NSW Rugby obvservations

[lily]

Central Coast vs Warringah April 8th 2006
Central Coast.
1.Tony Sambell,2. Mitch Hodgson, 3.Sione Tuitakua, 4. Peter Steele, 5.Adam Winter, 6. Andrew Moseley, 7. John Norton, 8.Emile Thomas, 9. Justin Saben, 10. Adam Carlisle, 11 Declan Shepard, 12. Matt Sonter, 13. David Von Kotze, 14. Ben Goodenough, 15. Aaron Bolte, 16.Dave Horton,17. Ben Shine, 18. Carl Robertson, 19. Chris Comerford, 20. Dean Haruaki, 21. Hoani Renenei, 22. Sione Ofehengaue, 23. Luke Sheridan

Illawarra vs Sydney Uni April 9th 2006
Illawarra
1. Liam Vaughan, 2. Jay Treggoning, 3. Jack Nash, 4. Jason Vaughan, 5. Anthony Vrilijic, 6.Wayne Miller, 7. Ben Olsen, 8. Paul Tuala, 9. Tim Small, 10. Daniel Drewe, 11. Chris Bradshaw, 12. Daniel Lawson, 13. Ben Small, 14. Dan Loader, 15. Wara Manifi Palki, 16. Dean Rossit, 17. Ash Henry, 18. Doriano Benadetti, 19. Scott Rabbidge, 20. Nick Totman, 21. Mark Placek, 22. Chris Jack

Both teams struggled although Illawarra weren't disgraced as they beat Penrith and in either 2006 or 2007 they beat Manly. One of the problems was luring back their players. One example was a gut called Dave Plunkett from Gordon.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Having played a fair bit of both, even the best country provincial teams are only 2/3 grade standard. That's assuming you could get the blokes from the whole zone travelling to training 3 nights a week plus travelling for games. A NSW country side played in a preseason comp in around 1997, but, again, there are travel issues and they still didn't win it. I have no doubt that you could find 35 blokes in the country to form a very competitive first grade side, but you won't find them living close enough together to make it workable and you won't find 4/5 grade sides plus colts. These are great ideas but reality should form part of the discussion.

Admittedly, they would be easy points intially. Over time though they would be able to build competitive enough squads. As for the tyranny of distance for player's to train. In the Illawarra its not that far with apart from Vincentia (who play in the 2nds and 3rds competition) the travel time is at best 45 minutes. That's quite manageable three nights a week.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Admittedly, they would be easy points intially. Over time though they would be able to build competitive enough squads. As for the tyranny of distance for player's to train. In the Illawarra its not that far with apart from Vincentia (who play in the 2nds and 3rds competition) the travel time is at best 45 minutes. That's quite manageable three nights a week.

It's very reasonable. I maintain its more to do with the attitude from Sydney than anything else. Talking about NSW Country in 1997 is a little outdated compared to the current team, so intimidating that Sydney didnt even bother sending a team to compete against them.

 

[TOCC]

Cant argue with that

The Queensland Premier Rugby competition has risen to new heights recently with victories in the Australian Club Championship three straight years cementing it as the elite club competition in Australia.

The Club Championships, played annually between the winners of the Queensland and NSW club competition, was won last month by Queensland University with a dominant 42-26 display over Sydney Uni.
http://www.qru.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/2169/Default.aspx

 

[James Buchanan]

That would be Sydney Uni without the 40 or so players of theirs who are in Super teams, right? (hyperbole, if people missed it)