Rebels 2018

[daz]

Good cattle?

Good-ish, as far as any team had good cattle.

 

[Sully]

Good-ish, as far as any team had good cattle.

Thought their herd value was a lot better than the cost of the cattle. Also thought the assistant coaches were bloody good and helped out a rookie head coach one heck of a lot.

 

[daz]

Thought their herd value was a lot better than the cost of the cattle. Also thought the assistant coaches were bloody good and helped out a rookie head coach one heck of a lot.

Yes, I get that. But they might not be with him moving forward.

 

[Aurelius]

Apart from the fact that he recruited brilliantly, even in our losses I thought the Force were a lot more competitive. In 2016 we were basically in it up to 60 minutes or so - this year we were competitive, a lot of the time, right up to literally the last couple of minutes. If we'd had just a bit of luck against, say, the Lions, the Brumbies and the Cheifs, we'd have been playing finals footy, which would have been bloody brilliant for a first-time HC.

 

[Killer]

Apart from the fact that he recruited brilliantly, even in our losses I thought the Force were a lot more competitive. In 2016 we were basically in it up to 60 minutes or so - this year we were competitive, a lot of the time, right up to literally the last couple of minutes. If we'd had just a bit of luck against, say, the Lions, the Brumbies and the Cheifs, we'd have been playing finals footy, which would have been bloody brilliant for a first-time HC.

Good HC's are about communication, everyone in the squad is engaged and plays for the team. He listens to and respects his AC's but he has the final say. He gives credit to the AC's, he is only interested in the outcome. His rotation policy was excellent, everyone is trusted. This led to the above of being engaged and paid off later after injuries. There must have been many issues during the season but nothing was visible from outside. Look at the way the team has stayed with him even now. He was brought to Aus by one of the best communicating coaches around in Jake White. He has learnt how to surround himself with the best as Jake did and have it all function as one. He will succeed anywhere as long as there is a smart and supportive administration. Just go and listen to his interviews.

 

[cyclopath]

Thought their herd value was a lot better than the cost of the cattle. Also thought the assistant coaches were bloody good and helped out a rookie head coach one heck of a lot.

Names like Cowan, Faulkner, TPN, Coleman, RHP, Hodgson, Naisarani, Ruru, Louwrens, Lance, Meakes, DHP, Rona, Peni etc are not chumps. Sure, not all were proven to begin with but there's a lot of class there.
So I'd reckon pretty good talent and some pretty good coaching.

 

[lou75]

Gotta say, I'm still an each way bet on whether I want Wessels at the club. Sure, for a first year coach, he did well, but let's be honest, he had good cattle and no baggage.

I'm not convinced he would be a automatic success anywhere, just yet. Was it just a case of right moment right place right time?

I'm not saying he is a bad coach, if anything, no one can say he is good or bad at Super Rugby level because he simply doesn't have the track record yet.

If he does come to the Rebels, I hope I'm wrong, but there does seem to be a big hoo-ha over a bloke who won 6 games. What am I missing that everyone else seems to see?

I have to say, that unlike TT, Wessels had the respect of his players and they played with their heart. If he could bring that to Melbourne we would be unstoppable.

 

[Tex]

I think the value of Wessels is that he'll probably bring a bunch of in-demand players with him, filling all those holes in our roster.

 

[Derpus]

I have to say, that unlike TT, Wessels had the respect of his players and they played with their heart. If he could bring that to Melbourne we would be unstoppable.

'unstoppable'

I think potentially not the worst team in the competition sounds more accurate.

 

[Braveheart81]

The Rebels have signed Ben Daley.

 

[oztimmay]

That's the experienced LHP we're after.

 

[Derpus]

I have a question for anyone who watches the younger development players in particular Uelese.

So I played with him and against him, but he was in the year below me and when I finished school he was still playing at blindside flanker. He was always pretty decent but outshone by Sione, Rob Leota, Fereti and probably even Fereti's younger brother RJ.

Admittedly I never paid him too much attention but he certainly wasn't known as a wallaby in waiting 3-4 years ago.

So what happened to allow him to not only switch positions but become this seemingly wallaby competent player??


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I went to the same school as Hooper and as far as i can remember he struggled to make the firsts in what was not even a traditional rugby school.
People change when they grow up.

 

[daz]

I have to say, that unlike TT, Wessels had the respect of his players and they played with their heart. If he could bring that to Melbourne we would be unstoppable.

Well, we won the wooden spoon this year, so we clearly have nowhere to go but up, but in all honesty I'd be happy with "not as shit next year".

"Unstoppable" is perhaps slightly OTT in the next year or two.

 

[Braveheart81]

I went to the same school as Hooper and as far as i can remember he struggled to make the firsts in what was not even a traditional rugby school.
People change when they grow up.

I'm pretty sure he made the Australian A schoolboys side when he was in year 11 and certainly played in the NSW Schoolboys side.

He was then injured in year 12.

 

[Derpus]

I'm pretty sure he made the Australian A schoolboys side when he was in year 11 and certainly played in the NSW Schoolboys side.

He was then injured in year 12.

There you go then. In my defense it was nearly 10 years ago.

 

[Slim 293]

Ben Daley has signed with the Rebels for two years.........

It begins.

 

[Brumby Runner]

That's the experienced LHP we're after.

Never been a fan. I think his type of experience a top notch side can do without.

 

[Highlander35]

Daley is definitely the best of the looseheads likely to be available.

What's that leave us with?

Signed and Confirmed
Weeks
Faulkner
Daley
Sa'aga

Signed but might leave
Lomax

Rumoured to sign
Talakai

Hanging around like a bad smell
Rory O'Connor
Cruze Ah Nau
Tom Moloney




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[daz]

Daley is definitely the best of the looseheads likely to be available.

What's that leave us with?

Signed and Confirmed
Weeks
Faulkner
Daley
Sa'aga


Hanging around like a bad smell

Cruze Ah Nau





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Cruze might be in trouble as far as being offered a new contract, now that the Force is kaput. Unfortunate but hardly unexpected.

 

[KevinO]

Daley is definitely the best of the looseheads likely to be available.

What's that leave us with?

Signed and Confirmed
Weeks
Faulkner
Daley
Sa'aga

Signed but might leave
Lomax

Rumoured to sign
Talakai

Hanging around like a bad smell
Rory O'Connor
Cruze Ah Nau
Tom Moloney




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May as well let Lomax go, out of the bottom three Rory O'Connor is showing some promise in the NRC. Ah Nau just never developed into a starter, think he would struggle to pick up a good paying gig in France too. Nothing to really say about Moloney.