Wallabies 2021
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
You beat me to it, although I'll add that his general play kicking has always been crap, inevitably it's down the throat of one of the back 3 and we end up 50 metres back from where he kicked it. On his day he's a great 12, but it aint for his kicking.
And right on cue... To'omua inks a new deal with RA. Sadly Naisirani seems to be headed offshore.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...o-leave-australian-rugby-20210422-p57lko.html
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...o-leave-australian-rugby-20210422-p57lko.html
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Casually doubling his salary. Pretty grim how hard it's getting to keep hold of players.
Edit: hes 26 too, peak of his career.
Purce
Dave Cowper (27)
To'omua has definitely shanked a few kicks this season, as have all the kickers for any Oz team mind you. I think it is pertient to point out when certain aspects of a player's game are due to coaching/gameplan. I would throw To'omua's general play kicking tactics into that pile as well personally.
I think we will see a very different player at 12 in Test matches if he is selected.
I think we will see a very different player at 12 in Test matches if he is selected.
Tahtrajic
Ted Fahey (11)
I definitely agree with you that a lot of To'omua average form this year can be attributed to the way he’s been asked to play. IMO the Rebels have been the most negative all season in the way that they have played.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Isi's form dropped off a cliff once he got his Wallabies cap. Haven't seen him play anywhere near as well as he did when he was at the Brumbies.
Any money RA was giving to Isi should now be funneled Uru's way.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
Isi seen the light that on wallaby's fringe at best....never quite hit the potential we thought he might hit - injuries partly to blame but also feel turned out was not quite the 8 looking for with wallabies. Seems Rennie agreed.
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
Hosea, Bell, Paisami ..... yes. Uru lol
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Laugh all you want, but looking at the current Squad, Uru is the only selected loose forward who won't be on a top up.
Members Section
John Thornett (49)
He should have played last season, was left out then added in. Played better than anyone in the 2 ARG warm up games then put in for surgery when Rennie decided that he wanted to go with Samu/Wilson.
Ah well all seems for nothing now. Best of luck to him but we just cant afford him, have to pick & choose who we keep.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
I feel like Isi is probably the best backrower we've lost overseas in a long time excluding Fardy & McMahon, we're going to be reading about him winning entire tournaments for years to come. He'll get best player of the season etc just like Fardy and we'll always shrug and say "he was good, but never great".
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Reckon the fuck around with Rennie last year didn’t help keep him here. Best ball running backrower we have pissed away because he was under done coming back from injury and Rennie wanted to make some point about picking players based on workrate. Straight joke.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Naisarani has always struck me as the kind of person who will chase the best opportunity for himself, so I'm not surprised that he's leaving the moment a huge cash offer came his way, and although it sucks I'm not sure if there really was anything that could've been done to prevent him leaving...........
Jimmyjam
Watty Friend (18)
What many people on here tend forget is that Naisarani and other PI players come from a background of living in small island villages many of which are lucky to have electricity let alone the many luxuries we take for granted. A fair chunk of their income goes straight back to their families and pretty much feeds, clothes, houses and educates many in their extended families. Most PI guys I know here in average jobs even now send cash home to help out. We shouldn't be judging these guys too harshly for chasing the cash... most of them aren't using it to buy cocaine etc like a few of our recent players.
In a world of limited top up contracts, would you be offering Naisarani big money for next year?
Given Rennie has him down the pecking order it doesn't really make sense in my opinion to prioritise him ahead of Wilson for the number 8 role. Realistically that should be the only priority number 8 contract at the moment.
Uru may get the next one but he needs to gain Wallaby selection and show he deserves to be there first. I don't think you can focus too strongly on retaining players who haven't even played for the Wallabies yet. His star is rising and he will also know that his earning potential will increase greatly both here and abroad after he plays a few tests.
Naisarani is the classic player that we lose. Good enough to play test rugby with a number of tests under his belt but just outside the Wallaby top up contracts currently. That drops his earning potential in Australia massively but overseas he can earn top dollar because he is test quality.
Given Rennie has him down the pecking order it doesn't really make sense in my opinion to prioritise him ahead of Wilson for the number 8 role. Realistically that should be the only priority number 8 contract at the moment.
Uru may get the next one but he needs to gain Wallaby selection and show he deserves to be there first. I don't think you can focus too strongly on retaining players who haven't even played for the Wallabies yet. His star is rising and he will also know that his earning potential will increase greatly both here and abroad after he plays a few tests.
Naisarani is the classic player that we lose. Good enough to play test rugby with a number of tests under his belt but just outside the Wallaby top up contracts currently. That drops his earning potential in Australia massively but overseas he can earn top dollar because he is test quality.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
Kaitu’u and Uelese if fit. Both young and on the improve. Uelese has looked better the last two games than previously and his set piece is spot on.
I think there's a discussion to be had about bringing in PI guys, naturalising them over a number of years, then being shocked when they go offshore when offered more money.
Every circumstance is different and as you say JJ you can't begrudge the decisions they make when they have to support a large family.