Rebels 2017

[swingpass]

if and its a big if, they merge, it will almost certainly be the Southern or Melbourne Brumbies.

 

[wamberal]

It would be great to see that happen. There would be a lot of dust raised, but when it settled, it just might work.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Big positives out of Sharks match.
1.Young front row did really well especially Lomax who looks like he has a complete skill set unlike most Oz props of the recent past .
2. I think English and Inman are playing very well in the midfield . Shame they get such crap service from the halves
3. Hodge continues to play with great poise .
4.Miller , quite a phenomenal debut . Clearly provides more value than Reid .
But how do the Rebs fit Miller , Colby and S Mac into the one team .If only we had this sort of depth in the row . Which brings me to the negatives !

1. Cummins gave away three absolutely brain dead penalties including a ridiculous no arms tackle that cost us three points . Not close to being up to it .
2. Geez it's sad to see how far NS and JD have regressed over the past couple of years . I reckon the lack of game smarts from our halves has cost us three wins this year . Tahs , Chiefs and Sharks .
3. Been said before but the lack of adaptability in our game plan is poor. We had a golden opportunity to make use of our numerical advantage against a team that was right off their game but we continued to just kick the crap out of it .

On balance though I actually see some very positive signs for the balance of the season especially when we get Super Mac and Toby Smith back

I agree with most of that. Getting Inman back has made a huge difference to our midfield defence.

On your point about Cummins, the shoulder charge was indeed a brain dead penalty, one lineout penalty was harsh and one was a 50/50. You may be right that he isn't up to it but I think he's improved a lot and he is the best we have at the moment.

On Nic, I don't think he's been at his best since his injury and I don't think the captaincy suits him - at all. I'm not sure that JD is up to it. Just about everyone seems to think he has a tonne of ability but the coaches don't seem able to bring it out of him.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

I was behind glass with free grog, party pies and ticket!

So, we know your price now. You'll do anything for a few beers and a couple of pies

 

[Mr Wobbly]

If they merged the Brumbies down to Melbourne, I'd be calling them the Rebels.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/j...s/news-story/0fc2652aca9e0f6702dbaa9031000e36

Maybe I misinterpreted that article but it read to me like Coxy is angling to take over the Brumbies. Maybe he just wants to ruffle a few more feathers?

 

[amirite]

Maybe I misinterpreted that article but it read to me like Coxy is angling to take over the Brumbies. Maybe he just wants to ruffle a few more feathers?

I think he's just trying to muddy the waters, increasing the Rebels' chance of staying around. All he's committed to is a conversation.

I know I've said it many times, but this merger just doesn't make sense. The cities are a flight away from each other. The idea this will improve the fan-super team disconnect in Aus is ludicrous.

 

[Killer]

yes he is saying "I am being reasonable" "I want to help"

There seems no obvious reason he is saying this.

Maybe he is concerned that the ARU will just bone the WF without talking to him. This will leave him in the position of having to pick up all the bills at the Rebels going forward.

But, if he offers to merge/takeover the Brumbies he will probably be able to extract an even better deal for himself ref on going financing by helping the ARU solve the problem with the least fallout (As long as you are not a Brumbies supporter)

In other words he is saying to the ARU, don't forget me I'm still open to discussions/compromise?

 

[lou75]

I don't think a merger ever really works, what ever team they call it, where ever it is domiciled will be its state - and the Melbourne Brumbies just doesn't work for me. It will cut the meagre membership base in both cities.
However, the Melbourne Rebels being domiciled in Melbourne has opened pathways for Melbourne boys who see a future here in their city, with their support networks (which lets face it, is very important for young men) and I would be gutted if this pathway were to close. We have started to see some fine young men who are playing for Melbourne Rebels who otherwise may have had to go interstate to make their debut, likewise, we have seen an exodus of fine young men in the past, who had to take up what opportunities they could interstate : e.g. C Lealiafani, D Ione - (i can't spell, sorry) and so on.
So either Cox stays on and funds the team forever, or he turns it into a profitable organisation - well that was his bio when he took over - or he sells and some one else takes over.

 

[amirite]

yes he is saying "I am being reasonable" "I want to help"

There seems no obvious reason he is saying this.

I think it's likely he wants to help and keep his team. BS and rhetoric aside, most rich people buy sports teams as play things. They'd make more money jumping on the right stock.

There is an OUTSIDE chance Coxy is conniving and looking to say and do the right thing to exit the deal with a tidy profit. However, the fact this forum has consistently jumped on this as the likely narrative is just ridiculous.

The overwhelmingly likely explanation, OFTEN seen in his quotes and press releases, is he is intending to keep the team and will look to be well renumbered if that is not the case.

To suggest otherwise is just conspiracy theory nonsense.

 

[I like to watch]

from what I've read, I'd describe Cox as pragmatic, not conniving.

There's no way he ever entered ownership of the Rebels with the intention of selling back to the ARU at a profit.

But, they have performed poorly,with both revenues & costs the wrong side of projections.

The landscape has changed, he's insisting on better terms going forward,which is his preference.He's told the ARU the efficiencies generated, should be to the benefit of the franchises, not the ARU.

Or he'll reluctantly go out,also on his terms.

He's letting Billy P choose whether he's shot or stabbed

 

[Rebels3]

I think it's likely he wants to help and keep his team. BS and rhetoric aside, most rich people buy sports teams as play things. They'd make more money jumping on the right stock.

There is an OUTSIDE chance Coxy is conniving and looking to say and do the right thing to exit the deal with a tidy profit. However, the fact this forum has consistently jumped on this as the likely narrative is just ridiculous.

The overwhelmingly likely explanation, OFTEN seen in his quotes and press releases, is he is intending to keep the team and will look to be well renumbered if that is not the case.

To suggest otherwise is just conspiracy theory nonsense.

Agreed. It just doesn't fit the narrative of some

 

[Killer]

I think it's likely he wants to help and keep his team.

To suggest otherwise is just conspiracy theory nonsense.

Yes that was what I was saying in case I was miss understood.

But I think he also sees it as an important opportunity, in what is a money pit of a business, to get an even more favourable deal to cover the ongoing expenses and probably losses that he would otherwise be responsible for.

 

[amirite]

Yes that was what I was saying in case I was miss understood.

But I think he also sees it as an important opportunity, in what is a money pit of a business, to get an even more favourable deal to cover the ongoing expenses and probably losses that he would otherwise be responsible for.

I did misinterpret, but I'd seen that viewpoint expressed frequently and it's just insane.

I somehow suspect the narrative in the rugby forum community is different to the general rugby community, which is different to the one in the rugby leadership community.

It'll all come out in the wash I guess.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I don't think a merger ever really works, what ever team they call it, where ever it is domiciled will be its state - and the Melbourne Brumbies just doesn't work for me. It will cut the meagre membership base in both cities.
However, the Melbourne Rebels being domiciled in Melbourne has opened pathways for Melbourne boys who see a future here in their city, with their support networks (which lets face it, is very important for young men) and I would be gutted if this pathway were to close. We have started to see some fine young men who are playing for Melbourne Rebels who otherwise may have had to go interstate to make their debut, likewise, we have seen an exodus of fine young men in the past, who had to take up what opportunities they could interstate : e.g. C Lealiafani, D Ione - (i can't spell, sorry) and so on.
So either Cox stays on and funds the team forever, or he turns it into a profitable organisation - well that was his bio when he took over - or he sells and some one else takes over.

Lou, regardless of which franchise is cut, Rebels, Brumbies or Force, it seems to me that the lack of a local pathway forcing young players to migrate elsewhere is precisely what the ARU is intending to strengthen the franchises who remain. I can't see the local pathway argument having any weight in the decision.

I do agree with your proposition that a merger will weaken the membership in both cities involved.

 

[swingpass]

I do agree with your proposition that a merger will weaken the membership in both cities involved.

well in the team deficient city definitely, but if the Brumbies (for arguments sake) came to Melbourne and were a winning team then that would (IMO) dramatically improve the fan base locally. i hope everyone keeps a team, although thats unlikely, but if the Rebels became the Brumbies based in Melbourne i'd still go and watch and support my "local" team. I'm certain many others would also, and Slim would get to go to the local games .
i have said all along that i think this is the least worse scenario, but seems improbable at the moment.

 

[wamberal]

If people really want to support the game, they will grin and bear it, whatever happens.


The sooner we all realise that we are a niche sport, the better. If we expect the future to be strewn with roses, we will just get shite on our shoes looking for the petals.


Take the pain, there just might be some long-term gain.

 

[swingpass]

if the Rebels cease to be, i suspect i will become an ESFoS and join the Sea of Blue from afar.

 

[KevinO]

if the Rebels cease to be, i suspect i will become an ESFoS and join the Sea of Blue from afar.

If this happens, I will stop following Super Rugby all together and just watch all the Munster games.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

[Mr Wobbly]

if the Rebels cease to be, i suspect i will become an ESFoS and join the Sea of Blue from afar.

If this happens, I will stop following Super Rugby all together and just watch all the Munster games.

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

If this happens, I will also stop watching Super Rugby and probably start going to a few local games.

I'll also cancel my Foxtel subscription, the only reason I have it is for watching rugby.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

If this happens, I will stop following Super Rugby all together and just watch all the Munster games.

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I'll just go down to Ashwood and watch the Quins play. Pre-2011.