Yep, Louis Werchon and Will Nason in the same boat. Reds Academy/Development play UQ this weekend, so any UQ players in Reds set up will play for Reds rather than UQ. Reds take priority for these games
QLD Premier Rugby 2025
- Thread starter Coleman Rees
- Start date
Mug Punter
Ted Fahey (11)
Conway looked like he was ready for Prem grade already. First time I’ve seen him play live looks like a talent. Being a Nudgee boy one that a team like Norths could’ve desperately used
Oldschool
Dave Cowper (27)
Aren't his two Brothers at the Filth or have they gone to Wests as well?
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
Elwee'$ Warche$t must be pretty full now they aren't catering to the Rebels FIFO players.
I am tipping another We$t$ and Brothers grand final.
I am tipping another We$t$ and Brothers grand final.
Mug Punter
Ted Fahey (11)
Looks like a moral already doesn’t it
MoneyBill685
Ted Fahey (11)
yeah he had interest from roosters but if he wanted to play league it was only for broncos cos his old man is a former bronco. Turned them down to stay in Brisbane and play for reds instead.
MoneyBill685
Ted Fahey (11)
yeah i understand that the academy comes before club. I was more so making the point that he probs wouldn't have played for the prems wests as he is a colt fresh out of school.
MoneyBill685
Ted Fahey (11)
hmmm not sure but 2021 his brother hugo was at souths. dont know if they moved to brothers since then.
hes a talent though. Made NZ under 20's while he was over in NZ. will be a good option for Wests at 10. Got a bit of depth there with Gordon as well. When doesn't Wests have depth lol
Hound
Alfred Walker (16)
Yes Pretty sure they are at Brothers. One from last year and one back from Japan.
The Whisperer
Alfred Walker (16)
He realised at Norths he was behind Will McCulloch so I’m told
JRugby2
Alex Ross (28)
Highlanders on Instagram: "The Highlanders Dunedin Club Rugby 2025 Draft with commissioner Jack Taylor! DRAFT CONDITIONS: - Last placing Club in 2024 competition has first pick - Only full-time contracted players are put into the draft - Wider trai
1,001 likes, 3 comments - highlandersteam on February 26, 2025: "The Highlanders Dunedin Club Rugby 2025 Draft with commissioner Jack Taylor! DRAFT CONDITIONS: - Last placing Club in 2024 competition has first pick - Only full-time contracted players are put into the draft - Wider training...
www.instagram.com
Cool concept that would so easy to adopt in QPR + generate more interest in the last weeks of the comp once the wallabies are picked.
'Landers run a draft with their entire squad for Premier clubs to pick. Last placed team from 2024 picks first. All prior club associations are thrown out the window (except for wider squad players/ academy - they can pick themselves).
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
I'm not sure how the whole pathways stuff works in NZ but that seems to really defeat the purpose of strong junior clubs and pathways.
For example, McReight, Wilson, Flook, Ryan Smith, Tim Ryan and others have all come through Brothers pathways at some point (juniors, colts, grades etc.) and have such a strong relationship with that club. Those guys are down there whenever they can to support the team and even going to training sessions. Most of them now own houses in the area as well.
I think it would be terrible for QPR and those relationships if a few of them suddenly got drafted to Sunnybank which holds no meaning to them.
For example, McReight, Wilson, Flook, Ryan Smith, Tim Ryan and others have all come through Brothers pathways at some point (juniors, colts, grades etc.) and have such a strong relationship with that club. Those guys are down there whenever they can to support the team and even going to training sessions. Most of them now own houses in the area as well.
I think it would be terrible for QPR and those relationships if a few of them suddenly got drafted to Sunnybank which holds no meaning to them.
Wilson
Rod McCall (65)
Could be fun, but as has been brought up before there is no capacity to direct contacted players to specific clubs. The CBA is very clear on this, the players have the right to nominate their own club. That would have to change first, so it's up to RA to sort out.Highlanders on Instagram: "The Highlanders Dunedin Club Rugby 2025 Draft with commissioner Jack Taylor! DRAFT CONDITIONS: - Last placing Club in 2024 competition has first pick - Only full-time contracted players are put into the draft - Wider trai
1,001 likes, 3 comments - highlandersteam on February 26, 2025: "The Highlanders Dunedin Club Rugby 2025 Draft with commissioner Jack Taylor! DRAFT CONDITIONS: - Last placing Club in 2024 competition has first pick - Only full-time contracted players are put into the draft - Wider training...
Cool concept that would so easy to adopt in QPR + generate more interest in the last weeks of the comp once the wallabies are picked.
'Landers run a draft with their entire squad for Premier clubs to pick. Last placed team from 2024 picks first. All prior club associations are thrown out the window (except for wider squad players/ academy - they can pick themselves).
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
If the rules changed and newly signed Reds players from interstate or abroad were placed into some type of draft pool, then yeah sure, I think it makes sense.
But otherwise, I think it's really punishing clubs who have strong culture and pathways.
Also as a supporter, how do I get behind a team when some key players are changing every year? I know when GPS had Piccone running the show it was really frustrating at times because players were coming and going from the club depending on where the agent wanted them to be and if they picked up a last-minute professional gig. I heard the same feedback from his time at Souths, the supporters wanted to support clubmen, not FIFOs.
But otherwise, I think it's really punishing clubs who have strong culture and pathways.
Also as a supporter, how do I get behind a team when some key players are changing every year? I know when GPS had Piccone running the show it was really frustrating at times because players were coming and going from the club depending on where the agent wanted them to be and if they picked up a last-minute professional gig. I heard the same feedback from his time at Souths, the supporters wanted to support clubmen, not FIFOs.
JRugby2
Alex Ross (28)
Im sure none of the Highlanders players have any connection to their local clubs.
JRugby2
Alex Ross (28)
The same way you get behind the reds or whoever when they sign new players every year. And remember - these are guys who are likely to be playing less then a 3rd of the season so labelling them as 'key' players is probably a bit of a stretch. We're talking about 30ish contracted players spread equally across 9 clubs.
Supporting new players in a team, in spite of their recent history playing for other teams, isn't a foreign concept. Just going to cc fans of the NBA, EPL here.
FWIW - this also happens on the Sunshine Coast Local A grade rugby league where there is a draft of the Falcons Q-Cup players.
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
QPR teams aren't professional though. The people supporting them have usually played for the club themselves, have kids playing there or some type of long-standing association. I doubt any of the Liverpool fans here in Brisbane have ever played for the club.
Comparing a QPR team to an NBA/NFL/EPL team and that player market is absurd.
If I'm Brothers, Wests, GPS for example why would I bother having a great Juniors development pathway and great facilities for those players and build a great club culture, with the potential for my best players to then be drafted to UQ, who don't even have a juniors program, once they are signed by the Reds?
QPR is about community rugby first and foremost.
JRugby2
Alex Ross (28)
And in reality you'd still have this community aspect. You have all of those things because it's a good thing for the community and your club - not so you can have a pro come back and play 3 games a season.
This is purely a marketing ploy designed to create buzz. Your team would also get players and ultimately need to stand on their own with the other 95% of the squad anyway.
And its a fair comparison to make between professional and amateur because your argument stems around the psychology of people supporting a club/team/players which transcends those boundaries.
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
This is yet to be proven with rugby in Australia.
A large element of why the NRC failed was because supporters had no connection to the made-up teams and simply weren't coming to games or watching them.
Anyway, my views are very much from the position of someone who has been involved with club rugby as a junior, colts, grades, coach and now supporter with my children playing at the same club. Others would likely have different views.
As I said earlier, I have no issue with the draft concept itself. But I think there would need to be concessions if players had played junior rugby or Colts for a QPR club they had the option to be removed from the draft and play at their home club.
At the end of the day the players also need to be keen to drive this, as mentioned the CBA would currently prevent it. If my home club is GPS, I'd been playing there for 10 years and I've just purchased a house in Ashgrove, I'd be pretty annoyed if I got drafted to Bond Uni and had to commute over an hour to the club 3 times a week just to play in 4 games.