Waratahs 2012

[rugbysmartarse]

this weekend's match is a saturday afternoon game, with a fan day beforehand. It will be interesting to see how management handle this one. If I was involved it would be heavily advertised, I'd package last minute tickets for family groups, Throw in some entertainment before the game and have decent players signing autographs (god knows there are enough injured superstars to make an autograph booth interesting). My bet is they do nothing.

 

[#1 Tah]

drive a cultural and player change program.

Some Waratahs members here will remember me getting up at the forum last year and saying that the last thing the Waratahs need is a culture change. Well I am about to say it again.

When was the last time a Waratah was in trouble with the law (that of society, not rugby)? It would have been Beale with public urination. And how did the organisation respond? It surrounded Beale with a good group of friends and family and solved all of his alcohol related issues within the space of one to two months. My mail is that a breakdown is imminent in Melbourne, as he does not have that network of people surrounding him that helped make him such a success in Sydney.

So before Beale, which Waratahs player last got in trouble with the law? Bit of trivia for anyone here, cause its not in my living memory.

In today's world of Greg "Glass-my-girlfriend" Inglises and Benji "Drunk-at-maccas-at-3am" Marshalls and Cronulla group sex and even England's clusterfuck of a RWC campaign, I feel that the culture in the Waratahs - that of pride, honour, passion and work fully integrates with the IRB playing charter and the spirit of the game.

No the Waratahs don't need a culture change, they need an attitude change. Please don't get them confused.

 

[qwerty51]

what was TPN's quote?

 

[Rob]

As a long time Tahs supporter, I despair. While there are plenty of injuries - it is the way they play that bugs me. Aimless kicking, unwillingness to take on the opposition for more than a phase or two before kicking the ball away. Kicking it away when in the oppositioni 22, kicking it away when they get turnover ball -even after defending for 12 phases. The slowing down of their own ruck and maul ball to try and orchestrate a stodgy attacking move. This same approach has now spanned at least three coaches so not sure how to explain it. Their whole approach to the game is wrong IMO. Kudos to the rebels and cheetahs for showing how to play the game - two teams with arguably worse players than the Tahs but really having a go.

 

[Braveheart81]

So before Beale, which Waratahs player last got in trouble with the law? Bit of trivia for anyone here, cause its not in my living memory.

It wasn't trouble with the law, but I believe Matt Dunning and another player caused a stir in the media for having a punchup at Mad Monday several years ago.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

So before Beale, which Waratahs player last got in trouble with the law? Bit of trivia for anyone here, cause its not in my living memory.

Cam Shep jumping on cars at the Steve Carfino?

 

[Ash]

Cam Shepherd was the last starting player from my memory, arrested for public drunkeness and jumping up and down on parked cars. Although the caveat is, my memory is not fantastic these days.

But, using players not getting in trouble with the law isn't particularly the strongest argument against cultural change. (The inverse is true though - lots of players in trouble with the law is an argument for cultural change.)

I'd say that attitude is a product of the culture of the team, but it is possible to change attitude without a huge cultural shift. I've always gotten a feeling of arrogance from the Waratahs as a whole, and I thought they'd gone some of the way to remove it, but it's not wholly gone still.

Incidentally, it was Greg Bird, not Inglis, who glassed his girlfriend - just be careful to get those ones right. The Inglis story was that he gave her a black eye while trying to stop her from self-harming (I am not sure either way on the truth of that).

 

[Badger]

what was TPN's quote?

TPN's quote from the SMH website:

"I think they were just booing for the fact that we were kicking too much but I think our decision makers saw the opportunities there," he said. "So whether they boo or not we couldn't care less, because it was part of our strategy to play it down their end."

Full article: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-match-report/force-journeyman-blitzes-home-state-20120317-1vc65.html#ixzz1pWfjyhKW​

So before Beale, which Waratahs player last got in trouble with the law? Bit of trivia for anyone here, cause its not in my living memory.

Although I don't think it involved the law, does Lote Tuqiri count as his indiscretions happened while on Wallabies duty and he was originally from league?

 

[qwerty51]

The Inglis story was that he gave her a black eye while trying to stop her from self-harming (I am not sure either way on the truth of that).

Wish I was a fly on the wall in court when he tried to explain that..

 

[Ash]

Wish I was a fly on the wall in court when he tried to explain that..

Well, it was reported (reliably at the time, I thought) that his partner was suffering from depression, hence why I would rather not make a judgement without all the information. Depression is a real problem and I hope they are not using it merely as an excuse.

I can see how you might accidentally give someone a black eye under those circumstances, but not how you might accidentally glass someone.

 

[Slim 293]

Cam Shepherd was the last starting player from my memory, arrested for public drunkeness and jumping up and down on parked cars. Although the caveat is, my memory is not fantastic these days.

But, using players not getting in trouble with the law isn't particularly the strongest argument against cultural change. (The inverse is true though - lots of players in trouble with the law is an argument for cultural change.)

I'd say that attitude is a product of the culture of the team, but it is possible to change attitude without a huge cultural shift. I've always gotten a feeling of arrogance from the Waratahs as a whole, and I thought they'd gone some of the way to remove it, but it's not wholly gone still.

Incidentally, it was Greg Bird, not Inglis, who glassed his girlfriend - just be careful to get those ones right. The Inglis story was that he gave her a black eye while trying to stop her from self-harming (I am not sure either way on the truth of that).

And let's not forget Dell testing positive to cocaine use on arrival in NSW...

And what actually happened to Lote? Although that was on Wallaby duty...

 

[Braveheart81]

Well, it was reported (reliably at the time, I thought) that his partner was suffering from depression, hence why I would rather not make a judgement without all the information. Depression is a real problem and I hope they are not using it merely as an excuse.

I can see how you might accidentally give someone a black eye under those circumstances, but not how you might accidentally glass someone.

The case finished with the more serious assault charges being dropped, and Inglis agreeing that he used an open handed push on his girlfriend.

He was given a diversion order to attend counselling and no conviction was recorded.

 

[Ash]

And let's not forget Dell testing positive to cocaine use on arrival in NSW...

And what actually happened to Lote? Although that was on Wallaby duty...

Dell's cocaine positive - slipped my mind, although, strictly speaking, it wasn't the police that busted him. That positive ruined the Tahs that year - amazing the importance that a starting winger can have in a team so close to the finals.

But jeez, if you have a coke problem (or even just a passing interest) and get drug tested regularly, Sydney is the last city in Australia you'd want to move to. Coke capital of Aus.

 

[Braveheart81]

Justin Harrison would probably argue that heading to the UK to play rugby is an even worse idea.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

When was the last time a Waratah was in trouble with the law (that of society, not rugby)?

Kurtley Beale
Wycliff Palu
Lote Tuqiri
Wendell Sailor
Cameron Shepard

 

[Ash]

To be fair, Palu's was well past by his Waratahs days.

 

[Joe Mac]

Why do you complain when the guys who should be on the bench are out there playing in the first 15. The answer is plain and clear - the team is crippled with injuries and everyone is complaining about Tahs second and third best players. And there is nothing wrong with Alcock.

Nothing wrong with Alcock? Yes he has the heart but again this week he seemed incredibly ineffective.
Again this week Jenkins was one of the few guys out there on the weekend that did his job properly. Fingers crossed he keeps that starting jersey

 

[Brumbies Guy]

To be fair, Palu's was well past by his Waratahs days.

Being charged with assault, or being arrested after multiple incidents of driving without a licence?

 

[qwerty51]

The assault one, he was actually jailed for that so he wasn't playing for the Tahs.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

The assault one, he was actually jailed for that so he wasn't playing for the Tahs.

I agree, when I listed him it was the driving charges in my mind though.