2bluesfan
Nev Cottrell (35)
Well, that's something most coaches don't do...........Jesus Christ I can't believe I'm already thinking about next season.
Well, that's something most coaches don't do...........Jesus Christ I can't believe I'm already thinking about next season.
Looking at this years squad, we have a few areas of vulnerability and the most prominent of these are in the forward pack (the second row and a lack of viable, heavyweight ball-runners). With that in mind, I've been looking at what options we have to target to recruit in 2019, and I've come up with the following list.
Overseas:
Queensland Reds:
- Pat Sio should never have left Oz, how one of our Super sides didn't sign Pat up's a shame. Could/should grow into a solid 8 at an Oz squad.
- Scott Fardy/Dave Dennis/James Horwill probably all too old to press for the 23 in any squad. Fillers at best.
- Sean McMahon doubt if Sean would sign for any squad other than the Reds. Is he too similar to Dempsey for the Tahs?
- Will Skelton would have to see a lot of improvement on the training track from Will to entertain a return. Even if he has I'd prefer to look elsewhere.
- Curtis Browning see McMahon.
ACT Brumbies:
- Karmichael Hunt MMmmm. Yes, the Tahs could do with a bit of depth at 12 and 15.
- Angus Scott Young see McMahon.
- Caleb Timu Thorn's not stupid, Timu won't be available elsewhere in Oz.
Melbourne Rebels:
- Rory/Richie Arnold if either of them want permanent game time, yes, I'd take one.
- Valetini/Naisarani Naisarani was invisible last Saturday, let him keep it up in Canberra.
- Hardwick Mick, why are you so fixated on the Tahs picking up more back rowers? The Shute Shield fill-ins have performed rather well the last two years.
- RHP only if he can play 4 or 5, I'd prefer Philip.
- Jeffries ditto, but only if he's fit.
- Timani this bloke's had enough opportunities to be a first-choice Super player, does he want it enough?
The only players we need to poach/repatriate are Lukhan Tui and Jack Maddocks. Would also like to see Opeti Helu in NSW after his Mormon mission is over this year.
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I watched Helu at schoolboy level and he is a very exciting prospect. Big prop with a massive running game (think Tongan Thor) who was easily best on ground when NZ played AUS schools in 2016. Of course the Waratahs have a number of young props coming through and given he hasn't played for a couple of years he's not going to be straight into the mix but he is definitely the sort of schoolboy prodigy that we don't want to lose to league in the same way we lost Crichton, Kalyn Ponga etc.
It would require absolutely minimal effort for the Tahs to hold an open day at the start / middle / end of the season with the Shute Shields finest to walk them through professional standards, example training regimes etc.
Just a quick one, been ZERO chat, from what I can see on the Izzy situation.
There was a thread but it got nuked because the discussion went downhill at a rate of knots.
Anyone else think Damien Fitzpatrick is quietly putting together a very strong season? Has shown great hands in the lead up to a number of tries, lineout throwing is very good and seems to be doing a good job in the scrum. Could be a smokey for Wallabies squad selection.
I think the general skill level of the Waratahs has improved. Jake Gordon’s box kicking has improved, Taqele hasn’t had far so many loose carries, forwards like Fitzpatrick have improved their hands. Whether or not that’s all down to Cron is a different matter but they do seem to have improved skill wise since he took up a coaching role.Yeah was not a huge fan when he played NRC but I agree he has been top notch so far, do you think the addition of Cron to the Tahs forwards, has meant they are actually been coached and taught techniques etc?
I think the general skill level of the Waratahs has improved. Jake Gordon’s box kicking has improved, Taqele hasn’t had far so many loose carries, forwards like Fitzpatrick have improved their hands. Whether or not that’s all down to Cron is a different matter but they do seem to have improved skill wise since he took up a coaching role.
I think the general skill level of the Waratahs has improved. Jake Gordon’s box kicking has improved, Taqele hasn’t had far so many loose carries, forwards like Fitzpatrick have improved their hands. Whether or not that’s all down to Cron is a different matter but they do seem to have improved skill wise since he took up a coaching role.
I think tagele not carrying around an extra 20kg is a massive advantage, the team selection promo video still has him at 125kg, that's incorrect now right??
I also think we have some competition at a number of positions, do you think Phipps walks back into the 9 next week?
Yup. According to the law anyway. I'm sure there are non-legal interpretations that are more inclusive.
Nah, by making his opinions public he made them fair game for any and all criticism.