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https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...p/news-story/babf4c80b6179575393961eac0b2b0a3
How Melbourne Rebels built international roster
Iain Payten, The Daily Telegraph
a minute ago
WALLABY giant Adam Coleman has become the latest star to join the “Galacticos” at the Rebels next year but Melbourne boss Baden Stephenson said the club’s wages bill “is not exorbitant” and the influx of talent is the result of a risky strategy that could have backfired.
Coleman turned down the potential to earn big bucks in Europe to re-sign with Rugby Australia until the end of 2019, and following his former Force coach Dave Wessels, the big lock became the ninth Wallaby to join the Rebels for next season.
Adam Coleman is the latest Wallaby to join the Rebels.
Melbourne have had a huge turnover from the squad that finished last in 2017, with 17 new players added - including a dozen from the Force, Will Genia and former England lock Geoff Parling. They’ll join a squad already including Amanaki Mafi and rising stars like Jack Maddocks.
The assembly of such a high-quality group of players has prompted many to question how Melbourne can afford it, and not if they’re busting the $5m salary cap, but by how much.
Rugby Australia have already declared they allow “flexibility” for the salary cap during a post-Force “transition phase”, which will also see extra players allowed at each of the four remaining franchises.
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It is understood a fixed salary cap will return in 2019, however.
Queensland and NSW are privately miffed that the Rebels have been given such generous leeway to sign all the top Force stars, as well as a few others.
The Brumbies have picked up Chance Peni and Richie Arnold, and it’s understood the Waratahs are close to securing deals with Ben McCalman and Curtis Rona.
But the Reds - still smarting from losing Genia due to an already full halfback roster - aren’t going to get any big names from WA.
Stephenson defended the Rebels’ recruitment success, however, saying they’d taken a big risk in keeping over 10 spots open as late as August and that their total spend on player salaries was - if anything - only bringing them level with the bigger states for the first time.
“People would be surprised to see the numbers where we are at this year are not exorbitant at all,” Stephenson said.
The Rebels pinched Reds legend and Wallabies halfback Will Genia.
“You don’t want to compare different squads but when we compare Wallaby top-up money, we would be still under a few of the other franchises.
“And really, it’s the first time in Rebels or Force’s history that we are even close to some of the other franchises to total spend.”
The Rebels were always confident they would stay in Super Rugby but unlike the Tahs, Reds and Brumbies, they rolled the dice and banked on picking up Force players - and their coach - after Rugby Australia made a final call on cutting a team.
If the Force won their legal battles and stayed alive, the Rebels would have been struggling to fill their roster. If Wessels had have gone to Munster instead of the Rebels, too, there was a major chance many Force players would have not signed either.
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Hunt: 'He's the complete package'
“There was definitely some risk with regards to the strategy but we are really happy with where we have ended up,” Stephenson said.
“We had a particularly large group of players coming off contract in 2017, so that was also a bit of factor in how it’s gone down. But there was a fair bit of risk for us, in June-July-August there was a bit stress of what 2018 might look like for us.
“This process has been going for six months we have been communicating with Rugby Australia for all that time. They have been very aware of what our strategy is.
“So we have assembled a good squad and there will be a lot of competition for spots and there’ll be a new energy about the place and a new direction, which is what we needed.”
Former England and Lions lock Geoff Parling (L) is also heading to the Rebels.
With salary cap “flexibility” set to end next year, it’s likely there will be further movement between squads as teams continue to refine their rosters and players even potentially seek to move franchises to get more opportunities.
Stephenson said he was happy the Rebels wouldn’t lose many but conceded there are some players who may be looking to pursue overseas options to beat the post-World Cup rush.
Coleman’s signature is a big one for Australian rugby and the Rebels, said Stephenson.
‘Leading into the World Cup he is going to play a big role for the Wallabies and I honestly believe he was having a good strong look overseas,” Stephenson said.
“It is great for Australian rugby and I know Adam is keen to make a strong impact at Super Rugby. His relationship with Dave played a big part. He is confident in the development he will get in the environment down here.”
How Melbourne Rebels built international roster
Iain Payten, The Daily Telegraph
a minute ago
WALLABY giant Adam Coleman has become the latest star to join the “Galacticos” at the Rebels next year but Melbourne boss Baden Stephenson said the club’s wages bill “is not exorbitant” and the influx of talent is the result of a risky strategy that could have backfired.
Coleman turned down the potential to earn big bucks in Europe to re-sign with Rugby Australia until the end of 2019, and following his former Force coach Dave Wessels, the big lock became the ninth Wallaby to join the Rebels for next season.
Adam Coleman is the latest Wallaby to join the Rebels.
Melbourne have had a huge turnover from the squad that finished last in 2017, with 17 new players added - including a dozen from the Force, Will Genia and former England lock Geoff Parling. They’ll join a squad already including Amanaki Mafi and rising stars like Jack Maddocks.
The assembly of such a high-quality group of players has prompted many to question how Melbourne can afford it, and not if they’re busting the $5m salary cap, but by how much.
Rugby Australia have already declared they allow “flexibility” for the salary cap during a post-Force “transition phase”, which will also see extra players allowed at each of the four remaining franchises.
BEWARE: Scots not scared of Wallabies
STITCH UP: Scots pull pitch switch on Wallabies
It is understood a fixed salary cap will return in 2019, however.
Queensland and NSW are privately miffed that the Rebels have been given such generous leeway to sign all the top Force stars, as well as a few others.
The Brumbies have picked up Chance Peni and Richie Arnold, and it’s understood the Waratahs are close to securing deals with Ben McCalman and Curtis Rona.
But the Reds - still smarting from losing Genia due to an already full halfback roster - aren’t going to get any big names from WA.
Stephenson defended the Rebels’ recruitment success, however, saying they’d taken a big risk in keeping over 10 spots open as late as August and that their total spend on player salaries was - if anything - only bringing them level with the bigger states for the first time.
“People would be surprised to see the numbers where we are at this year are not exorbitant at all,” Stephenson said.
The Rebels pinched Reds legend and Wallabies halfback Will Genia.
“You don’t want to compare different squads but when we compare Wallaby top-up money, we would be still under a few of the other franchises.
“And really, it’s the first time in Rebels or Force’s history that we are even close to some of the other franchises to total spend.”
The Rebels were always confident they would stay in Super Rugby but unlike the Tahs, Reds and Brumbies, they rolled the dice and banked on picking up Force players - and their coach - after Rugby Australia made a final call on cutting a team.
If the Force won their legal battles and stayed alive, the Rebels would have been struggling to fill their roster. If Wessels had have gone to Munster instead of the Rebels, too, there was a major chance many Force players would have not signed either.
Play
Mute
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration Time 0:54
Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%
Fullscreen
Hunt: 'He's the complete package'
“There was definitely some risk with regards to the strategy but we are really happy with where we have ended up,” Stephenson said.
“We had a particularly large group of players coming off contract in 2017, so that was also a bit of factor in how it’s gone down. But there was a fair bit of risk for us, in June-July-August there was a bit stress of what 2018 might look like for us.
“This process has been going for six months we have been communicating with Rugby Australia for all that time. They have been very aware of what our strategy is.
“So we have assembled a good squad and there will be a lot of competition for spots and there’ll be a new energy about the place and a new direction, which is what we needed.”
Former England and Lions lock Geoff Parling (L) is also heading to the Rebels.
With salary cap “flexibility” set to end next year, it’s likely there will be further movement between squads as teams continue to refine their rosters and players even potentially seek to move franchises to get more opportunities.
Stephenson said he was happy the Rebels wouldn’t lose many but conceded there are some players who may be looking to pursue overseas options to beat the post-World Cup rush.
Coleman’s signature is a big one for Australian rugby and the Rebels, said Stephenson.
‘Leading into the World Cup he is going to play a big role for the Wallabies and I honestly believe he was having a good strong look overseas,” Stephenson said.
“It is great for Australian rugby and I know Adam is keen to make a strong impact at Super Rugby. His relationship with Dave played a big part. He is confident in the development he will get in the environment down here.”
