Rebels 2019

[oztimmay]

Once this mystery player is announced it will take the list to 33.

Rangi and Jefferies not yet re-signed.

Well, Big Red is back in tow. Insta showed him getting licked to death by his Labrador. As all good Dogs do.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Agreed.




I know you Brumbies folk rate Naisarani highly, but the jury is still out for me. I'm happy to be proven wrong and (hope to be), but I rate those backrowers I listed earlier well above Naisarani. I'd be a very happy man if he proved me wrong this season.

Naisarani has a huge motor and is a dominant player in contact. I expect he will shine in 19 and make the backrow for the Wallabies.

 

[oztimmay]

Quade signed for 2019.

 

[oztimmay]

Press release.

Hello Melbourne Rebels Members​

The Melbourne Rebels are excited to announce the signing of Wallaby #830, flyhalf Quade Cooper for the 2019 season.
Cooper has signed a one-year contract and will join the Rebels in mid-November for the start of their 2019 pre-season campaign as he looks to add to his 70 Test and 119 Super Rugby caps.
With Melbourne-born Matt To'omua set to complete his repatriation home in late May, Cooper will have the opportunity to become a critical cog in an electric Rebels backline featuring the current Wallaby back-three as well as reuniting with his Super Rugby championship winning half partner, Will Genia.
Cooper says he has enjoyed the community connections he’s been able to build in his recent absence from Super Rugby and is eager to contribute to the success of the Rebels in 2019.
“I want to do whatever I can on and off the field to help grow the Rugby community in Melbourne. I’m keen to work hard and make the entire Rebels organisation and their fans proud,” Cooper said.
“I was really impressed seeing the improvement that Melbourne have made this year. Their professionalism since the first discussion we had about me being a Rebel has been first-class.”
“I know that Rugby in Melbourne has a strong history and cultural connection. If I can help out the grassroots and be involved in inspiring the next generation, then that is just a bonus for me.”
Melbourne Rebels Coach David Wessels said he was is looking forward to Quade joining the Club.
“I’ve obviously chatted to Quade a lot over the last few months and I’ve been impressed by his love of the game, and his willingness to reflect on his journey. He’s been pretty selfless in his commitment to club Rugby in Brisbane and has shown patience and maturity.”
“He knows that he has some hard work ahead of him, but he has the potential to be a really important spark for us over the next few months. We’re excited to have him.”

“We’ve worked really hard on our succession planning as a coaching group and I’m proud of the program we’re building. We’re very clear on what we needed to add to the squad and we look forward to the new players making an impact on the field and in our community.” concluded Wessels.

 

[Dctarget]

Naisarani has a huge motor and is a dominant player in contact. I expect he will shine in 19 and make the backrow for the Wallabies.

That'd make me extremely happy. Rebels need it and lord knows that the Wallabies need a bruising 8 in his mould too.

Confirming the worst-kept secret, ever.


List at 0:24. Mentions Genia in the commentary (Marto, I think). No doubts now

Pretty nice promo for Melbourne there too. Looks quite nice.

 

[KevinO]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpQ1ZnSApqY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

[KevinO]

Backline looks good except for 10 backup.

9) Genia/Ruru/Goddard
10) QC (Quade Cooper)
11) Koroibete
12) To'omua/Hodge/Meakes
13) Hodge/English/Tuipulotu
14) Maddocks/Sefa/Tupou
15) DHP/Maddocks

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Does anyone know if the Campbell Magnay signing has ever been confirmed?

 

[duckbill]

So excited to see if what I consider the best wallabies 9-10-12 combo of the last 5 years is still firing

 

[dru]

So excited to see if what I consider the best wallabies 9-10-12 combo of the last 5 years is still firing

And I no longer have to watch every Magpies game next year. Can focus on Tigers in the Premier.

I won’t miss a Rebels game though. Pity you guys didn’t nab Slipper. Do need a back up 10 though, someone for Quade to bring through.

 

[swingpass]

And I no longer have to watch every Magpies game next year. Can focus on Tigers in the Premier.

I won’t miss a Rebels game though. Pity you guys didn’t nab Slipper. Do need a back up 10 though, someone for Quade to bring through.

i suspect Archie King is hanging around.

 

[jimmydubs]

Well this is awkward. Genia-QC (Quade Cooper) playing for the team i most disliked ($ force etc). I still think you'll go bankrupt again but i will be watching and backing you now. I'll see if i can get some special glasses thay make purple look red.
I'll probably even barrack for you against the reds. Really weird. If you sign LFG ill call BS on salary cap but then I'll be so much on the bandwagon it won't be funny

 

[Juan Cote]

Really looking forward to watching the Rebs next season. So much so I’ve signed on as a member. Probably won’t get to any games however, apart from when they play the Reds in Brisbane that is.

 

[Lindommer]

Cooper has conducted himself amazingly, all things considered, a sign he's matured?

,,,,,and aged (please forgive my vinous reference), sadly. God knows Oz rugby needs a coupla five-eighths snapping at Foley's heels. Can't help thinking Deegan deserves a contract at one of the four Super sides.

 

[Dctarget]

Quade's signing has really improved my spirits for next year. Despite my pessimistic thinking that he's well past his best, that his magic will be accompanied by much worse blunders, and our forward pack is seriously lacking in important positions, I can't wait for the first home game (sucks it's in round 3).

And a lot of my formerly disenchanted mates are excited too. It's amazing what an off season can do to wipe the memory clean. I think the Stockade will see a decent boost in numbers in the early rounds.

 

[Mick The Munch]

That’s the problem right there. You just can’t look past set piece and fill a side with a ‘growing pack’ & get into a position to go deep into the Super Rugby Finals. Wessels biggest challenge will be finding the balance there, if he doesn’t the season could very well end up like this seasons

I agree Jerry, but you can't buy in quality when there isn't anyone available in the market. I'd rather a younger pack (let's not forget there are some Wallabies in there) than getting experienced but sub par replacements

 

[Rugbynutter39]

i suspect Archie King is hanging around.

Thought Archie king had good nrc so not bad back up option with To'omua and hodge other back up 10 options

 

[Wilson]

According to Wayne Smith in The Australian Cheika is pretty ken to get Naivalu up to QLD to get him more game time in the lead up to the world cup:

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika sounded out Melbourne Rebels about allowing their Test winger Sefa Naivalu to move to the Queensland Reds next year to ensure he was given plenty of football in the lead-up to the World Cup and not caught in a selection bottleneck.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...u/news-story/563ede5ccf90a1700e85710e4ebcc282

Goes on to say that the rebels and maybe Sefa as well weren't too interested.

Article also has Magnay as signed for the Rebels, as has been rumored for a while:

...the Rebels have also signed former Reds three-quarter Campbell Magnay from Suntory and there is every indication he too will come strongly into contention for World Cup selection next year.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Magnay would have to get himself a consistent starting spot at the Rebels first, and that won't be an easy thing with the quality already on the books.

What would be the evidence referred to in the article, I wonder?

 

[Slim 293]

I'm pretty sure every player that signs a contract for next year will be sold as being "strongly in contention for World Cup selection," regardless of whether that's true or not..............

In Magnay's case - yes, he'd have to first get a start at the Rebels, and then the uncapped player would have to squeeze into the Wallabies squad, and then fight off a few notable test players to get one of those very few spots in the strict 31 man RWC squad.