Rebels 2021

[Rebels3]

Is Junior Uelese not the development prop we would want? I know his only 19/20 but his a big boy and would be a good development for the future.

Junior is there as well although appears to not be playing any rugby atm.

 

[Getwithme]

Alex Sa'aga has been killing it in Brisbane

 

[KevinO]

Have not watched any Shute Shield, but seems former Melbourne boy Tuimalealiifano is getting some game time and scoring with Gordan. Is he worth another look for the big bashing off loading 12/13 we don't have.

 

[Rebel man]

I think Power will come in Melbourne in 2021. Probably waiting for AR to finish before annoucing.

Not sold on To'omua at 13. THink he's better at 10/12. Let Gordon (if he's confired) and Deegan fight it out for 10.

If you want an off-contract general for 12, K-Hunt might be an astute buy.

Perhaps I'm clutching at straws, but doesn't Philip have a get-out clause in his contract if he get gold time in 2020? THe other problem; if he stays, doe he get to pick another Club, or will he be encouraged (or even obligated) to return to Mexico? I don't know how his contract is strucutrd, but I thought he was signed until the end of 2021?

Fair enough on To'omua was just putting it out there as a suggestion

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Have not watched any Shute Shield, but seems former Melbourne boy Tuimalealiifano is getting some game time and scoring with Gordan. Is he worth another look for the big bashing off loading 12/13 we don't have.

I have watched him in couple of games - Shute Shield form looks good.

 

[oztimmay]

Fair enough on To'omua was just putting it out there as a suggestion

All good mate. All ideas welcome, and apprecaited!

 

[GoMelbRebels]

All good mate. All ideas welcome, and apprecaited!

Though, to be fair, none of our ideas have been put into play as yet but we keep trying.

 

[oztimmay]

Though, to be fair, none of or ideas have been put into play as yet but we keep trying.

You sure, GMR? I seem to reall a callout on this form for young Marika to grow his beard back as it would give him a performance boost? THis was around the time of the first Brumbies match.

Look what happened?

 

[GoMelbRebels]

You sure, GMR? I seem to reall a callout on this form for young Marika to grow his beard back as it would give him a performance boost? THis was around the time of the first Brumbies match.

Look what happened?

I stand corrected. We be experts at this stuff.

 

[Rebels3]

Letter from the chairman out today.

- claims they have signed 70% of current roster for next season and new signings coming in the next month.

- biggest news yet, club will post a small profit

- 12 commercial partners onboard for next season

- already announced centre of excellence

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Letter from the chairman out today.

- claims they have signed 70% of current roster for next season and new signings coming in the next month.

- biggest news yet, club will post a small profit

- 12 commercial partners onboard for next season

- already announced centre of excellence

Success breeds success, as they say. Looking forward to seeing what the 2021 comp will look like. My money is on another Super Rugby AU but hopefully a sixth team (Sunwolves?), which would give us 3 games per weekend and maybe some bye rounds mid-season, like AFL. Anyhoo... looking good.

 

[oztimmay]

Open letter from Paul Docherty. All the usuall good stuff, but these two things stand out for me:

We have re-signed approximately 70% of our 2021 playing roster and retain the high-performance structure that we are building, both in the playing group and the team’s strong culture. Our high player retention rate is testament to the continuing strength of our Club and we will be making several announcements later this month regarding the exciting new talent that will be joining our Club.

Assume this means players signed 2021 and beyond. Would like it a little higher, but as Docs says, we are in uncertain times.

And this..

The Club is set to turn a modest profit in 2020. Three years ago, when the Club was rescued from private ownership, we were burdened with an untidy P&L and had to make some hard decisions, but with your support and through the careful direction of our Board and management - driven by our Finance Committee chaired by Bob Dalziel - there has been a significant turnaround. This has been the result of hard work, discipline and sound financial management.

Back in black baby!!!

Letter here: https://melbournerebels.rugby/news/2020/09/14/open-letter-from-our-chairman

 

[oztimmay]

Some people clearly much quicker on the keyboard than my fat ol' fingers allow.

 

[Dctarget]

Letter from the chairman out today.

- claims they have signed 70% of current roster for next season and new signings coming in the next month.

- biggest news yet, club will post a small profit

- 12 commercial partners onboard for next season

- already announced centre of excellence

Well done, that's awesome. Hopefully the new signings are some good 'uns. We're missing a few crucial positions.

 

[oztimmay]

Well done, that's awesome. Hopefully the new signings are some good 'uns. We're missing a few crucial positions.

If you had a wishlist, where would you start?

• IF Phillip does go to France, do we need another hard-hitting Lock? I heard at some point Cummings was retrurn from Wales?
• Flyhalf?
• Scrumhalf?

 

[Blackadder]

Letter from the chairman out today.

- claims they have signed 70% of current roster for next season and new signings coming in the next month.

- biggest news yet, club will post a small profit

- 12 commercial partners onboard for next season

- already announced centre of excellence

Excellent news

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

"we will be making several announcements later this month regarding the exciting new talent that will be joining our Club"

Any ideas whom this might be?

 

[oztimmay]

"we will be making several announcements later this month regarding the exciting new talent that will be joining our Club"

Any ideas whom this might be?

Nope. I'm all open for wild speculation. Hopefully that Gordon youngster from Brisvegas. Sounds like he's preety handy.

 

[Dctarget]

If you had a wishlist, where would you start?

• IF Phillip does go to France, do we need another hard-hitting Lock? I heard at some point Cummings was retrurn from Wales?
• Flyhalf?
• Scrumhalf?

I'm happy with Gordon @ 10 if the rumours are true. The gnashing of teeth in the Reds forums is getting me excited.
Same with Powell at 9 if that happens.

Yeah another lock would be great, I think Hosea is immense but Philip & Jones leaving leaves the cupboards bare. Cummins isn't up to it I don't think. Wood could be an option, I'm also excited for Ha'angana to have more time with the senior squad.

I would love a 13 and a tight head prop. No reason the Rebels scrum always has to be weak. Pone may be that man and I hope he learns a lot at the squad. I would rather Hodge is at fullback and we get a specialist 13.

If you look at our XV it's made up 5 or 6 absolutely star players then just a whole lot of battlers. Every team needs battlers but not this many.

Orr has surprised me, I'll reserve my judgement for next season.

1. Orr
2. Uelese
3. ?
4. Hosea
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. Naisarani
9. Powell
10. Gordon
11. Koroibete
12. To'omua
13. ?
14. ?
15. Hodge/DHP
16. No idea who will be our reserve
17. Eloff - think he's coming along nicely.
18. Ainsley/Pone
19. Ha'angana
20. Hardwick/Wilkin
21. Tuttle
22. Tupou
23. Kellaway - don't know what happened to his form, expected better in the 2nd half of the season. But with Ramm, Daugunu, CFS, Vunivalu, Wright, Muirhead, Kata and Ralston there's always room for improvement.

I've sorta resigned myself to losing DHP but would be stoked if he stayed. Wilkin & Hardwick are great and try hard but I'd want at least one of my 6 or 7 in the Aus 46 squad (though the Brumbies do fine). Aus has some world class flankers and we don't have them (though I'm curious to see Wilkin after an injury free off season).

So, if we could get two or three more star players to replace those question marks then fill up the rest with battlers, I'd be happy. Search me where you find a tight head like HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), AAA or Tupou but I want one.

 

[Dctarget]

Tell the big sook Rodda that we'll make him club captain for life and laugh at all his jokes if he comes south.