The Tahs

[Pfitzy]

I wouldn't necessarily do it for long periods enforcer but you have to trial it because it might be your only option at one point or another. If having Beale at FB works, I'd try Carter at crashball inside centre

 

[Biffo]

If having Beale at FB works, I'd try Carter at crashball inside centre

Then, whither Barnes?

 

[fatprop]

Nice article

Halangahu explains why he's no Rebel
JOSH RAKIC
March 14, 2010

''There were too many reasons to stay and not enough to leave.''

They're the words from re-signed Waratahs five-eighth Daniel Halangahu that should send chills down the spines of Melbourne Rebels officials, who are yet to secure a marquee Australian signing two months after being accepted in to Super rugby.

The 26-year-old playmaker joined fellow Waratah Berrick Barnes in turning down a lucrative offer from the competition's newest franchise to remain in NSW, while teammate and Wallabies prop Benn Robinson has all but agreed to terms.

''They've got a good coaching staff and good facilities at Melbourne, and while the Waratahs didn't have the kind of money that maybe the other opportunity offered, if I was going to leave for money then it's probably not the right reason to go,'' Halangahu told The Sun-Herald.

''For me, while rugby is my employment, the dollars aren't as important as enjoying my football.

''Tom Carter, who's a really good mate of mine, re-signed this week too. I used to live with Tatafu Polota-Nau, I went to school with Dean Mumm, Benn Robinson and those guys, and Phil Waugh's a really good friend - there's a lot of really good mates in the side. It would have been hard to leave.

''[Forwards coach] Michael Foley actually came and gave me a hug when he found out I'd re-signed. There's a lot of love at the Waratahs.''

Even Rebels coach Rod Macqueen has acknowledged players would be taking a great risk to leave an established franchise to to join Melbourne, making Halangahu's decision to remain in the sky blue seem even wiser.

''You talk about reasons for staying - it's taken me a while but it's like I've finally won over the coaches here,'' the Sydney University star said.

''They've actually got a fair bit of respect for my game - it didn't take until the season was lost or behind the eight ball for me to get a run. Now there's a bit of faith in me and I wanted to reward that by sticking around. Now I've got almost a full season to have a real go and hopefully produce my best football and hold on to that jersey. They were a lot keener to keep me than they were last year.

''Every year I've struggled to keep the No.10 jersey, or get it in the first place, and after the back end of last year and getting a fair bit of time this year already - and I worked so hard to get the No.10 jersey and am in a position I can keep it - it'd be pretty silly to walk away from it.''

More rewarding is that Halangahu has been able to snare the No.10 jumper from Wallabies vice-captain Barnes, although Halangahu is adamant Barnes is more than happy at inside centre.

''During the trials I played at 12 and Berrick at 10 and a few of us talked about it, but Berrick was most forthcoming in saying he'd prefer to be at 12 if he and I were playing together - that that would make better sense,'' Halangahu said.

''I think he and I have a good combination where we are sharing the workload well … I can concentrate on organising the team and guiding us around the park, and he can have the freedom to play what he sees.''

 

[Pfitzy]

Yes very good article fp - shows at least something at the Tahs is going right, even if its only the Uni mafia.

If having Beale at FB works, I'd try Carter at crashball inside centre

Then, whither Barnes?

Prithee - the bench!

 

[waratahjesus]

if your going to have a crash ball player in your line i think I2 is the better spot. move your second ball player to I3 that way, if the player gets a half break you have a playmaker running off his shoulder with a wing/fullback to link/kick for, the two playmaker thing in its current form can only last so long.

 

[the gambler]

Think it goes back to McKenzie's idea of players not having numbers on their backs. 2 playmakers is fine and the 3 of them interchange a fair bit, my only worry is the lack of pace the 10,12,13 have, especially when you throw in Anessi at 15.

That run down the sideline by Carter had the crowd around me in stitches. I reckon I could have run him down and I was the fattest slowest winger in subbies for years.

 

[AussieDominance]

My Old man was in a box with Jim L'estrange the other night and a few other NSWRU guys they said the Tahs need crowds of 20,000 - 21,000 to just break even at the SFS

 

[Pfitzy]

Yep - and they need to start getting it now because 1 home game is already gone and they've got 4K shortfall to make up.

That said, the broadcaster started to give Saturday night home games to other sides because the Waratahs had a dream run for a while there with prime time.

 

[waratahjesus]

selling the brumbies game to homebush actually makes the home crowds a little easier, homebush pays in advance for an agreed gate number so it puts some money in the bank. that said would still prefer a full house sfs for it.

 

[spectator]

if your going to have a crash ball player in your line i think I2 is the better spot. move your second ball player to I3 that way, if the player gets a half break you have a playmaker running off his shoulder with a wing/fullback to link/kick for, the two playmaker thing in its current form can only last so long.

Spot on for mine WJ. If a crashballer is required then 12 is definitely the spot, ala Nathan Grey.

 

[cyclopath]

if your going to have a crash ball player in your line i think I2 is the better spot. move your second ball player to I3 that way, if the player gets a half break you have a playmaker running off his shoulder with a wing/fullback to link/kick for, the two playmaker thing in its current form can only last so long.

Spot on for mine WJ. If a crashballer is required then 12 is definitely the spot, ala Nathan Grey.

Perfect crash baller - tough, bonkers, high pain threshold and tackled like a fiend. Like Tom Carter on speed and steroids.

 

[Blue]

if your going to have a crash ball player in your line i think I2 is the better spot. move your second ball player to I3 that way, if the player gets a half break you have a playmaker running off his shoulder with a wing/fullback to link/kick for, the two playmaker thing in its current form can only last so long.

Spot on for mine WJ. If a crashballer is required then 12 is definitely the spot, ala Nathan Grey.

Perfect crash baller - tough, bonkers, high pain threshold and tackled like a fiend. Like Tom Carter on speed and steroids.

In other words, two Tom Carters?

 

[Biffo]

Many more than 2.0, Blue.

 

[cyclopath]

And most importantly without the Monkey Magic celebration after try scoring.

 

[Langthorne]

In other words, two Tom Carters?

'The Carter Scale' returns. Maybe not the best choice as Anesi isn't even a 1 on the Carter Scale in my book.

I read somewhere (rugbyheaven?) that the super coach warns that the game against the Force doesn't offer the same opportunity to play like they did against the Lions. I wonder what that means? We'll soon see I guess.

 

[cyclopath]

Anesi is definitely way less than a Carter.
Problem with using Anesi as a scale of measurement is that he does nothing. A player worth 3 Anesis is still, mathematically worth nothing.

 

[mark_s]

Carter's form this year has been good and that has changed the whole carter scale, I guess thats inflation for you. He still has limitations in his game which will prevent him from being a 1st choice Rollaby, same goes for Burgess IMO. Anesi would be lucky to be 0.5 Carters this year.

 

[cyclopath]

In other words, two Tom Carters?

'The Carter Scale' returns. Maybe not the best choice as Anesi isn't even a 1 on the Carter Scale in my book.

I read somewhere (rugbyheaven?) that the super coach warns that the game against the Force doesn't offer the same opportunity to play like they did against the Lions. I wonder what that means? We'll soon see I guess.

84 kicks in general play, lots of scrum resets would be two of my guesses.

 

[rsea]

Anesi is definitely way less than a Carter.
Problem with using Anesi as a scale of measurement is that he does nothing. A player worth 3 Anesis is still, mathematically worth nothing.

You're being pretty harsh. Granted the guy hasn't set the comp on fire, but he's been solid enough back there. Already this year we've seen shockers from Mitchell and Beale covering the back area and it wasn't so long ago I'd cringe every time SNK got near the pill.

 

[Lindommer]

...Carter at crashball inside centre

The trouble is, Nick, the bastard just will NOT pass the pill. He's incapable of setting up any outside players with a deft pass or adroit positioning to give them a run through a gap. Remember the overlap Barnes gave him against the Sharks when he kindly pointed out to them whom he was going to pass to so's they could line up their defence? And he's too bloody slow to go on with it when he gets a break; witness his burst 15m from the goal line last Saturday when he was run down from behind. Have you forgotten last year when his horrendous hogging habit cost the Tahs a spot in the semis? One more try would've got us there. But no, Tarzan's Grip Tom wanted to prove he could get that 2.5m up field and not lose the pill. And he showed us time and time again, while the two LT speedsters were screaming out for the ball to be sent wide.

A good club player. No, a VERY good club player. But he has neither the wit nor the imagination to succeed at Super level.