Rebels 2014

[KevinO]

Merry Christmas Rebels fans and GAGR posters.

 

[swingpass]

from the VRU website this morning

All RaboDirect Rebels players have been appointed a Dewar Shield club, and if they are not selected in the match 23 or injured they will be playing in the Dewar Shield on a weekly basis

 

[oztimmay]

from the VRU website this morning

All RaboDirect Rebels players have been appointed a Dewar Shield club, and if they are not selected in the match 23 or injured they will be playing in the Dewar Shield on a weekly basis

This is a very good thing for the development of the game in Vic. Haven't read the website article, but i wonder how long this applies for? All soup season or the entire vru season? Do they have the club assignments posted yet?

 

[swingpass]

This is a very good thing for the development of the game in Vic. Haven't read the website article, but i wonder how long this applies for? All soup season or the entire vru season? Do they have the club assignments posted yet?

doesn't say anything about time but given the sup season and the Dewar Shield run concurrently now, assume its whole season, clubs not posted as yet, but may be on the rebels site under player profiles ?

 

[Highlander35]

Can't find anything about the player profiles. Maybe in the New year the people would have time? I'm not sure. Would assume players who previous played Dewar Shield would remain with the old club (Ah-Nau with Norths, Leafa with Box Hill etc.)

 

[swingpass]

Can't find anything about the player profiles. Maybe in the New year the people would have time? I'm not sure. Would assume players who previous played Dewar Shield would remain with the old club (Ah-Nau with Norths, Leafa with Box Hill etc.)

previously each player has been allocated a club, including 2nd division clubs.
i doubt that the non game day leftovers will be playing anything other than premier division, so perhaps now two clubs per player, one premier and one other. playing with the first and mentoring at the second ?

 

[suckerforred]

Well, I was finished with the christmas prep so I thought I'd make a 2014 Rebels 23:

1 Toby Smith
2 Shota Horie
3 Laurie Weeks
4 Cadeyrn Neville
5 Hugh Pyle
6 Luke Jones
7 Colby Fainga'a
8 Scott Higgenbotham (c)
9 Nic Stirzaker
10 Bryce Hegarty
11 Tom Kingston
12 Tamati Ellison
13 Mitch Inman
14 Tom English
15 Jason Woodward

16 Patrick Leafa
17 Max Lahiff
18 Paul Alo-Emile
19 Lopeti Timani
20 Scott Fuglistaller
21 Luke Burgess
22 Angus Roberts
23 Lachlan Mitchell

That is actually a fair looking back line.

 

[Ruggo]

Is Jones more likely to play lock with Pyle, with Saffy at blindside? That still leaves a genuine three option lineout, with two incredibly hard working flankers that can free Higgers up to play a more dynamic running game.

 

[swingpass]

Is Jones more likely to play lock with Pyle, with Saffy at blindside? That still leaves a genuine three option lineout, with two incredibly hard working flankers that can free Higgers up to play a more dynamic running game.

saffy's gone
jones may play some games at lock, the other backrow contenders are timani, reid, mcmahon, faiinga and fuglistaller

 

[Highlander35]

Saffy left to play in France. Higgers looked awesome playing tight last season, plus both Neville and Jones are no chumps at the tight side of the game.

On the subject of left field selections, would it be a possibility for Lahiff to play at Tighthead and Ah-Nau to come on bench as the reserve loosie.

I ask because I've not been inspired by the performances of either Alo-Emile or Weeks in the last couple years, and I feel they could use a kick up the arse.

 

[Ruggo]

Whoops, had no idea about Saffy. Jones at 6 makes full sense then. Higgers did play a great tight game last year and did a great job of filling what you got from Delve week in week out. I also forgot about you picking up slightly mini Tamani.

 

[Ruggo]

Saffy left to play in France. Higgers looked awesome playing tight last season, plus both Neville and Jones are no chumps at the tight side of the game.

On the subject of left field selections, would it be a possibility for Lahiff to play at Tighthead and Ah-Nau to come on bench as the reserve loosie.

I ask because I've not been inspired by the performances of either Alo-Emile or Weeks in the last couple years, and I feel they could use a kick up the arse.

Weeks just hasn't remotely close to the quality he could be. The sky could have been the limit given how he played in 2010. I hope he comes good.

 

[swingpass]

speculating from some of the rebels media posts over christmas, i wouldn't be surprised to see a centre pairing of inman and english, with kingston and veainu on the wings.
i don't think ellison has even started yet, so might be unlikely to figure prominently early on in the season.

 

[suckerforred]

I ask because I've not been inspired by the performances of either Alo-Emile or Weeks in the last couple years, and I feel they could use a kick up the arse.

Actually thought that Weeks did alright this year. Until he stuffed his shoulder & took up entertainment duties. Will be interesting to see how he goes in the new season though.

Agree with you about Alo-Emile, but since he is only 22 I hope the only way is up.

 

[swingpass]

Actually thought that Weeks did alright this year. Until he stuffed his shoulder & took up entertainment duties. Will be interesting to see how he goes in the new season though.

Agree with you about Alo-Emile, but since he is only 22 I hope the only way is up.

i also thought weekes was playing really well in 2012 until his shoulder injury. towards the back end of this year i think he was getting back into that form again. PAE will have learnt a great deal during his stint in the ITM. he is only 22 so give him another 5 or 6 seasons too ripen fully !

 

[Highlander35]

I'm not saying don't give them an opportunity to get back to their best, Im just suggesting it may be a good way to kick them up the arse. On top of that, I would like the Rebs to have more internationals. Lahiff would be no chance for the LH, being behind Smith (at the rebs) as well as Sio, Robinson and Slipper at Int level. But at tighthead, he could have a shot. Palmer gone, Kepu lazy, Alexander poor scrummager, don't rate Ryan...

 

[thierry dusautoir]

speculating from some of the rebels media posts over christmas, i wouldn't be surprised to see a centre pairing of inman and english, with kingston and veainu on the wings.
i don't think ellison has even started yet, so might be unlikely to figure prominently early on in the season.

I am under the impression that tamati is in japan till next year

 

[swingpass]

"I am under the impression that tamati is in japan till next year"

yes, thats what i understand also, hence my comment about alternatives at inside centre to start with

 

[thierry dusautoir]

My point was that he is match fit and he will be back for trial matches so would probably be ready to go by round 1

 

[swingpass]

i don't think it is about either skill or match fitness, i hope he he is fit and raring to go for the rebels in 2014 ! he is a great pick up imo
my feeling was that he may not be up to speed with the new offensive and defensive patterns that are currently being drilled.
we will wait and see what eventuates obviously