Rebels 2020

[KevinO]

yeah forget about getting props or locks. Tahs don't have depth there. Rebels need a replacement winger for their winger. Someone with a bit of utility value. Cam Clarke most like for like. You'd be thrilled to get Donaldson.

Hodge, Koroibete, English

and Tupou, Kellaway and Potter as back ups I wouldn't be too worried about wing.

Giving up a Wallabie who is only 22 and starts for any Super team in Australia in a deal comes at a price, would have to be a player who is in the Tahs plans so the deal won't happen. Jack will be starting on the wing when available and hopefully another year in Melbourne will persuade him to stick around.

Our back line should be good enough to test most teams with or withour Jack, lets just hope he finds the form from the start of last season. He should have been dropped by the end of the season last year, maybe it's a attitude adjustment he really needs.

 

[RugbyReg]

Hodge, Koroibete, English

and Tupou, Kellaway and Potter as back ups I wouldn't be too worried about wing.

Giving up a Wallabie who is only 22 and starts for any Super team in Australia in a deal comes at a price, would have to be a player who is in the Tahs plans so the deal won't happen. Jack will be starting on the wing when available and hopefully another year in Melbourne will persuade him to stick around.

Our back line should be good enough to test most teams with or withour Jack, lets just hope he finds the form from the start of last season. He should have been dropped by the end of the season last year, maybe it's a attitude adjustment he really needs.

you make a strong case that Maddocks is superflous to your needs. I agree. Let the poor lad return home. For the good of Australia (in fact are there any Australians in the Rebels squad???)

 

[TSR]

Really Show? Deegan has a couple of very strong NRC seasons under the belt and in 2019 was the standout Aussie player in the comp. He has his other GRR experiences behind him as well, and overall has been playing at a level or more above U20s for at least 2 years. I'd say, between Deegan and To'omua, the Rebels are the one Aussie team that has its No 10 slot sorted much better than any of the others.

And Donaldson is some way down the pecking order for 10s coming through the systems, being behind Harrison, Lucas and Lolesio and probably Pasitoa and Keunzle as well.

I agree with your general comments about the current pecking order but there has to be some perspective around their ages and the potential development. Donaldson might be behind the other young guys, but he is a fine young player. Pecking orders change over time.

With regards to Deegan, Donaldson would definitely be behind him at the moment but, to me, that is a great time to sign a young guy like Donaldson. You aren’t under pressure to put him straight in the firing line, but you have an option to work hard in the background and give your squad depth.

Deegan looks great - but he has yet to play super rugby and who knows what the future holds. I hope he does really well but if he doesn’t quite get there, if he gets and Injury or even if he just decides to go OS then Donaldson would be a great option to have in the background IMO. As an added benefit he can provide cover behind DHP at 15 as well.

Personally I find it refreshing just to have some young playmaking talent to have these conversations about.

 

[Up and under]

I agree with your general comments about the current pecking order but there has to be some perspective around their ages and the potential development. Donaldson might be behind the other young guys, but he is a fine young player. Pecking orders change over time.

With regards to Deegan, Donaldson would definitely be behind him at the moment but, to me, that is a great time to sign a young guy like Donaldson. You aren’t under pressure to put him straight in the firing line, but you have an option to work hard in the background and give your squad depth.

Deegan looks great - but he has yet to play super rugby and who knows what the future holds. I hope he does really well but if he doesn’t quite get there, if he gets and Injury or even if he just decides to go OS then Donaldson would be a great option to have in the background IMO. As an added benefit he can provide cover behind DHP at 15 as well.

Personally I find it refreshing just to have some young playmaking talent to have these conversations about.

Agree TSR.....all the 10's that Brumby Runner has mentioned are fine, young players with plenty of potential. Time will tell which ones progress through the ranks and go on to bigger and better things. We can all speculate.

Not sure about Brumby Runner's pecking order though. Both Deegan and Kuenzle were unwanted at the Waratahs whereas Donaldson I believe is signed for another year or two. Lolesio is more suited to 12 in my opinion. And Pasitoa has unlimited potential but is untried outside schoolboy rugby.

Donaldson was the backup 10 for the Aussie 20's last year and played NRC for Sydney. And I remember reading somewhere that Larkham is a huge a fan of his. He was quoted as saying that Donaldson reminded him of himself and the way he played. Not a bad rap. Time will tell I guess.

But as you say, isn't it great to have so many young 10's coming thru into the professional ranks. Exciting times.

 

[Micheal]

Donaldson was the backup 10 for the Aussie 20's last year and played NRC for Sydney. And I remember reading somewhere that Larkham is a huge a fan of his. He was quoted as saying that Donaldson reminded him of himself and the way he played. Not a bad rap. Time will tell I guess.

But as you say, isn't it great to have so many young 10's coming thru into the professional ranks. Exciting times.

Also worth noting that Donaldson replaced Harrison for the quarter (or semi-final) of last years JRWC as Harrison was out with a head-knock and Donaldson got man-of-the-match and scored an 80m try.

It's not like he's leagues below Harrison. He's simply considered not AS good, but that doesn't mean that he isn't very good also.

 

[Silverado]

Agree TSR...all the 10's that Brumby Runner has mentioned are fine, young players with plenty of potential. Time will tell which ones progress through the ranks and go on to bigger and better things. We can all speculate.

Not sure about Brumby Runner's pecking order though. Both Deegan and Kuenzle were unwanted at the Waratahs whereas Donaldson I believe is signed for another year or two. Lolesio is more suited to 12 in my opinion. And Pasitoa has unlimited potential but is untried outside schoolboy rugby.

Donaldson was the backup 10 for the Aussie 20's last year and played NRC for Sydney. And I remember reading somewhere that Larkham is a huge a fan of his. He was quoted as saying that Donaldson reminded him of himself and the way he played. Not a bad rap. Time will tell I guess.

But as you say, isn't it great to have so many young 10's coming thru into the professional ranks. Exciting times.

I still say Donaldson is a more promising prospect at 15 and more what the Rebels need if Maddocks leave

 

[TSR]

Of course the other side of this is that if I was the Tahs I’m not sure I’d want to give up either of them. Especially when, as BH notes, Maddocks may well come home anyway in 12 months.

 

[Brumby Runner]

For clarity, my response to ShowandGo was primarily about his claim that the Rebels need another No 10. I think he said, though I might have inferred, that they are somewhat deficient in the position. My prediction is that a Rebel, one of Deegan or To'omua, will be the starting No 10 for the Wallabies this July. Largely depends on where MT is used. We are not really over-stocked with No 12s atm. Andrew D has played at a higher leval than any of the other up-and-comers over the past 2 - 3 years, and has shown he has every ability to play that position. He is a better organiser, has better decision making, is able to make the play himself or set up supports with passes or kicks. On top of that, he can and does tackle. I have every confidence in his ability to shine at Super level.

Donaldson definitely has potential, but like Silverado, I think it is more likely to be at 15 than 10.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Also worth noting that Donaldson replaced Harrison for the quarter (or semi-final) of last years JRWC as Harrison was out with a head-knock and Donaldson got man-of-the-match and scored an 80m try.

It's not like he's leagues below Harrison. He's simply considered not AS good, but that doesn't mean that he isn't very good also.

Its not even that, he is just a different style of 10 and Gilmore preferred the more traditional Harrison.

Donaldson could easily become the better of the two. They grew up in the same teams at Randwick since they were 6 - its a hell of a good yarn.

When I watched Randwick play last year it was actually Donaldson at 10, Harrison at 15.

 

[Dctarget]

Apparently all wrapped up and done, Maddocks being swapped for money, https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...y/news-story/8ae3d011d78853311e90a54d2393d794

Would say that sucks for Melbourne, but maybe it’s exactly what they need.

 

[Rebels3]

Has anyone mentioned Skelton and Saracens potentially having to shed some players. Could get him cheaper than anticipated if Saracens would be prepared to pay a portion of his wage just to get him off their books. Add in the cash just freed up from Maddocks leaving and a small injection from the Tahs.

 

[Show-n-go]

For clarity, my response to ShowandGo was primarily about his claim that the Rebels need another No 10. I think he said, though I might have inferred, that they are somewhat deficient in the position

Doesn’t sound like something you’d do.........

All I was saying is that they’ve got To'omua who wants to play 10 but is pretty decent odds to play 12, and an untested Deegan. There’s room for Donaldson to go down there get a full time contract and be competing for a spot

Australia have a number of promising playmaker 10/12/15’s coming through, it would be good if they spread out a tad. Deegan may well be a Wallaby this year however I think the more sensible option would be a senior stop gap solution for a year or so and then put in however out of pesitoa, Lucas, Kuenzle et al shines, they’re all younger and I think more talented than Deegan will ever be

Anyway Donaldson point is moot now so moving on

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Apparently all wrapped up and done, Maddocks being swapped for money, https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...y/news-story/8ae3d011d78853311e90a54d2393d794

Would say that sucks for Melbourne, but maybe it’s exactly what they need.

I wish I could like this twice

 

[KevinO]

Big step by the ARU, not sure if it's a good direction or not opening up a transfer market. A bit different than Cooper or Hunt where they were not in the coaches plans.

My gut is saying Maddocks is young with a attitude problem (always nice guy to have a chat with after a game), history with Colts and not being invited to club functions because he was not willing to put any effort in etc. Think he is probably blaming the Rebels for his form slump and missing the RWC and wants a fresh start. Wish him all the best but won't be supporting him in Tahs colors, that's for sure.

 

[Adam84]

Let’s not jump to conclusions and start slagging the player without knowing the facts, there’s 100 reasons why a player might want to move home outside of just having an ‘attitude problem’.. I’ve seen nothing to suggest that he blames the rebels for his form slump

 

[Braveheart81]

My gut is saying Maddocks is young with a attitude problem (always nice guy to have a chat with after a game), history with Colts and not being invited to club functions because he was not willing to put any effort in etc. Think he is probably blaming the Rebels for his form slump and missing the RWC and wants a fresh start. Wish him all the best but won't be supporting him in Tahs colors, that's for sure.

Wow that comes across as bitter.

 

[KevinO]

Wow that comes across as bitter.

Not meant to, just what my gut feeling is.

Think Jack is a great player and good kid just a bit immature, think if he comes good it's what the Wallabies need and if Sydney is the best place for him than good. To walk away after signing a deal with the Rebels though is saying something is wrong, could be the Rebels culture is wrong. Only time will tell. It's my opinion and that's what forums are about.

 

[Forcefield]

a small injection from the Tahs.

Finding it hard to suppress the urge to make dick jokes.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Do we mention the F word? Clearly when he signed his last deal his path to 15 at the tahs was blocked.

 

[Silverado]

Do we mention the F word? Clearly when he signed his last deal his path to 15 at the tahs was blocked.

Good point. He would have been behind DHP and spent most of the time on the wing again, whereas at the Tahs he would be expected to play at 15. I still scratch my head about how he began last season as the leading try scorer and ended it by not being selected for the Wallbies when they clearly needed a winger. The reasons for this dip are unknown, but he on obviously wasn't happy. I hope the move will reinvigorate him, not just for the Tahs, but also the Wallabies