Waratahs 2021

[Blackadder]

Are you being sarcastic Blackadder or has there been a change? because Whitaker & Gilmore were recontracted for this year I thought and Cockbain already had a contract going till 2022?

Considering Gilmore did the Dakin cooldown then yes I am being sarcastic.

 

[molman]

Considering Gilmore did the Dakin cooldown then yes I am being sarcastic.

Hey, it wouldn't have surprised me to hear of some other last minute change, back of house isn't exactly looking rosey.

 

[molman]

Something that's really standing out to me at least from the first two games for the Tahs is the utter lack of leadership on the field..

I think the loss of Gordon is going to be felt a lot more than people might have hoped with such an exodus of the old leadership group. He really wasn't the player we wanted to go down so early in the season.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I can actually see what Penney is trying to do here. And that's a complete rebuild of the squad. Essentially similar to what we saw with the Reds but probably to a greater degree. It's tough to endure as a fan. And may not work out. But that's how I see it.

Partly that but also I take it Tahs broke so not opening the cheque book - I mean spending $1m under the salary cap - it is not as if results suggests they don't need to spend the extra million!

 

[Rugbynutter39]

\

What bullshit - I didn't say that at all. The Waratahs were thumped - everyone knows that but why kick them when they are down?

I predicted pretty much what happening with Tahs when saw the release of the squad....others disagreed with me...my prediction of Tahs as wooden spoon candidates certainly firmed up and most likely best prediction at this point. Brumbies equally firming as firm favourites this season.

Easier for me to hence not been too disappointed with Tahs performance given performing to expectations and to me looking for players who will improve for seasons ahead. Tizzano looks a good long term prospect so that is one positive....other positives I will have to work a bit harder for at this stage...

 

[dru]

\

I predicted pretty much what happening with Tahs when saw the release of the squad..others disagreed with me.my prediction of Tahs as wooden spoon candidates certainly firmed up and most likely best prediction at this point.

Yep. And the argument came from usually highly regarded posters. Hard to see an off season prediction of the spoon to the Tahs as being silly now.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yep. And the argument came from usually highly regarded posters. Hard to see an off season prediction of the spoon to the Tahs as being silly now.

In fairness I think those high regarded posters were probably defending the honour of biggest rugby state as didn't want too much negativity leading into start of the rugby season which I respect...I find it hard to believe they really believed Tahs would perform much better then spoon candidates with that squad. I am also not saying that to kick the boot in as accept where tahs are which is broke and needing to rebuild which hope they do for as biggest rugby state rugby can't afford for the tahs to be perennial spoon holders for too long.

 

[7137]

Tahs are screwed and the Head Office will set Penney up to take the fall before they admit underspending on the squad was a mistake. It’s a shame because he is the coach a young group needs. But they need a few experienced players of international quality to guide them on the field.

 

[Blackadder]

Super Rugby 2021: Waratahs coach Rob Penney safe but NSWRU board to examine all options (smh.com.au)

Dorn says Penney is safe for now.

 

[Blackadder]

In the last year Wallabies Ned Hanigan, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Michael Hooper (who may return from Japan later this season), Kurtley Beale and Karmichael Hunt have all left the club.

While the Waratahs wanted to keep one or two of those players, the majority were let go, and their departures exacerbated the problems created by a mass exodus of Wallabies talent the year before, including Nick Phipps, Sekope Kepu and Bernard Foley.

So the Tahs made the decisions to let players go and decided not to replace them with some decent experience to help the kids through. Bloody stupid.

Back the kids but you need a few older heads to lead and push the kids and to teach them

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Tahs are screwed and the Head Office will set Penney up to take the fall before they admit underspending on the squad was a mistake. It’s a shame because he is the coach a young group needs. But they need a few experienced players of international quality to guide them on the field.

Underspent as broke -----

 

[Rugbynutter39]

So the Tahs made the decisions to let players go and decided not to replace them with some decent experience to help the kids through. Bloody stupid.

Back the kids but you need a few older heads to lead and push the kids and to teach them

Tend to agree - someone like Hunt may have been useful for another year to help the kids...but then again no problems getting rid of hunt if they used money paying him to get a younger quality player - they didn't....they had kyle godwin but let him go due to finance concerns..what someone like kyle godwin would do for quality and bit more experience.

Anyhow is what it is....I imagine not having home ground with stadium rebuilds really hurting the tahs as well for getting crowds which were already dwindling at a rapid rate and these results this season won't help the decline.

 

[7137]

Underspent as broke -----

I doubt the repo man is at the door. They went ultra conservative and killed any chance of actually earning any revenue to reverse the trend.
The need to buy a quality THP, Lock and backline leader. Getting a top shelf player in each of those positions will make the world of difference.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I doubt the repo man is at the door. They went ultra conservative and killed any chance of actually earning any revenue to reverse the trend.
The need to buy a quality THP, Lock and backline leader. Getting a top shelf player in each of those positions will make the world of difference.

Deliberate decision to underspend on salary cap as I understood which can only assume because finances very unhealthy otherwise as you suggest absolutely ridiculous as already tahs squad was not that strong last year and expected to be worse this year with anticipated departures etc and reneging on offer to kyle godwin etc...

Anyhow splitting hairs as we both agree if finances could afford it last thing Tahs needed to do this year was underspend on salary cap...

 

[KOB1987]

I doubt the repo man is at the door. They went ultra conservative and killed any chance of actually earning any revenue to reverse the trend.
The need to buy a quality THP, Lock and backline leader. Getting a top shelf player in each of those positions will make the world of difference.

Whilst I don’t have a lot of faith in head office, I do sense that the mil is left for this purpose. Rodda has to be target #1.

 

[Dctarget]

I think Penney should shoulder more of the blame than I initially thought. Your cattle isn't 50 points worse.

I would arguably do a straight swap between the Rebels forward pack and the 'Tahs forward pack this weekend. I rate HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) & Bell more than Eloff & Pone. Uelese is better than Horton when he's not broken. Your locks suck but so does Steve Cummins. Hosea is a big plus (though was underwhelming).

Dempsey, Swinton, Tizzano is a more acclaimed backrow than Hardwick, Wilkin & Wells.

You have talent. Something isn't clicking. I honestly think you're a wallaby or two away from a good team.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I think Penney should shoulder more of the blame than I initially thought. Your cattle isn't 50 points worse.

I would arguably do a straight swap between the Rebels forward pack and the 'Tahs forward pack this weekend. I rate HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) & Bell more than Eloff & Pone. Uelese is better than Horton when he's not broken. Your locks suck but so does Steve Cummins. Hosea is a big plus (though was underwhelming).

Dempsey, Swinton, Tizzano is a more acclaimed backrow than Hardwick, Wilkin & Wells.

You have talent. Something isn't clicking. I honestly think you're a wallaby or two away from a good team.

Probably a mix of both maybe...I would probably agree the quality still does not justify the belting they have got in first two rounds...

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Whilst I don’t have a lot of faith in head office, I do sense that the mil is left for this purpose. Rodda has to be target #1.

Yeh Rodda for sure on 2 fronts - wallaby lock (and quality locks in short supply) and secondly for his leadership capabilities.....he would be a player I would support shelling out the big bucks for - I am skeptical this is their strategy though as when was aired cutting back on salary and let go kyle godwin etc did not indicate to me this was their strategy as salary cap is per season and not like they can use money saved next season to add to salary cap...

 

[7137]

Yeh Rodda for sure on 2 fronts - wallaby lock (and quality locks in short supply) and secondly for his leadership capabilities...he would be a player I would support shelling out the big bucks for - I am skeptical this is their strategy though as when was aired cutting back on salary and let go kyle godwin etc did not indicate to me this was their strategy as salary cap is per season and not like they can use money saved next season to add to salary cap.

I rate Rodda highly and support the whatever it costs method of getting him for next year. I also think LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) will be more than Queensland can afford next year too. Bring him in also!

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I rate Rodda highly and support the whatever it costs method of getting him for next year. I also think LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) will be more than Queensland can afford next year too. Bring him in also!

Is this where we dream of a LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Rodda combo for Tahs and we get instead Caird and Wykes...hmmmm