Wasn't there rumblings that Roach has links to the Force?
Waratahs pounce
Sydney club rugby types will be justifiably buoyed to hear that another club player is about to be snapped up by the Waratahs. West Harbour winger Alofa Alofa is poised to join NSW on a rookie contract next year. The 22-year-old played a season with the fifth-placed Shute Shield team before being invited to tour Argentina with the NSW Barbarians side, drawn from the Waratahs, in July. Coach Michael Cheika was impressed enough that he plans to offer the Auckland-born wing-centre a place on his 2014 roster when the window opens on extended playing squad signings next week.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/feathers-fly-over-controversial-plan-to-strip-sydney-clubs-of-best-players-20130912-2tnmo.html#ixzz2ejODcn2x
Here is where I think the current squad stands. If anyone has any corrections, please let me know.
Props: Robinson, Kepu, Ryan, Tilse (has Tilse been confirmed?)
Hookers: TPN
Locks: Douglas, Skelton
Backrow: Palu, Dennis, McCutcheon, Potgeiter, Hooper, Grey, Holloway
Halfbacks: Phipps, McKibbin, Lucas
Five Eighths: Foley, Beale
Centres: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horne, Hodge, Cararro, Lance
Wings/Fullback: Crawford, Betham, Folau
TBC: Luke Holmes, Ben Volavola.
Assuming that the two I've got as TBC are staying then that is 29 players.
Is Mitchell Chapman definitely leaving?
Seems like Cheika is a fan of Alofa Alofa. I think he would be a good signing, good attacking option to have out wide.
As long as he is hard working and not a loafer.
(yeah I know, it stinks eh?)
I would sign.....Adam Coleman.....
Nothing announced yet but the word is he is on his way west. will have to wait and see.Aren't we too late? Hasn't Adam gone to the Force?
Oh yeah, that's right.
The Force has also had a fair bit to do with Ben Matwijow from Norths (he also played the game against the Lions).
I would have thought they'd be keen to sign him.
They have Cory Walton in their stable as well. Gave Corey Brown a start against the Lions. Norths are becoming the Force's NSW feeder team from the looks of it.
Hopefully Chapman is staying. He is one our better lineout forwards and I think he will be a valuable member of the squad again.
I wouldnt waste my time with Volavola or Holmes. Holmes has proven he isnt up to scratch and is a cause for concern, so doesnt fit the bill of a replacement. Volavola isnt worth hanging on to, i just dont think he is up to the mark at this level, and will take up bench time as an outside back. In their place id have 2 young guns. The Aus schools hooker from last year was half decent, the manly hooker goes hard too. Backs wise, i would throw all forms of money at Horwitz. Oustide of them it gets tricky.
... stats from the Lions series show McKenzie’s workrate reasoning holds its ground as poorly as a prop with a six-pack.
In each of the three Tests, Robinson averaged the most runs all Australian props (6 per game), the most run metres (19.3), double the tackles as his Aussie prop peers (8.7 a game) and almost a third more minutes game than them as well.
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