player's salary for that period) so its a financial win for QLD. But I'd say when it came to NRC, they'll all have to play in that.
The Head Coach mentioned in earlier posts is correct. He will have his assistants confirmed in the next 7 days. He's asked each of the Shute Shield clubs and the ARU to provide a list of players who have genuine 'Country Origins'.
The 33-man squad will include 16 non-Wallaby Super Rugby players (11 with 'Country Origin' and 5 from Easts / Wicks)
The total squad will likely be an 80 / 20 split between:
The Shute Shield players will also be an interesting dynamic. Will Mick Snowden play for the Greater Sydney Rams (via his Eastwood career) or the Country team (he grew up in Tamworth). At our club (Norths) we have Ben Matwijow, Liam Walker and Mitch Walton who are all eligible for both the North Harbour Rays as well as the Country team.
There will be a sprinkling of current Cockatoos rep players included in the NRC squad. These will be guys who have played 1st grade in the Shute Shield and are now playing in regional areas (like AJ Gilbert, if he's still around; Dylan Evans; James Smith).
The remaining 8 or so guys will be from Easts & Randwick. That will include the 5 Super Rugby players mentioned above.
There will be be some who are connected to both Country and Randwick (like Ethan Ford) that aren't counted as 'Wicks' players but are included in the 'Country Origin' tally. The coach might use the final allocation to cherry pick 3 selected Easts / Wicks players to fill gaps in 'weaker' positions where the depth isn't great (maybe Lam, Windon, Baldwin?).
So, in summary:
The 33-man squad will include 16 non-Wallaby Super Rugby players (11 with 'Country Origin' and 5 from Easts / Wicks)
The total squad will likely be an 80 / 20 split between:
- 80% 'Country Origin' players - (about 25 in total from Super Rugby [11 non-Wallaby players], Shute Shield [11], and the Cockatoos rep team [3])
- 20% from Easts / Wicks - probably 8 guys (including maybe 5 non-Wallaby Super Rugby players e.g. McKibben, Lance, Horwitz, Carraro and Hoiles).
The Shute Shield players will also be an interesting dynamic. Will Mick Snowden play for the Greater Sydney Rams (via his Eastwood career) or the Country team (he grew up in Tamworth). At our club (Norths) we have Ben Matwijow, Liam Walker and Mitch Walton who are all eligible for both the North Harbour Rays as well as the Country team.
There will be a sprinkling of current Cockatoos rep players included in the NRC squad. These will be guys who have played 1st grade in the Shute Shield and are now playing in regional areas (like AJ Gilbert, if he's still around; Dylan Evans; James Smith).
The remaining 8 or so guys will be from Easts & Randwick. That will include the 5 Super Rugby players mentioned above.
There will be be some who are connected to both Country and Randwick (like Ethan Ford) that aren't counted as 'Wicks' players but are included in the 'Country Origin' tally. The coach might use the final allocation to cherry pick 3 selected Easts / Wicks players to fill gaps in 'weaker' positions where the depth isn't great (maybe Lam, Windon, Baldwin?).
So, in summary:
- 11 non-Wallaby Super Rugby players with 'Country Origin'
- 5 non-Wallaby Super Rugby players from Easts / Wicks
- 11 Shute Shield players with 'Country Origin'
- 3 additional Shute Shield players from Easts / Wicks
- 3 current Cockatoos rep players from regional areas.
Thank you for that Baxter, seems pretty logical but does throw up some dilemas. Id imagine that the overiding loyalty of the players would be to their country origin?? Unless of course they attended a private boarding school.
Yes non wallabies on top Tala Gray Easts and Poitiger Easts (not sure where he goes after super rugby / on current form hed have to be considered for the saffers).
Yes non wallabies on top Tala Gray Easts and Poitiger Easts (not sure where he goes after super rugby / on current form hed have to be considered for the saffers).
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
I imagine that they might only have named the Country squad a few weeks out from the tournament seeing as they'll probably end up cherry picking a player or two who misses out on his local team and has country links.
MACCA
Ron Walden (29)
Great info Baxxter. I am guessing this is well sourced given the thoroughness & detail.
Bad luck if you are a non country Randwick or Easts player. They are the bottom of the pecking order and fighting for 1 of 3 spots. I would go overseas or change clubs if that were me.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
A legit question - who are the 5 non-Wallaby Super Rugby players from Easts/Wicks? Imagine Horwitz is one. Others?
Horwitz, hoiles, mckibbon, jono lance, tala gray, Matt Carraro, Poitiger (not sure if hell be around) (7)
Iluvmyfooty
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Burgess, Nic White, Jed Holloway, Beau Robinson are some
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
I think there will be some dramas getting the "non-Wallaby Super Rugby players with 'Country Origin' " released from other than the Tahs, and there will be challenges there as well.
As @Rugby Reg has said, QRU will be looking to slot any NSW Country origin players on their books into QLD Country team (with the Beau Robinson example). If I was QRU, I'd do the same.
Rebels and Force will probably be trying to hang on to their Cockatoo origin players as well.
Ponies already force their contracted players to play local club footy, and they will have a fair amount of their roster in the "Off limits - I'm a Wallaby" category.
Down in Tahland, the Country lads at Uni will be Sydney Coves players. The President has already issued a "Hands Off Folau" statement, so I can't see them "releasing" Ryan et al.
I am sure that the NSW Country <Whatevers> will fill their roster, but the "Country" credentials of many of the players may be as loose as those applied in the Loig "World" cup.
As @Rugby Reg has said, QRU will be looking to slot any NSW Country origin players on their books into QLD Country team (with the Beau Robinson example). If I was QRU, I'd do the same.
Rebels and Force will probably be trying to hang on to their Cockatoo origin players as well.
Ponies already force their contracted players to play local club footy, and they will have a fair amount of their roster in the "Off limits - I'm a Wallaby" category.
Down in Tahland, the Country lads at Uni will be Sydney Coves players. The President has already issued a "Hands Off Folau" statement, so I can't see them "releasing" Ryan et al.
I am sure that the NSW Country <Whatevers> will fill their roster, but the "Country" credentials of many of the players may be as loose as those applied in the Loig "World" cup.
Mate, there's a few; but as we all know, they'll also be eligible for other NRC teams, so it will be up to the ARU / RUPA to influence how many actually play for Country:
'Country Origin' Super Rugby players
Ryan (Wallabies?), Tilse, Mann-Rae, R. Walton, Battye, S. Carter, Douglas (Wallabies?), Holloway, McCutcheon, Dyer, McCalman (Wallabies?), Burgess (Wallabies?), White (Wallabies?), Roberts, Dellit
Current / recent 'Country Origin' Shute Shield players
Metcher, McNamara, Chubb, Hobden, Stanford, Matwijow, Miller, Hickey, Connor, Walker, Snowden, Toby Browne (would he come back?), Dunbar, Seavula, Azar (has he retired?), T. Carter, John Grant, Gibbon, Reti, M. Walton, Harry Bennett, Ford
Top those guys off with a selection of some Easts / Wicks Super players - from: Hoiles, Gray, McKibben, Horwitz, Lance, CTM, Carraro...
Plus some Easts / Wicks Shute Shield guys - from: Asa, Lam, Baldwin, Windon...
Add a few current Cockatoos, like Evans, Smith and Gilbert...
There will be a competitive squad, which the NSW Country supporter base will hopefully identify with.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
@Baxxter, the fact that the <Whatevers> will be playing games outside of Sydney will endear them to the NSW Country Supporter base, regardless of where the players in the team actually come from.
The Tahs have started to re-connect with the bush, but the reality is that the bush has been starved of top tier footy for a long time.
Suddenly a crumb has been tossed their way, and that crumb is labelled NSW Country.
< Cue Paul Kelly > " From little things, big things grow... ... ..."
The Tahs have started to re-connect with the bush, but the reality is that the bush has been starved of top tier footy for a long time.
Suddenly a crumb has been tossed their way, and that crumb is labelled NSW Country.
< Cue Paul Kelly > " From little things, big things grow... ... ..."
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