Waratahs 2018

[Braveheart81]

If I was the Tahs I'd sign Simmons instead of Neville.

Maybe Neville is an option if he's keen to move back to Sydney but I wouldn't be offering more than a one year deal.

The Tahs need to sign a top shelf lock in the next couple of years when one becomes available. Certainly don't want existing contracts getting in the way of that.

 

[fatprop]

If I was the Tahs I'd sign Simmons instead of Neville.

Maybe Neville is an option if he's keen to move back to Sydney but I wouldn't be offering more than a one year deal.

The Tahs need to sign a top shelf lock in the next couple of years when one becomes available. Certainly don't want existing contracts getting in the way of that.

Neither have the direct tight workrate we actually lack, both play too loose, lack accuracy and consistent aggression. (we have a few like that already)

Simmons while being very good at lineout is neither athletic enough for the LH lock nor aggressive and accurate enough for the TH lock

 

[Braveheart81]

Neither have the direct tight workrate we actually lack, both play too loose, lack accuracy and consistent aggression. (we have a few like that already)

Simmons while being very good at lineout is neither athletic enough for the LH lock nor aggressive and accurate enough for the TH lock

Simmons instantly gives you a solid lineout and more importantly a decent scrum. He can play on the tight head side of the scrum and keep it really solid which is something the Tahs have lacked in the last few years.

For 2018 where lock looks to be a weakness for the Tahs I think he fills a hole and lets you build around that in terms of filling the requirements for the forward pack.

I think we need to compare him to the other options available either already in the team or likely to be available to sign, not against an ideal lock that isn't available to us.

 

[wamberal]

I used to have very high hopes for Neville. His story is pretty inspirational, given that he was a pretty good rower and then turned to rugby.

I have watched and waited to see him perform at the elite level, but really I have seen very little frankly. Maybe he has been good this year, I do hope so.


My opinion of him dived when he was totally invisible for 80 minutes in a Finals game for Manly against Eastwood a few years ago.

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

With Ned Hanigan getting named in the second row this Saturday, I'm pondering whether that's the long-term position for him. Sure he's short and light for it, but he's very quick off the ground in the lineouts. It also opens up the flanker spot for Dempsey.

 

[amirite]

With Ned Hanigan getting named in the second row this Saturday, I'm pondering whether that's the long-term position for him. Sure he's short and light for it, but he's very quick off the ground in the lineouts. It also opens up the flanker spot for Dempsey.

The fact is, physically there's not much separating Hanigan from Thorne or Itoje.

However, there's more to rugby that physical shape.

 

[Braveheart81]

With Ned Hanigan getting named in the second row this Saturday, I'm pondering whether that's the long-term position for him. Sure he's short and light for it, but he's very quick off the ground in the lineouts. It also opens up the flanker spot for Dempsey.

I think at Super Rugby level it's quite likely and he could certainly be very effective there. Particularly with the way the Tahs 2018 roster is looking, we have far more good backrower options than we have lock options so he may get pigeonholed in to lock.

I think 6 is his best spot at test level.

Certainly we want him to fill out a little bit and become more physical. He is quite an aggressive player so I think that will happen.

 

[I like to watch]

The fact is, physically there's not much separating Hanigan from Thorne or Itoje.

However, there's more to rugby that physical shape.

I reckon he's got a big motor, just lacking a bit of weight to be more effective,which should be an easy fix.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

If I was the Tahs I'd sign Simmons instead of Neville.

Maybe Neville is an option if he's keen to move back to Sydney but I wouldn't be offering more than a one year deal.

The Tahs need to sign a top shelf lock in the next couple of years when one becomes available. Certainly don't want existing contracts getting in the way of that.

I'm not Simmons' biggest fan but I do struggle to see how the reds are so well served that they felt they didn't need him. And if they made the correct call what does that say about the Tags recruiting - did they think Mumm would play forever?
Is there some baggage we don't know about with Simmons? Seems like a good guy.

I reckon he's got a big motor, just lacking a bit of weight to be more effective,which should be an easy fix.

One thing on which GGR can given direct and indisputably sound advice

 

[Braveheart81]

I'm not Simmons' biggest fan but I do struggle to see how the reds are so well served that they felt they didn't need him. And if they made the correct call what does that say about the Tags recruiting - did they think Mumm would play forever?
Is there some baggage we don't know about with Simmons? Seems like a good guy.

I think the timing of contracts wasn't ideal for them (in terms of Simmons) with Rodda, Tui and Douglas all committed for 2018 already.

Offering him a one year deal would have maybe made sense but that could have resulted in them missing out on one of the young guys from the under 20s that they wanted to secure.

Realistically the two under 20s guys they signed would probably cost them less in total than Simmons would for 2018 (and that is with not needing to pay him a huge amount due to his ARU top up).

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Which to be fair was a better result than I was expecting.

I.thought we only just got knocked out by England by last minute penalty as well.



Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Waratahs centre David Horwitz is set for a switch to the Rebels for the 2018 season.

 

[fatprop]

Waratahs centre David Horwitz is set for a switch to the Rebels for the 2018 season.

I thought he had a good chance to play 13 next season outside Kurtley, he still may, as we don't know if the Rebels will be around

 

[A mutterer]

I thought he had a good chance to play 13 next season outside Kurtley, he still may, as we don't know if the Rebels will be around

i thought that horwitz was sub-par in a total sub-par team performance.

a sub-sub par performance.

 

[fatprop]

i thought that horwitz was sub-par in a total sub-par team performance.

a sub-sub par performance.

They were all pretty crap this week.

He has the potential to be that solid super player that every team needs who plays at a standard that can be relied on week in, week out.

 

[AussieDominance]

I'm also pretty skeptical of Cron. If Norths hadn't won the Shute Shield, some other team would have. And it's not like the U20s played that well this year. We finished fifth (or sixth?).

Cron recruited very well for the Rays & Norths last season. Results are put into context this season when he didn't spend as much time on Norths recruitment because of other duties and the calibre of player went backwards. There is no doubt he is very well connected to recruit players of a 1st grade standard in Shute Shield.

 

[AussieDominance]

Harry Jones to 7's not sure that's been mentioned here.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

i thought that horwitz was sub-par in a total sub-par team performance.

a sub-sub par performance.

I think he is one guy I can see the improvements in his game since he was first signed.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Harry Jones to 7's not sure that's been mentioned here.

Harry Jones is well suited for the 7's game....be interesting to see how he goes...

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Neville has been fantastic in Qld Premier Rugby. Would make a team of the season for sure. Deserving of more Reds game time and would be a very good option if the Reds don't want him. I maintain he's a Wallaby in waiting. Just not sure of his age off the top of my head.

Reg have you seen many of Bonds games (genuine question not a crack)? Because I've only seen him play once at Wests a month ago and he was terrible. Reminds me of Mark Chisholm (looks like Tarzan plays like Jane). Biggest bloke on the park and he just doesnt use his size.

For a period Bond were attacking 10m from Wests line and I thought Sean Hedger was going to blow a pooffoo valve he was screaming so hard for Neville to get involved.

Still I'd prefer him to Dave McDulling