Rebels 2018

[daz]

Ironically if rugby in oz doesn't improve, if super rugby crowds and ratings continue to fall and the Wallabies continue to play abysmally, then you won't have a team to support.

Yep. Entirely possible I suppose. And as I said, at that point I'll move on quite happily.

 

[kiap]

I'd always prefer the development of home grown players to success than pure buying success. But I get why the Rebels do it.

Surely you've got to have admiration for the Victorian rugby club in this case, though, Reg?

It's all being achieved on tick. They're using extra national money, so they're not actually buying. More just using their natural talent, i.e. cunning.

 

[swingpass]

can i ask, would we be having this bullshit, if the Rebels had gone under and Hodge, Uelese, Koiriobete, Naivalu, Timani, Maddocks, McGregor, Goddard etc had all gone to the Force ?
The Rebels are very lucky to be alive, i think everyone knows that even if some supporters cant or wont acknowledge it. A combination of Western Force naivety, ARU stupidity and Rebels creative use of the legality of the situation, saw then survive. Im really grateful that happened but some of the hubris being displayed is poor form.
i dont think the Reds or Tahs supporters can cry foul, circumstance lead to the current Rebels squad, next year is a long way off and we will see what eventuates. Whether they should release a player to another Oz franchise, well that's a commercial decision and its good to see them playing hard ball. Everyone at Rebels HQ know this really is the last chance to develop a franchise with a long term future and they shouldn't do anything to jeopardise that. If they dont have a winning year then pro rugby in this state is probably cactus, and despite some of the ill informed posts above there is a strong base of Rugby people and a city full of punters who will go and watch a successful Melbourne team of any sport.
Scrubber is presumably talking about Jono Lance, but why release the most experienced 10 on your books, Debreczeni being back is a surprise and he has reasonable Super Rugby experience (if not results) but the other two (Adams and McGregor) have none. (yes i know McG has played a game or two off the bench - pedants).
personally i don't want the other franchises to be too successful either, nil all draws in the other OZ conference games is a good start.
it will be good when the actual games start, the pre season niggle is tiresome.

 

[RugbyReg]

Surely you've got to have admiration for the Victorian rugby club in this case, though, Reg?

It's all being achieved on tick. They're using extra national money, so they're not actually buying. More just using their natural talent, i.e. cunning.

no. I don't have a hell of a lot of admiration for them. I think they are extremely lucky. Their biggest success was Wessels and I suspect he only signed because he didn't want to go to the 'establishment', I've said it before that any success they have this year I think will be most undeserved. Not earned. Just fortunate.

 

[swingpass]

no. I don't have a hell of a lot of admiration for them. I think they are extremely lucky. Their biggest success was Wessels and I suspect he only signed because he didn't want to go to the 'establishment', I've said it before that any success they have this year I think will be most undeserved. Not earned. Just fortunate.

surely a combination of good luck and hard work. so earned off the back of a piece of very very good fortune

 

[daz]

I've said it before that any success they have this year I think will be most undeserved. Not earned. Just fortunate.

It doesn't say that on the trophy though, does it? It doesn't say "Won by Back of Burke 4th XV due to successful avoidance of drug testing regimes", or "Won by Central KickYerTinAlong due to having compromising photos of the opposition coaches". It just says the team name and the year. That's what history ultimately remembers. They all count Reg, and every winning team has a degree of luck involved, including yours. If my team is ever in a position to win one, my guilt will be zero. The team still has to perform and there are no guarantees; deserve has got nothing to do with it. At the end of the day, ask yourself this; there was no-one putting a gun to the heads of the ex-Force guys to join Melbourne, even if it seemed the logical place to go. Why didn't your team recruit any?

 

[RugbyReg]

. Why didn't your team recruit any?

Three reasons: 1) salary cap restrictions expected to be in place by the ARU (since removed, or announced to be relieved for 2018) 2) actual financial restrictions at the QRU (cash poor) 3) confidence in the local development system I also don't think we needed anyone in particular to fill a gap. In hindsight DHP would have been nice to cover Hunt, but that was always unlikely. Lance would have been nice to cover QC (Quade Cooper) and Hunt, but again only in hindsight. I think big Isi coming home would've been the number 1 target but he opted to go to Brumbies, and who could blame him considering the program there. We had Sham Vui all but signed apparently but something happened to change that.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

We haven’t won anything yet. I’m going to take it a round at a time.

 

[daz]

We haven’t won anything yet. I’m going to take it a round at a time.

First warning, for speaking in cliches. Any subsequent warnings will incur some kind of suitable penalty, such as paying for my shitty stadium beer at games.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

First warning, for speaking in cliches. Any subsequent warnings will incur some kind of suitable penalty, such as paying for my shitty stadium beer at games.

When it comes to cliches, I give 110%. Basically, it’s a game of two halves.

 

[daz]

When it comes to cliches, I give 110%. Basically, it’s a game of two halves.

You need to have a good look in the mirror.

 

[Tex]

First warning, for speaking in cliches. Any subsequent warnings will incur some kind of suitable penalty, such as paying for my shitty stadium beer at games.

He pre-empted you daz, and clearly offered to take it a round at a time. I know I shouldn't make light of a clearly challenging situation, but the spectre of terrorism currently haunting major events has resulted in metal detector wands at every entrance, which really rained on my parade. Up until then I took my lead from a bunch of Kiwi grandpas who would use their grandchildren's prams to smuggle in a cheeky six pack. I don't have kids, but I managed to devise a way of sneaking in a brace of quality tins in a cycling musette, tied up underneath my jacket. Now I'm stuck with the pig swill they pass off as beer. Sob. Thanks isis.

 

[oztimmay]

When it comes to cliches, I give 110%. Basically, it’s a game of two halves.

I think you need to shout the GAGR crew a round at the first home game. Fair punishment. I'll take mine as a Pint up at the Posty, thanks. I have this weird problem when I drink the stadium Beer, I always get a weapons-grade hangover. Not sure why.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

I think you need to shout the GAGR crew a round at the first home game. Fair punishment. I'll take mine as a Pint up at the Posty, thanks. I have this weird problem when I drink the stadium Beer, I always get a weapons-grade hangover. Not sure why.

It’s certainly not from the alcohol content.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Rebels produce few youngsters to top level, Brumbies the same. They both sign from elsewhere. Brumbies especially do it very well and over the years their coaching has made average players (from Reds and Tahs) into Wallabies and very good Super players.

Vast majority of "talent" comes from the Reds, Tahs and PI countries.

We will see what gets produced from the Victorian conveyer belt.

 

[Tex]

Rebels produce few youngsters to top level, Brumbies the same. They both sign from elsewhere. Brumbies especially do it very well and over the years their coaching has made average players (from Reds and Tahs) into Wallabies and very good Super players.

Vast majority of "talent" comes from the Reds, Tahs and PI countries.

We will see what gets produced from the Victorian conveyer belt.

"Team and professional pathway that has existed for six years blamed for not producing young stars", says product of systems in place for hundreds of years.

 

[daz]

Ironically, the Brumbies signed Christian Lealiifano from Melbourne development and pathways. Can I put us in the same bucket as the Reds and Tahs and say we are an exporter of talent too?

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Ironically, the Brumbies signed Christian Lealiifano from Melbourne development and pathways. Can I put us in the same bucket as the Reds and Tahs and say we are an exporter of talent too?

Don’t forget Rob Valetini from the Quins. He will be big for the Brums this season. Another quality Vic player that got away.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Don’t forget Rob Valetini from the Quins. He will be big for the Brums this season. Another quality Vic player that got away.

Yep, no doubt at all about that. Clearly, both Christian and Rob should have been kept on ice in Melbourne so that no other team could benefit from their talent.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Yep, no doubt at all about that. Clearly, both Christian and Rob should have been kept on ice in Melbourne so that no other team could benefit from their talent.

Ouch!