Rebels 2021

[Rebels3]

Rugby.com.au in their review of the Rebels chances have listed him as part of the squad

Interesting to see they settled on Glen Vaihu into the main squad. It was another position they were looking to fill and they must of thought he was good enough to be promoted to the main squad from a development spot the past 18 months.

 

[Rebels3]

Rugby.com.au squad (as good as we might get considering no official squad release has happened at club level)

Lachlan Anderson

Ignacio Calas

Edward Craig

Steven Cummins

Jacbous Eloff

Vaauli Faamausili

Matt Gibbon

Carter Gordon

Richard Hardwick

Dane Haylett-Petty

Ross Haylett-Petty

James Hanson

Reece Hodge

Lewis Holland

Trevor Hosea

Josh Kemeny

Marika Korobeite

Robert Leota

Frank Lomani

Campbell Magnay

Isireli Naisarani

Cameron Orr

Thomas Pincus

Joseph Powell

Jeral Skelton

Lucio Sordoni

Theo Strang

Young Tonumaipea

Matthew To'omua

James Tuttle

Jordan Uelese

Glen Vaihau

Rhys Van Nek

llikena Vudogo

Michael Wells

Bradley Wilkin

 

[Rebels3]

Props - Eloff, Fa’amasuili, Gibbon, Orr, Sordoni, Van Nek
Hookers - Craig, Hanson, Uelese,
Locks - Calas, Cummins, RHP, Hosea
Flankers - Hardwick, Kemeny, Leota, Naisarani, Skelton, Wilkin, Wells
Scrum half’s - Lomani, Powell, Strang, Tuttle,
Fly half - Gordon, To'omua
Centre - Hodge, Holland, Magnay, Tonumaipea
Outside backs - Anderson, DHP, Koroibete, Pincus, Vaihu, Vudogo

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Obligatory, stab in the dark, first up team:

1. Orr
2. Uelese
3. Fa'amasuili
4. Cummins
5. Hosea
6. Kemeny
7. Wilkin
8. Leota
9. Powell
10. To'omua
11. Koroibete
12. Hodge
13. Magnay
14. Anderson
15. Pincus

Gibbon, Eloff, Hanson, RHP, Wells, Tuttle, Gordon, Tonumaipea

Assuming DHP and Isi are both out and Chibba is in.
If Gordon is up to starting then 12. To'omua, 14. Pincus, 15. Hodge.
No real idea about the Argies.

 

[Rebels3]

Obligatory, stab in the dark, first up team:

1. Orr
2. Uelese
3. Fa'amasuili
4. Cummins
5. Hosea
6. Kemeny
7. Wilkin
8. Leota
9. Powell
10. To'omua
11. Koroibete
12. Hodge
13. Magnay
14. Anderson
15. Pincus

Gibbon, Eloff, Hanson, RHP, Wells, Tuttle, Gordon, Tonumaipea

Assuming DHP and Isi are both out and Chibba is in.
If Gordon is up to starting then 12. To'omua, 14. Pincus, 15. Hodge.
No real idea about the Argies.

Not far off what to expect. I’d doubt Hanson will be available for first game given quarantine. That’s also if he even signs for us.

The Argentines might make or break our season. If both turn out to be international class we’d arguably have one of the best TH rotations and depth in the comp and locking pair could be the best any team puts out. If they don’t shape up it could be a long season with other teams equally equipped or better in certain positions.

 

[Hogie]

Is this season not an opportunity to blood Gordon at 10? With Powell at 9 and To'omua at 12 with fellow Wallabies Hodge, Koroibete and DHP(when fit) there is a huge amount of experience around the 10 position. Seeing the progress made by Harrison last season at the Tahs when given the reigns and Penney sticking with him, this could be the blueprint for Gordon. Also with the high turnover of players across the Super Rugby teams there may not be the same experience around the 10 in future seasons and bringing him now could reap rewards long term.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Is this season not an opportunity to blood Gordon at 10? With Powell at 9 and To'omua at 12 with fellow Wallabies Hodge, Koroibete and DHP(when fit) there is a huge amount of experience around the 10 position. Seeing the progress made by Harrison last season at the Tahs when given the reigns and Penney sticking with him, this could be the blueprint for Gordon. Also with the high turnover of players across the Super Rugby teams there may not be the same experience around the 10 in future seasons and bringing him now could reap rewards long term.

Yep, sure. Gordon is about the same age now as Lolesio and Harris were last season. If he turns out to be as good as those two he will be very handy. I think bringing him on with twenty to go for a few rounds makes a lot easier introduction though, especially considering that we have two of the most recent Wallaby 10s in the side. No need to rush him in unless Hodge is needed at 15 but, either way, I expect he'll see some game time this year.

 

[Braveheart81]

One disadvantage Gordon has is that he hasn't had the under 20 and NRC opportunities the other guys had.

Will Harrison for example looked awful for much of his first NRC season in 2019 before gradually finding his feet as the competition wore on.

Gordon has had some Premier Rugby experience but I imagine missing those steps in between will make jumping straight into Super Rugby difficult (as the starter from round 1).

 

[Derpus]

Good to hear about another young fly-half coming through.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

One disadvantage Gordon has is that he hasn't had the under 20 and NRC opportunities the other guys had.

Will Harrison for example looked awful for much of his first NRC season in 2019 before gradually finding his feet as the competition wore on.

Gordon has had some Premier Rugby experience but I imagine missing those steps in between will make jumping straight into Super Rugby difficult (as the starter from round 1).

Absolutely! The NRC will be missed, it was ideal for young blokes like Gordon. Pretty unlikely this year but it could be offset a bit if they get back to playing "A" sides on the same day as the Super matches.

 

[Rebels3]

Absolutely! The NRC will be missed, it was ideal for young blokes like Gordon. Pretty unlikely this year but it could be offset a bit if they get back to playing "A" sides on the same day as the Super matches.

Even a paired back NRC comp with the 5 Super teams during the Wallaby season. Given the players that were called up last season to the Wallabies (more than usual) the Rebels would of been able to put the following team out with the current squad.

1. Orr
2. Craig
3. Eloff
4. Cummins
5. RHP
6. Kemeny
7. Wilkin
8. Naisarani
9. Lomani
10. Gordon
11. Vudogo
12. Holland
13. Magnay
14. Tonumaipea
15. Pincus

16. (Club or development player)
17. Gibbon
18. Van Nek
19. Leota
20. Skelton
21. Tuttle
22. Anderson
23. Vaihu

Decent quality for players like Eloff, Gordon, Kemeny to continue to get better, while players building cohesion. There would be space on bench for club and development players as well as the usual injuries.

 

[KevinO]

Props - Eloff, Fa’amasuili, Gibbon, Orr, Sordoni, Van Nek
Hookers - Craig, Hanson, Uelese,
Locks - Calas, Cummins, RHP, Hosea
Flankers - Hardwick, Kemeny, Leota, Naisarani, Skelton, Wilkin, Wells
Scrum half’s - Lomani, Powell, Strang, Tuttle,
Fly half - Gordon, To'omua
Centre - Hodge, Holland, Magnay, Tonumaipea
Outside backs - Anderson, DHP, Koroibete, Pincus, Vaihu, Vudogo

I thought Skelton looked like playing in the centers?

 

[Rebels3]

I thought Skelton looked like playing in the centers?

Flanker / No8

Played most of his games for Randwick last season at 8

 

[namtrak]

Trial in Albury this Friday has been cancelled

 

[Rebels3]

Trial in Albury this Friday has been cancelled

My understanding is that it’s more the venue than the match which has been scrapped. It’s a shame as Albury is starting to turn into a little tradition of the two clubs playing each other each year.

 

[oztimmay]

Still baffles me why they can't play it at Viiking Park. Give BJ another run at the Steak Sanga.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Someone say steak sanga?

 

[Dctarget]

 

[GoMelbRebels]

So Chibba is back!

 

[Rebels3]

View attachment 12055View attachment 12056

The team make up looks like a South African team make up.

A lot of depth in the pack (minus no.8), a guy to tactically guide them and a quick guy on the wing to chase kicks all day.

A few 6-2 splits in this team to capitalize on a strong tactical kicking game.