Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Im superstitious.
I wish you hadnt written this and I'll bet Choo Choo wishes you hadnt, too.
Waratahs 2013
- Thread starter fatprop
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Im superstitious.
I wish you hadnt written this and I'll bet Choo Choo wishes you hadnt, too.
Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
He's playing for the Waratahs, so he is one of "our own players". IMO, rugby really needs to get out of this us and them mentality, which seems to be a hangover from the amateur/rugby player upholding all the fine ideals of sport and the professional/league player representing something less pure.
Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
A sensible view, but I'm referring to those whose base position seems to be that a boof-headed leaguie could not possibly succeed at rugby because it's somehow too complex for them to understand.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Its a simple game: you just play whats in front of you
T
TOCC
Guest
No it's more to do with showing faith in your own development system... Lets say we start to contract more and more players from the NRL U20 comp, what reason does a player have to remain in the rugby union academies if the league ones are offering better opportunities..
This is all hypothetical atm, but that's why I believe rugby should continue to place greater emphasis on players developed through rugby union development streams.
Anyway, I digress...
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
He's one of "our own players" now, but he doesn't deserve more money than those players who have already worked to get to a higher level in our game that he has yet to reach.........
Especially as he doesn't fill a role that Australian rugby is desperate fill.........
Richo
John Thornett (49)
I tend to think of the Folau situation as being a bit like SBW-Lite. Sure, he'll probably jump ship soon enough, but might well add some value while he's around. I think you'd be hard-pressed to argue that SBW wasn't worth bringing over, and perhaps we'll be able to say the same about Folau. Certain athletes are just so physically gifted that it'd be crazy not to take the risk.
Tangawizi
Peter Fenwicke (45)
So we're not looking for a giant 13 that actually gets over the gain line then? I thought we'd been after one of those for about 5 years now.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
When is he going to play 13?
Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
You do both, they're not mutually exclusive. League have always developed their own, but when they've seen a rugby player who they thought would succeed, they sign him.
Quick Hands
David Wilson (68)
It is, unfortunately made more complex by some.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
Signing a Mungo who played for Australia is completely different to signing a kid from the 20's who didn't get an offer to play in the NRL IMO.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
I'm not superstitious but I'm a bit wary of tempting fate. Nevertheless Tom Carter does have an extraordinary record of durability. In five seasons I think he has missed just one game through injury, although I know he played most of one season with injuries to both groins. Considering the style of football he plays that is an impressive achievement.
He made his debut in 2008 and has since played 72 games, averaging 14.4 games per season.
Compare that to the other claimants to the 12 spot at the 'Tahs. Berrick Barnes made his Super debut with the Queensland Reds in 2006 and has played a total of 82 games, averaging 11.7 games per season.
Rob Horne played his first Super game in 2008 and has since played 47 games, averaging 9.4 games per season.
Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes to spot a weakness. So it is with the Waratahs' new attack coach, Daryl Gibson, who "wants to move Wallabies outside-centre Rob Horne to No. 12 this season."
According to Gibson: "[C]ertainly some of the skill sets he's got lends nicely to that position . . . he's quite an abrasive, robust sort of player and will give you a lot of go-forward in the middle of the park, probably what Ben Tapuai does for the Reds and Pat McCabe for the Brumbies.
"He largely reflects the style of game we want to play - a really abrasive, go-forward game. He'd be ideal there."
Well spotted, Daryl. For the past five seasons we've been looking for "an abrasive, robust sort of player [who] will give ... a lot of go-forward in the middle of the park". Fortunately the new attack coach will not need to do much tinkering with the other positions in the backline where we were really fluid last season. Steady as she goes.
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Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Bruce, I am a little concerned that some may not catch the irony in your last paragraph. Some readers thought your take on Totality Tony was genuine. Me, I still chortle every time I remember it. While Gibson is not yet in that league, I'm yet to be convinced he will add significant value. Time will tell.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
Hawko, it is at once one of the great frustrations and one of the great joys of the practice of irony that you can lay the sarcasm on with a trowel as thick as you like and some innocent soul will still take you at face value.
In my more reflective moments I sometimes ponder on the possibility that Totality Tony, having already achieved the re-invigoration of Wallabies rugby, might choose to quote my words of praise on the occasion of his appointment as evidence of his fitness and suitability for his next assignment.
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wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Exactemento. Just as the kids wanted to see Lote play. Folau has already paid for himself in free publicity, everything else he brings will be cream. And he will bring a lot, bums on seats, and a lo-o-o-o-o-t more beautiful free publicity. This is not just good for the Tahs, it is good for rugby in Australia.
T
TOCC
Guest
Lol I doubt it
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
People that don't give a shit about rugby are now interested in watching games, how is that not beneficial. The only outcry should be from other franchise fans whining how the ARU gave the Tahs a leg up.
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