Waratahs 2016

[upthereds#!]

Israel Dagg is on an EPS equiv list at Crusaders. Min wage is better then no wage. Still gets full access to medical and physio etc, which to a guy like Fotu, older and injury prone is very important. I imagine he would be like Palu and probably fail a medical to gain an overseas contract.

 

[Highlander35]

Thought that Dagg's "EPS" contract was due system holdover from the NPC. Since his domestic side (Hawkes Bay) isn't technically in his Super Sides Recruitment Zone (Crusaders), he has to wait till the 2nd round of contracting, which is supposed to be used to give priority access to local players but still give players who missed out on a local contract an opportunity to gain one if another side thinks they're good enough.

 

[born-red]

Thought that Dagg's "EPS" contract was due system holdover from the NPC. Since his domestic side (Hawkes Bay) isn't technically in his Super Sides Recruitment Zone (Crusaders), he has to wait till the 2nd round of contracting, which is supposed to be used to give priority access to local players but still give players who missed out on a local contract an opportunity to gain one if another side thinks they're good enough.

Good explanation, thanks for the clarification.

 

[fatprop]

Mate,if Horwitz is the answer,you are asking the wrong question.

He is average 10 at SS level,and no standout at 12.
This is his 4th pre season with the Tahs,They have improved him in contact,but nowhere else.
Time to move on.

Lets see him with decent players around him before he is thrown on the scrap heap

 

[qwerty51]

Palu and Matt Lucas are signed on.

 

[AussieDominance]

Mate,if Horwitz is the answer,you are asking the wrong question.

He is average 10 at SS level,and no standout at 12.
This is his 4th pre season with the Tahs,They have improved him in contact,but nowhere else.
Time to move on.

I think that is a bit harsh Horwitz has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few seasons in my opinion. People forget how young he was when he was signed.

 

[Lee Grant]

Beat me to it

Don't know if a link works in this case but here is the info:

Manly duo, Wycliff Palu and Matt Lucas bolster NSW Waratahs squad confirmed for 2016



• 38-man squad confirmed for 2016, one additional fly-half to be announced
• Five NSW players elevated to core playing squad
• 23 players retained from 2015 squad
• 14 players with international Test cap experience
• 33 out of the 38 players in the 2016 squad born in NSW

The NSW Waratahs have received a timely boost with Manly duo, Wycliff Palu and Matt Lucas returning to the fold as part of the 38-man extended squad announced for the upcoming 2016 Super Rugby season.

Palu is set to add to his 121 Super Rugby caps for the Waratahs, re-signing with NSW and Australian Rugby for 2016. Last week he joined his fellow Wallaby teammates at Waratahs pre-season training for the first time since their successful 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.

The powerful number eight was due to head to Japan following the World Cup, but was unable to take up the opportunity after prolonged rehabilitation on a hamstring injury, suffered during the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup match against Uruguay, saw him miss most of the Japanese Top League season.

Dynamic halfback Matt Lucas has re-signed with the Waratahs for two seasons until the end of 2017. The brother of former Queensland Red, Ben Lucas and Australian Sevens representative, Tom Lucas, Matt first joined the Waratahs back in 2013 and has 12 Super Rugby appearances already under his belt.

Lucas has spent the last couple of years as skipper of the Manly Marlins, highlighted by a number of standout performances for the side who have remained the team to beat in the Shute Shield over the past few seasons.

Palu said he was keen to return and sees it as a second chance to finish on a high note.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity. They didn’t have to take me on, they could have picked someone else, there’s a lot of young players coming through,” Palu said.

“I’m the oldest now so that’s a bit different. We’re still doing a lot of the things we were doing before, still working hard, training hard. It’s pretty exciting with the new coaches.

“I’m not going to change in the way I approach my rugby. I’ll still go out there and be the best I can, but I also want to pass on my knowledge to the players.”

The two signings will add to an already rich list of experience in the Waratahs side for 2016. In total, 23 players have been retained from the 2015 NSW Waratahs squad.

This year’s squad features 14 players with international experience, including 13 Wallabies and former All Black, Zac Guildford.

Guildford will line up alongside the likes of former NRL speedster, Reece Robinson and superstars Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Rob Horne in the backs offering a mouth-watering variety of possible combinations for the Waratahs’ coaching staff this year.

Another fly-half is also set to be added to the team ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season.

Angus Ta'avao, with 48 Super Rugby caps under his belt, will be a welcome addition to the Waratahs heavyweight leaders including Dean Mumm, Will Skelton, Michael Hooper, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan and Dave Dennis.

Guildford, Robinson and Ta’avao, together with young Australian Sevens star, Brad Wilkin were some of the key signings for the Waratahs ahead of 2016.

In addition, top local NSW talent, Hugh Roach, Andrew Kellaway, Jack Dempsey, Jim Stewart and Ned Hanigan, have been elevated to this year's core playing squad.

In total, 33 players out of the 38 players were born in NSW, with most stand-out performers from NSW rugby development pathways, including the Shute Shield, NRC, NSW Under 20s, Australian Under 20s, NSW Schools, Australian Schoolboys and Waratahs Gen Blue development side.

The NSW Waratahs kick off their 2016 Super Rugby season on Saturday 27 February against the Queensland Reds at Allianz Stadium, where all eight of the NSW Waratahs home matches will be held in 2016. NSW Waratahs memberships are available at www.waratahs.com.au/membership

. ​

The 2016 NSW Waratahs playing squad:​

Forwards​

Benn Robinson​

Paddy Ryan​

Jeremy Tilse​

Angus Ta’avao (2015 signing)​

Matt Sandell (elevated from 2015 development squad to extended playing squad)​

Tom Robertson (extended playing squad)​

Cameron Orr (development squad)​

Tatafu Polota-Nau ​

Tolu Latu​

Hugh Roach (elevated from 2015 extended playing squad to core playing squad)​

Will Skelton ​

Dean Mumm ​

Sam Lousi​

Senio Toleafoa (supplementary squad)​

Ryan McCauley (supplementary squad)​

David Dennis ​

Jack Dempsey (elevated from 2015 supplementary squad to core playing squad)​

Michael Hooper ​

Jed Holloway ​

Wycliff Palu (newly re-signed)​

Brad Wilkin (2015 signing)​

Ned Hanigan (elevated from 2015 extended playing squad to core playing squad)​

Backs​

Nick Phipps ​

Matt Lucas (newly re-signed)​

Jake Gordon (extended playing squad)​

Bernard Foley ​

(Additional fly-half to be announced)​

Andrew Deegan (supplementary squad)​

Kurtley Beale ​

David Horwitz​

Jim Stewart (elevated from 2015 supplementary squad to core playing squad)​

Matt Carraro​

Rob Horne ​

Zac Guildford (2015 signing)​

Andrew Kellaway (elevated from 2015 extended playing squad to core playing squad)​

Reece Robinson (2015 signing)​

Henry Clunies-Ross (elevated from 2015 development squad to supplementary squad)​

Harry Jones (supplementary squad)​

Israel Folau ​

Wycliff Palu​

Born: 27/07/1982 Sydney, Australia​

Position: Number 8​

Club: Manly​

Super Rugby caps: 121​

NSW caps: 126​

Matt Lucas​

Born: 29/01/1992 Gold Coast, Australia​

Position: Scrumhalf​

Club: Manly​

Super Rugby caps: 12​

NSW caps: 13​

Hanigan in core playing squad - wow.
.

 

[Marcelo]

Palu and Matt Lucas are signed on.

Palu???

He's a former player

 

[TOCC]

Tahs probably manage to sign him under the returning player clause which allows them to make a large portion of his salary exempt from the salary cap.

 

[Dave Beat]

Matty Lucas & Palu are back.
Hope Matty gets to show his worth, clearly the best player in the Shute last year and thuroghly deserves his chance.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Interesting squad composition
22 Forwards (17 Core, 2 EPS, 2 Supplementary and 1 Development), 17 Backs (13 Core, 1 EPS, 3 Supplementary)

Lots of universal backs that can play multiple positions, rather than specialists.

 

[fatprop]

So who is the "Additional fly-half to be announced" ?

 

[TOCC]

Not surprised they are looking for another 5/8, Foley's physical and mental state post the Japan 'Flexi-contract' is still a bit of an unknown.

I would assumed they'll be leaning towards an experienced campaigner rather then another rookie, but they are few and far between this close to the start of the season.

 

[qwerty51]

Bryce Hegarty's name has been thrown around

 

[upthereds#!]

EPS players aren't paid very much, it's minimum wage as far as rugby players are concerned. EPS more of a development contract where they gain access to coaches, facilities, supplements and training gear. It would be a massive pay cut for Fotu if he were in that squad and I'd find it very surprising.

Creative accounting perhaps..

"but I can see Gibson wanting to keep a point of difference impact player in the Palu mould (Aeulua, most likely at a affordable price$)"

Well I wasn't too far off, but it's Palu who got the discount EPS spot!

 

[upthereds#!]

Wonder what will happen to Perry and Fotu now? can they fit into ANYONES squad even EPS?

also what happened to Phillips, got a BaaBaas 2nd row spot, but Senio Toleafoa got a supp contract and Phillips got nothing. I rate Senio, but a little surprising Phillips isn't supplementary, eps, development or whatever. Also Ryan McCauley, but he'll be a key figure of the u20 matches I presume.

 

[formerflanker]

I think that is a bit harsh Horwitz has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few seasons in my opinion. People forget how young he was when he was signed.

I would like to see Horwitz get introduced into games on a "build em up" strategy - off the bench, not as starting 5/8.
He has an accurate, long pass and kicks well for field position. His established combination with Kellaway could see some exciting back line attack.

 

[Lee Grant]

There is a blog on the Tahs here:

http://goo.gl/Am19YZ​

Give it a click.

If you have any comments about the blog please do it in discussion there instead of here.

Thank you.
.

 

[Micheal]

Bryce Hegarty's name has been thrown around

I don't mind it - I thought he was good at the Rebels and under-utilised. If he had better players around him he would have shone more as well.

He's signed with Norths in the SS which further hints of his move to the Tahs.

A few weeks ago I thought our squad was poor, but now I'm rather excited. 2016 may not be our best season, but it will certainly be interesting.

Edit: Bryce to the Tahs confirmed.

https://www.facebook.com/northsrugb...134029099725/1066076840072102/?type=3&theater

As this was posted on November 24 its interesting to see that it wasn't part of the announcement. Perhaps the contract hasn't been finalised?

 

[Seymour Butz]

For what it is worth the Waratahs are saying:

The 2016 extended playing squad will be announced this week, which includes two key player signings.​

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Original link:
http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs...er-NSW-Waratahs-squad-confirmed-for-2016.aspx