Enforcer few points
Leafa is the hooker in EPS and is current ACT club player of the year.
There are 3 half backs in the main squad ,Phipps, Stirzaker and Kingi so no sense in having an EPS half. That's the Hardisty explanation
Faalavau is a contracted Oz 7s player and as such is ineligible for Super Rugby.
Believe the Rebels will run an apprentice program next year that will see at least 2 local players train full time with the main squad
Silly of me to miss the fact that you'd written there was a hooker but if you're going to select an unheralded club hooker Melbourne Lesa has been unreal in Vic Club rugby and ACT Club rugby (the level that this bloke has been picked from).
As far as the halfbacks go, I stick by my point that this reflects poor planning. We shouldn't have 3 halfbacks in our squad. It just shouldn't happen.
With Faalavau, it's my understanding a Super Rugby contract can overrule a 7s contract. Or at least the 7s program is happy to let a guy go to pursue his dream.
An apprentice position just isn't good enough. The EPS spots are apprentice positions, how will you ever know if a bloke will cut it if you don't let them try? Ridiculous.
How is Chris Slade going?
Chris Slade is probably an excellent bloke and no doubt an excellent rugby player. However, he's spent 3 years in Victoria. The first one he was here he got a Rebels preseason game.
Giving him a crack was never really about trusting local rugby, a level which is improving all the time.