Subbies 2023!

[Pfitzy]

Look at the bomb that Parfitt drops in the first half, all chasers are off side and don't retreat which affects the drop.

TBF he'd also dropped a couple of others so I'm not sure your point is well made.

 

[Pfitzy]

It is one hell of a feat and gives us mid carders running around Div 2-4 hope that anything is possible for the next few years, and that this competition is not just made for the winers and diners of the elite clubs.

Again, TBF, if I had two ex-Shute players as my 9 and 10 as well as an ex-Waratahs squad member playing hooker, scoring tries and kicking goals, it would probably make a difference to my First Grade's performance.

The question is how to recruit those players and give them other talent to support them adequately.

Oh and get them all to training

 

[thetraitor]

Again, TBF, if I had two ex-Shute players as my 9 and 10

And 7 and 12.

To be fair though I'm not knocking Mountains for that. Good on them for recruiting a strong side, and I'm sure all Kentwell players enjoy testing themselves against dudes of that standard, not to mention the spectators.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yeah I have no problem with the guys they have picked up.

I can think of a couple teams in the past that had players who would have been able to get a paid here or abroad at a high level.

 

[Pfitzy]

For the record: I welcome anyone from Premier Rugby - no matter the grade - who wants to play for Subbies.

The longer we keep people in the game the better, and if it helps a club build on a base of good players with talent & commitment, it should be encouraged.

The trick is then to keep that club moving forward once those players retire.

 

[Eastcoast]

Great day out at Concord yesterday - It was the best Grand Final in at least a decade.
No excuses from my side. Blue Mountains were dominant early and deserved the victory in the end. Cant fault HH though. The comeback late in the second half only falling just short. Give us another 30 seconds with a scrum 15 out against 14 men, I think we crack the line.

I do think it was one of the better officiated days as well. From 4th grade to 1st grade, I felt the referees were consistent with their calls.

Bring on 2024

 

[Eastcoast]

I watched most of the games yesterday, some enjoyable footy and congratulations to the winners. Loved the huge Mountain Men getting up and the skills of big man John Sauni. In 2nds the dirty reds will rue its lineout yips as they had enough field position to win it late if they had won their own lineout in the dying moments.

How about this, next year Subbies host a DIv 1 vs DIv 2 winners Super final. I think both Divs clubs and importantly fan bases would rally around it and you could attract a massive crowd as it elevates normal season club rivalaries to DIV vs DIV

4th grade: Lindfield vs Waverley
3rd grade: Hills vs Waverley
Colts: Newport vs Forest
2nds: Lindfield vs Colleagues
1sts: Lindfield vs Mountains - this game would be the biggest challenge as the size of the Kentwell forward packs are the difference with DIv 2

I think the lower grades from what I saw yesterday would be 50/50 games, with Kentwell the big leap in size being a factor which cannot be overcome but would still make for great viewing.

Let it rip!

Kentwell vs Barraclough.

At what time do you bring in the Mercy rule?

 

[Denistone_Dennis]

Question will be, was that one and done for that mountains 1s group given their make up?

 

[Heavyd]

Question will be, was that one and done for that mountains 1s group given their make up?

Which shield team did they come from? Two blues?
Good luck to them and hopefully other grade players consider a run at grassroots level.

 

[Heavyd]

Kentwell vs Barraclough.

At what time do you bring in the Mercy rule?

Certainly a different weight Div.

 

[The Wombat]

Which shield team did they come from? Two blues?
Good luck to them and hopefully other grade players consider a run at grassroots level.

A few are ex-southern districts.

 

[Pfitzy]

Good luck to them and hopefully other grade players consider a run at grassroots level.

A lot of Premier players don't even know Subbies exists. Everyone in Subbies - from the Board down - needs to address this knowledge gap in both existing and new players.

Everyone should be talking to their Committees about how best to get the local community engaged.

Our focus for the off-season is getting social media campaigns going and using the resources we know we have e.g. young players to bring more.

Word-of-mouth is powerful, but rugby can't keep operating on individual relationships to keep it running. We're not big enough. Robust, repeatable systems is the only way to go.

 

[Denistone_Dennis]

A lot of Premier players don't even know Subbies exists. Everyone in Subbies - from the Board down - needs to address this knowledge gap in both existing and new players.

Everyone should be talking to their Committees about how best to get the local community engaged.

Our focus for the off-season is getting social media campaigns going and using the resources we know we have e.g. young players to bring more.

Word-of-mouth is powerful, but rugby can't keep operating on individual relationships to keep it running. We're not big enough. Robust, repeatable systems is the only way to go.

Not just players but volunteers (which you know well pfitzy). Those graphs about club, team and player number attrition are horrid, I'd expect a similar trend in support staff numbers as coaches, managers and general do-ers walk away.

 

[BundyBear]

2023 POWER RANKINGS. How strong does your club look going into 2024?

1. Colleagues - Just fell short in 1sts, but every other grade went deep, including a great colts side. Finish the year in the best position IMO.
2. Drummoyne - Finals in all 6 grades. They are back.
3. Waverley - Finals in 5 Grades & won 3 premierships. Watch this space next year. They will fix their colts very quickly.
4. Hunters Hill - They are top grade heavy but getting better every year..
5. Mountains - Healthy numbers and a Kentwell premiership. But they still don't have the depth others do below them, which is why they are down the power rankings. Colts is a concern for long term strength and a few retirements away from falling hard.
6. Lindfield - 4 Premierships in Division 2 moves them right up. An unknown in 2024.
7. St Pats - The colts graduates will strengthen the mid grades (2s/3s) , but recruitment is needed heavily in 1st grade.
8. Forest - As above.
9. Mosman - 2023 was poor. Will improve quickly in 2024.
10.UNSW - The next contender for Division 1 and an improving colts program.

11. Petersham - Will enjoy the change to Division 2. Great numbers and will be back in Division 1 quickly.
12. Newport - How do you judge this crew?
13. Hills - Everything is pointing in the right direction.There lower grades and colts are strong, though a few more players needed at the right end.
14. Beecroft - Strong high grades and colts has them sitting pretty for 2024. The best rated of Division 3.
15. Epping - Handled the step up from Division 4 better than expected. Numbers are good, but colts is a concern for long term strength.
16. Briars - Here on numbers, but severe quality issues.
17. Knox - They are still a year away from Division 2, but the rebuild is on. They are better than a few Div2 clubs.
18. Valley - Ageing club and rumours of a 1st grade exodus for next year. Concern.
19. Sydney Harlequins - Good numbers and solid club. No colts will always stop progression.
20. Barker - Getting worse every year. Serious concern.

21. Sydney Irish - Premiership in 1s Div 4. Robbed of a grand final in 2s. Will need colts or a 3rds to push higher.
22. Burraneer - The big movers. Div 5 winners and they look solid for 2 grades. On the way up.
23. Merrylands - Two strong grades. Needs to look for expansion somehow.
24. Iggies - There grades won't contend in Div 4. Colts are getting weaker. Serious concern.
25. Wakehurst - Colts coming through, but forfeits late in the year are a concern. A long way from progression.
26. Redfield - Continue to slide as a club. Concern.
27. Raptors - Not convinced anything is improving long term.
28. Harbour - Yeah they won Division 3. But is this club looking to survive long term?
29. Renegades - They always show up but I am not convinced.
30. Manly Savers - Noone wanted to play this year when it was tough. I think they will compete next year on back of belief players will return if the division is lower. Concern.

31. Kings - Have stabilised with two teams. Moving up (slowly).
32. Saints - Continue to slide. Serious concern.
33. Chatswood - No colts and grade sides getting weaker. Concern.
34. Oatley - 1 team club.
35. North Cronulla - 1 team club.
36. Georges River - 1 team club.
37. Mac Uni - Regressed heavily. Would not compete in Division 5. Serious concern.
38. Blacktown - Regressed again. Concern.
39. Balmain - Continue to slide down. Have a stable 1s group.
40. Dukes - Heavy concern. Would be shocked to see them around in 2024.

 

[TheBigArvo]

2023 POWER RANKINGS. How strong does your club look going into 2024?

1. Colleagues - Just fell short in 1sts, but every other grade went deep, including a great colts side. Finish the year in the best position IMO.
2. Drummoyne - Finals in all 6 grades. They are back.
3. Waverley - Finals in 5 Grades & won 3 premierships. Watch this space next year. They will fix their colts very quickly.
4. Hunters Hill - They are top grade heavy but getting better every year..
5. Mountains - Healthy numbers and a Kentwell premiership. But they still don't have the depth others do below them, which is why they are down the power rankings. Colts is a concern for long term strength and a few retirements away from falling hard.
6. Lindfield - 4 Premierships in Division 2 moves them right up. An unknown in 2024.
7. St Pats - The colts graduates will strengthen the mid grades (2s/3s) , but recruitment is needed heavily in 1st grade.
8. Forest - As above.
9. Mosman - 2023 was poor. Will improve quickly in 2024.
10.UNSW - The next contender for Division 1 and an improving colts program.

11. Petersham - Will enjoy the change to Division 2. Great numbers and will be back in Division 1 quickly.
12. Newport - How do you judge this crew?
13. Hills - Everything is pointing in the right direction.There lower grades and colts are strong, though a few more players needed at the right end.
14. Beecroft - Strong high grades and colts has them sitting pretty for 2024. The best rated of Division 3.
15. Epping - Handled the step up from Division 4 better than expected. Numbers are good, but colts is a concern for long term strength.
16. Briars - Here on numbers, but severe quality issues.
17. Knox - They are still a year away from Division 2, but the rebuild is on. They are better than a few Div2 clubs.
18. Valley - Ageing club and rumours of a 1st grade exodus for next year. Concern.
19. Sydney Harlequins - Good numbers and solid club. No colts will always stop progression.
20. Barker - Getting worse every year. Serious concern.

21. Sydney Irish - Premiership in 1s Div 4. Robbed of a grand final in 2s. Will need colts or a 3rds to push higher.
22. Burraneer - The big movers. Div 5 winners and they look solid for 2 grades. On the way up.
23. Merrylands - Two strong grades. Needs to look for expansion somehow.
24. Iggies - There grades won't contend in Div 4. Colts are getting weaker. Serious concern.
25. Wakehurst - Colts coming through, but forfeits late in the year are a concern. A long way from progression.
26. Redfield - Continue to slide as a club. Concern.
27. Raptors - Not convinced anything is improving long term.
28. Harbour - Yeah they won Division 3. But is this club looking to survive long term?
29. Renegades - They always show up but I am not convinced.
30. Manly Savers - Noone wanted to play this year when it was tough. I think they will compete next year on back of belief players will return if the division is lower. Concern.

31. Kings - Have stabilised with two teams. Moving up (slowly).
32. Saints - Continue to slide. Serious concern.
33. Chatswood - No colts and grade sides getting weaker. Concern.
34. Oatley - 1 team club.
35. North Cronulla - 1 team club.
36. Georges River - 1 team club.
37. Mac Uni - Regressed heavily. Would not compete in Division 5. Serious concern.
38. Blacktown - Regressed again. Concern.
39. Balmain - Continue to slide down. Have a stable 1s group.
40. Dukes - Heavy concern. Would be shocked to see them around in 2024.

Some interesting choices here. Waverly at 3 after forfeiting almost a full year of colts us a huge concern going into next year. To have them above the Lindfield juggernaut is crazy.
Newport will be hoping the mid season exodus doesn’t continue, otherwise questions will need to be asked about whether they can stay in Div 2.

 

[Pfitzy]

Newport will be hoping the mid season exodus doesn’t continue

A question a lot of clubs will be asking their players, no doubt. A lot of contingency planning post-COVID to see if everyone has now popped their Euro cherry and spent the money they saved the two years previous

 

[Heavyd]

Some interesting choices here. Waverly at 3 after forfeiting almost a full year of colts us a huge concern going into next year. To have them above the Lindfield juggernaut is crazy.
Newport will be hoping the mid season exodus doesn’t continue, otherwise questions will need to be asked about whether they can stay in Div 2.

I'd hate to see what a full strength Newport will do in 2024 after winning Colts, the Joy Johnson Cup and were Barraclough grand finalists with a severely depleted travel roster in 2023. I'd suggest 2024 will be more like 2022 where the club dominated the hybrid DIv2/3 comp.

 

[Pfitzy]

Not just players but volunteers (which you know well pfitzy). Those graphs about club, team and player number attrition are horrid, I'd expect a similar trend in support staff numbers as coaches, managers and general do-ers walk away.

Yup. Would be interesting if we had Volunteer numbers registered and reported on. I suspect they'd be historically low, based on discussions I've had - even those with First Division clubs - but it would struggle to have a heartbeat in terms of ratio to players.

Particularly as we're seeing players shift from what I'd refer to as "committed" versus "casual" e.g. those who play in more than 70% of rounds (not games) per season, versus those who attend less than 30% of rounds.

 

[21mm]

I'd hate to see what a full strength Newport will do in 2024 after winning Colts, the Joy Johnson Cup and were Barraclough grand finalists with a severely depleted travel roster in 2023. I'd suggest 2024 will be more like 2022 where the club dominated the hybrid DIv2/3 comp.

Id hate to see what Manly savers will do when Superman suits up for them.

This statement and yours are the same - Hypothetical.

 

[sterlingmortlocksgloves]

I'd hate to see what a full strength Newport will do in 2024 after winning Colts, the Joy Johnson Cup and were Barraclough grand finalists with a severely depleted travel roster in 2023. I'd suggest 2024 will be more like 2022 where the club dominated the hybrid DIv2/3 comp.

Ahh yes, that was the same year Newport only won 1 premiership. Was it the travel exodus or the rumour that Newport declined going up Divisions that caused the downfall?