Rebels 2014

[Bowside]

Because we'd then have too many centers. We've got Mitchie, Tamati (remember he wants to go back, but NZRU might say no), Tom Kingston, Tom English (although he's making a good name for himself on the wing) and I think another EPS player.

Ellison isnt a long term prospect. English is a better winger, and Kingston may well end up on the wing as well. Which just leaves Mitchell who is a bit of a journeyman.

Fainga'a wouldn't be a horrible option if he came at the right price.

 

[hammertimethere]

For somebody I always considered a bit of a journeyman, Inman has a pretty spectacular highlights reel. Happy to be proven wrong and hope he gets a look in at national squad selection this year.

 

[oztimmay]

For somebody I always considered a bit of a journeyman, Inman has a pretty spectacular highlights reel. Happy to be proven wrong and hope he gets a look in at national squad selection this year.

Did @Daz create this?

 

[Dumbledore]

Ellison isnt a long term prospect. English is a better winger, and Kingston may well end up on the wing as well. Which just leaves Mitchell who is a bit of a journeyman.

Fainga'a wouldn't be a horrible option if he came at the right price.

We've seen English play one game at centre from memory, against the Highlanders last year. And he played to pretty much the same standard as he does on the wing, offered a bit more on attack if anything. Certainly too early to say he's a better winger. Likewise with Kingston, we just don't know yet. In English, Kingston and Inman we've got three guys who can play 13. At 12 we're looking at Inman, Male and Mitchell at a pinch - it's not a desperate situation.

Our weaknesses at the moment, and they're fairly glaring, are at flyhalf and fullback. Hegarty is showing promise and Woodward is a beast when he's feeling good about himself but behind them it's Gus Roberts and, well, yeah.

 

[Dumbledore]

For somebody I always considered a bit of a journeyman, Inman has a pretty spectacular highlights reel. Happy to be proven wrong and hope he gets a look in at national squad selection this year.

I'd be pretty shocked if he did. Just too slow for Test rugby IMO. He's having a good season, and I like what he brings at Soup level, but Tests are a whole other thing. I'd prefer him to someone like Mike Harris, but realistically he's behind To'omua, Beale, Lilo, McCabe and Godwin - probably in that order. About on a level with Taps at the moment.

 

[Scythe]

We've seen English play one game at centre from memory, against the Highlanders last year. And he played to pretty much the same standard as he does on the wing, offered a bit more on attack if anything. Certainly too early to say he's a better winger. Likewise with Kingston, we just don't know yet. In English, Kingston and Inman we've got three guys who can play 13. At 12 we're looking at Inman, Male and Mitchell at a pinch - it's not a desperate situation.

Our weaknesses at the moment, and they're fairly glaring, are at flyhalf and fullback. Hegarty is showing promise and Woodward is a beast when he's feeling good about himself but behind them it's Gus Roberts and, well, yeah.

It would be nice to see kingston have a run at 13 however size is the only issue at this level. However he makes up for it with the pace and step. He is the fastest player in the squad over 30m


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[Dumbledore]

It would be nice to see kingston have a run at 13 however size is the only issue at this level. However he makes up for it with the pace and step. He is the fastest player in the squad over 30m


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Kingston isn't small. To the eye he looks a very similar size to BOD and Conrad Smith to me. And really, as long as he can get over the advantage line, put his teammates into space, and show he's not a complete liability on defence I don't care how big he is.

 

[KevinO]

I'd be pretty shocked if he did. Just too slow for Test rugby IMO. He's having a good season, and I like what he brings at Soup level, but Tests are a whole other thing. I'd prefer him to someone like Mike Harris, but realistically he's behind To'omua, Beale, Lilo, McCabe and Godwin - probably in that order. About on a level with Taps at the moment.

Can't believe you are rating Beale so highly at 12, his defense is a massive issue and will not hold up at test level.

Agree with the rest of your pics ahead of him at the moment, will be interesting to see what Link's plans are for the season. He needs to trial a few things ahead of next year.

 

[Dumbledore]

Can't believe you are rating Beale so highly at 12, his defense is a massive issue and will not hold up at test level.

Agree with the rest of your pics ahead of him at the moment, will be interesting to see what Link's plans are for the season. He needs to trial a few things ahead of next year.

Because given even half an inch of space, he's carving teams up. I tend to rate attack above defence, which is likely skewing my picks somewhat. I just don't subscribe to the Beale's defence being a massive issue line of thinking. It's adequate, certainly not good or dominant but it's fine. He defended very well at fullback back when he was skinny!Beale so we know he can tackle. He's being hidden a bit by the Tahs at the moment, not quite in the same way Quade and Cips were a few years back but still. He looks like he could stand to lose about another 5kgs to me, but he's getting closer to playing his best footy. Really what it comes down to is that I think the Wallabies are more likely to win with him playing than just about all of the others.

Anyway, my point stands as regards Inman. I think he's a nice, if limited player, who's probably unlucky not to have worn gold at some point.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

I agree. I think inman is an excellent pro club player, but at the moment he's just a bit off for test. i think his pace is largely fine, yes he could be faster, but i bet he'd be about the same as kurindrani. as long as he has fast outside backs who support him on his breaks, he's ok.
caught up with an insider on the weekend who provided the following points:
- they love inman but would've thought he'd made a bit more progress, largely in attack.
- disappointed with Pyle but they understand the lure and honestly think it's a good career move to head up there for 2-3 years and get quality tight 5 experience and a bit of money. they are hoping he'll come back and be quick into the wallaby team at say 27 years old.
- they would've happily retained kurtley, but understood why he wanted to go and that he needed to.
- they wanted nothing to do with JOC (James O'Connor) at the end of it and was apparently the absolute worst.
- one of the previous CEOs (won't name names) was absolutely in over his depth and concern was he would run the org into the ground.
- roberts gets game time because there is no one else. only reason. they want more fullback depth
- acknowledged in the org that fly half is a major weakness and they are going to try to address it.
- woodward is apparently a great guy, loves melbourne and has really taken to the team. his brain farts are a weakness they have all acknowledged and coaches and woodward are all working on ironing it out. apparently the reason he didn't get picked up in NZ.
- Neville good but has regressed and they are disappointed he hasn't progressed more, hoping for next year.
- jones is a cornerstone player for the future.

 

[KevinO]

- roberts gets game time because there is no one else. only reason. they want more fullback depth
- acknowledged in the org that fly half is a major weakness and they are going to try to address it.

Are we allowed to replace Mitchell and Sexton as they are out for the season?

Don't know who we would look at as 10/15 cover at the moment, but with the European season winding down their might be a few options.

 

[Dumbledore]

Good stuff Arthur. Nice to know the club are seeing things along the same lines as supporters.

You know who would have been a shit hot flyhalf with this Rebels team? Ihaia West. Actually so unhappy he decided not to come over.

 

[Tex]

While nice to read from a fan's perspective, that sort of leak on a message board as public as GAGR can't be a positive thing for the club and its players.

Its one thing for us to speculate, but it's another to list specific weaknesses of players, and then go as far as to state that the club (their employer) has little/no confidence in them, purportedly from a club insider.

We all got a reminder a few weeks back when Mr Lahiff pointed out the wide readership of this page. Perhaps some prudence wouldn't go astray when posting things like that.

Just a thought.

 

[suckerforred]

- woodward is apparently a great guy, loves melbourne and has really taken to the team. his brain farts are a weakness they have all acknowledged and coaches and woodward are all working on ironing it out. apparently the reason he didn't get picked up in NZ.
.

I seem to remember another young bloke a few years ago that used to have the odd brain fart. Some people may even say he still does. Goes by the name of Quade Cooper...........

I see it as an experience thing and he is not going to get better by sitting on the side lines. I can actually see real improvement in Woodward this season. Long may it continue.

 

[199madmave]

We all got a reminder a few weeks back when Mr Lahiff pointed out the wide readership of this page. Perhaps some prudence wouldn't go astray when posting things like that.

Totally agree Tex...lets hope the Roberts family do not read this page...their boy is rubbished relentlessly!!

 

[Tex]

It's not so much about us censoring our opinions of players and the club, more so the posting of 'inside mail' that lists what appear to be the club's feelings on current players.

We should feel free to flame away, but perhaps exercise some caution when re-posting private conversations.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

For somebody I always considered a bit of a journeyman, Inman has a pretty spectacular highlights reel. Happy to be proven wrong and hope he gets a look in at national squad selection this year.

Those highlights have revived my optimism that he may still develop into the blockbusting centre I've always hoped he would.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Very fair call tho aside from JOC (James O'Connor) (who cares) and Roberts (everyone else on here has said much worse ) I thought it was all positive. Rebels have a lot of hope and positivity about Inman Woodward Neville etc but recognise and are open about what needs to be done. As a pro I'd be happy with those comments and my understanding was the players are aware.
Person I spoke with had nothing but positive things to say about all players bar JOC (James O'Connor). Said Roberts is a fantastic bloke and is liked by all at the club.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Good stuff Arthur. Nice to know the club are seeing things along the same lines as supporters.

You know who would have been a shit hot flyhalf with this Rebels team? Ihaia West. Actually so unhappy he decided not to come over.

Ya. What a player he is. Maybe next year?
I thought it was quite refreshing. And as per above, positive and sound like the club is very open and honest and people all get on really well now and are fighting together for the same results.
I came away quite pleased.

 

[en_force_er]

Is it too early to talk Rebels Wallaby bolters?

Who's a chance? I'd say Pyle (though maybe not now), Inman, English, and Smith/Lahiff are all chances (some more than others).

You'd have to say Burgess is doing enough to be the 3rd 9, with his experience, and Higgers is doing more than enough to start, as such they don't fall into the 'bolter' category.