Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Not a fully contracted player obviously. Correct? And your source - or is it personal, in which case you need not answer.
The Wider Training Group, previously described as the Professional Academy, would be my guess.
Waratahs 2012
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Not a fully contracted player obviously. Correct? And your source - or is it personal, in which case you need not answer.
The Wider Training Group, previously described as the Professional Academy, would be my guess.
R
rugby_man
Guest
My source is from Taumoepeau himself. I didn't ask about the status and conditions of the contract, only that he is joining the Waratahs for the upcoming season.
Lee, I thought that there is no more "Wider Training Group" and only a limit of 5 players who can be used only when injuries strike the 30 man squad, of which all have to be rookies. That was my understanding anyway.
R
rugby_man
Guest
How do you rate Damon Anderson? I've seen enough of him to think he can make the step up to Super Rugby in the future. He is very strong and has good leg drive in contact. I'm interested to see which players you think will have have a break out year for Easts next year. Dion Taumata is certainly one.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
rugby man
Nobody knows the answer to your question as you will see reading the rest of this:
The squad?
Let us assume that the 29 on the Tahs site (in September - not bad) are all fully contracted players. Let us assume also that the Daily Telegraph was correct last March when if said that a new salary cap must be spread between 30 members of a "core playing squad" and five players on rookie contracts.
Thus one more fully contracted player may be signed up and 5 rookies - and it will be up to the 5 squads to decide how they will spread the salary cap amount out.
Of course that info was from "a document seen by The Daily Telegraph". That would have to be Gospel, would it not?
One question remains: may Super outfits pay additional players in a wider training group. One assumes they can, but that there would be constraints about using these folks unless injuries impacted on the 35 others. It's a serious question because some of those rookie players would not be the hard-heads that may be needed if a couple of injuries are suffered in their position.
Also can the salary cap be exceeded if injuries occur and players outside the 35 have to be used?
I note that Timani is not named; which means he can't play for the Tahs unless they are keeping the 30th spot open for him, whether of not he is going to Japan - or they have injuries.
3 hookers including Ulugia and 4 props with Ulugia able to play LHP - well covered. Maybe LHPs Sam Talaki and Scott Sio are too young to get a rookie contract - but you never know.
2nd row - well covered, on paper, but a short hard head like Ed Gower would be handy as a rookie if Timani isn't coming back.
Backrow - Dennis will be in the 6/8 mix with Palu and Elsom. Perret probably wouldn't be eligible for a rookie contract any more. Ale of Manly or Hickey of Uni could be 7 rookies. Most of the big bopper 8s are already in a stable or gone offshore, but Lopeti Timani who was in the pro academy last year would be my pick as a rookie 8.
Scrumhalf rookies: Need a 3rd scrummie as a rookie. Grayson Hart couldn't be counted as one because he has played for the Blues already. Most of the good ones in Sydney have been nabbed already, but Matt Schwager of Uni is a thought.
Flyhalf rookies: 3 there so a rookie is probably not needed and Saifaloi and Taumata won't be too far away. [Seymour has been nabbed.]
Centres: Well covered and Zipper is probably in the Wider Training Group as mentioned in another post, but can't get a rookie contract.
Back 3. Need one more full contract and have mentioned Batger, Berryman and S. Foley before. Anderson, Woodhouse or BJ Hartman for a rookie contract. A wildcard would be Oz 7s player Angus Hamilton who can play 15, 10 or wing.
PS - There's more than 5 rookies mentioned there - just thinking out aloud - so to speak.
.
Nobody knows the answer to your question as you will see reading the rest of this:
The squad?
Let us assume that the 29 on the Tahs site (in September - not bad) are all fully contracted players. Let us assume also that the Daily Telegraph was correct last March when if said that a new salary cap must be spread between 30 members of a "core playing squad" and five players on rookie contracts.
Thus one more fully contracted player may be signed up and 5 rookies - and it will be up to the 5 squads to decide how they will spread the salary cap amount out.
Of course that info was from "a document seen by The Daily Telegraph". That would have to be Gospel, would it not?
One question remains: may Super outfits pay additional players in a wider training group. One assumes they can, but that there would be constraints about using these folks unless injuries impacted on the 35 others. It's a serious question because some of those rookie players would not be the hard-heads that may be needed if a couple of injuries are suffered in their position.
Also can the salary cap be exceeded if injuries occur and players outside the 35 have to be used?
I note that Timani is not named; which means he can't play for the Tahs unless they are keeping the 30th spot open for him, whether of not he is going to Japan - or they have injuries.
3 hookers including Ulugia and 4 props with Ulugia able to play LHP - well covered. Maybe LHPs Sam Talaki and Scott Sio are too young to get a rookie contract - but you never know.
2nd row - well covered, on paper, but a short hard head like Ed Gower would be handy as a rookie if Timani isn't coming back.
Backrow - Dennis will be in the 6/8 mix with Palu and Elsom. Perret probably wouldn't be eligible for a rookie contract any more. Ale of Manly or Hickey of Uni could be 7 rookies. Most of the big bopper 8s are already in a stable or gone offshore, but Lopeti Timani who was in the pro academy last year would be my pick as a rookie 8.
Scrumhalf rookies: Need a 3rd scrummie as a rookie. Grayson Hart couldn't be counted as one because he has played for the Blues already. Most of the good ones in Sydney have been nabbed already, but Matt Schwager of Uni is a thought.
Flyhalf rookies: 3 there so a rookie is probably not needed and Saifaloi and Taumata won't be too far away. [Seymour has been nabbed.]
Centres: Well covered and Zipper is probably in the Wider Training Group as mentioned in another post, but can't get a rookie contract.
Back 3. Need one more full contract and have mentioned Batger, Berryman and S. Foley before. Anderson, Woodhouse or BJ Hartman for a rookie contract. A wildcard would be Oz 7s player Angus Hamilton who can play 15, 10 or wing.
PS - There's more than 5 rookies mentioned there - just thinking out aloud - so to speak.
.
inthestands
Sydney Middleton (9)
Isn't he about to go under the knife? Would be an interesting move if that's the case...
He looks like he has pretty good skills and certainly has the pace. I think he needs a couple of offseasons in the gym to get some size and strength to him. He looks like he'd be struggling to hit 80kg at the moment.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
And they've got John Grant too? Boo.
Well you can't blame the lads if they were ignored by union. I reckon if these guys had played in an ARC last year then their worth would have been recognised more fully and they could have stayed in our sport.
I thought that Berryman, who had been in the Force stable, was one of the most dangerous backs in the Shute Shield and could have got a rookie gig somewhere. Grant had always been limited, but I thought he became a much better footie player for Eastwood in 2011 and was ready to go.
Well , I guess he is going.
As a Wests Tigers fan, I'm pretty happy that John Grant has made the move to league.
I hadn't heard anything about Dion Berryman.
I hadn't heard anything about Dion Berryman.
Eyes and Ears
Bob Davidson (42)
I thought I saw on one of the other forums that Taumata has signed with a League team.
The NRL player Arana Taumata has been in the news recently after he forged a prescription.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Hopefully that is the other Taumata and not Dion. He was the 2nd string Oz Schools flyhalf last year and got into 1st grade in 2011 and held his place. He was the Oz U/19 flyhalf in a game recently too.
That's a good wrap for a school leaver without saying he's setting the world on fire. We can't afford to lose players like him.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Alas, we are left wondering what if.
DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
^ Can you make all future posts in rhyming couplets please LG?
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
OK, OK - so I'm a bit like the Ancient Mariner telling my tale with a glittering eye. I get it.
Thanks for the explanation LG, I was completely mystified. Studied the poem in senior HS so I should have been able to figure it out but I was always hopeless at cryptic crosswords.
R
rugby_man
Guest
Lee, I thought Angus Hamilton was a lock from WA. I've been told Grayson Hart is training with the Waratahs but I'm not sure if he is officially signed or is just on a training basis. I'll try and find out more info. If a rookie flyhalf is needed, look no further than Ben Volavola, Rohan Saifoloi or Toby Browne. These 3 are probably the pick of the young guns for mine.
The Tahs should fill their rookie list with number 7s so the local talent like Colby Fainga'a and Michael Hooper don't end up playing for other teams. Also, Colby was clearly bred closer to Canberra than to Sydney, but he's still from NSW!
R
rugby_man
Guest
I've been really impressed with Kotoni Ale. He is a very big boy and is always a nuisance at the breakdown. David Hickey is another who is as tough as nails. He should definitely be considered for a rookie spot if they are looking for a rookie 7.
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