Pass it to Dunning!
Bob Loudon (25)
What's going on with Sam Wykes? We signed him but he hasn't played, and it's not like our other second row options have done anything to justify their selection. Is he injured?
Waratahs 2021
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Was injured. Looks like the A game was to give him a run.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
Bloody good point but noted post below saying injured - wykes maybe a journeyman but to me always been solid so pls yes let’s see him play as agree current second row options not set world on fire.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
To sum up where nsw pro rugby and tahs are at with personal experience...
As a sydney based rugbynuttter I support all pro rugby (tragic nrc supporter and tahs supporter) but it is more my push then any pull as a) use to go to lot of Sydney teams nrc games but felt let down by lack of nswru support for nrc till too late they realised important and go to tahs games and drag mates but gees hard when you get crap games because of poor nswru decisions (retaining last coach for too long - crap development pathways - see nrc comments etc) and amongst a very small crowd.
My point is I am rusted on whose push has been dented but definitely note continued lack of pull to get me to games which I hold nswru accountable for.
I say this with hope for change as nsw as biggest rugby state we need solid pathways to tahs and strong pro team(s) representing us. I say teams as despite irony of complaint of low current support for tahs is we need more regional based teams (ie team to represent western Sydney as well as tahs representing largely north shore and eastern suburbs) as without doubt I think part of the problem is people not identifying tahs as representing them as Sydney very region proachial in support of their footy then city based which is why league and afl been more successful tapping into this.
Biggest mistake (of many) made under Hore was rejecting privately funded western Sydney Grr team imo as failed to understand the regional supporter dynamics of Sydney football fans. They (nswru)need to resolve this.
As a sydney based rugbynuttter I support all pro rugby (tragic nrc supporter and tahs supporter) but it is more my push then any pull as a) use to go to lot of Sydney teams nrc games but felt let down by lack of nswru support for nrc till too late they realised important and go to tahs games and drag mates but gees hard when you get crap games because of poor nswru decisions (retaining last coach for too long - crap development pathways - see nrc comments etc) and amongst a very small crowd.
My point is I am rusted on whose push has been dented but definitely note continued lack of pull to get me to games which I hold nswru accountable for.
I say this with hope for change as nsw as biggest rugby state we need solid pathways to tahs and strong pro team(s) representing us. I say teams as despite irony of complaint of low current support for tahs is we need more regional based teams (ie team to represent western Sydney as well as tahs representing largely north shore and eastern suburbs) as without doubt I think part of the problem is people not identifying tahs as representing them as Sydney very region proachial in support of their footy then city based which is why league and afl been more successful tapping into this.
Biggest mistake (of many) made under Hore was rejecting privately funded western Sydney Grr team imo as failed to understand the regional supporter dynamics of Sydney football fans. They (nswru)need to resolve this.
7137
Alex Ross (28)
NSWRU finally got the model right with the NRC and the NRC dies. Too many Friends of Sydney uni in high places...
As far as getting into GRR. Not so convinced they did the wrong thing there. They said they wouldn’t be ready to do it properly and it was rushed. Sure enough the whole GRR wasn’t ready. Not to say a Western Sydney team one day isn’t a bad idea (if GRR is even a thing anymore). But when they asked for a Western Sydney proposal it wasn’t the right time.
As far as getting into GRR. Not so convinced they did the wrong thing there. They said they wouldn’t be ready to do it properly and it was rushed. Sure enough the whole GRR wasn’t ready. Not to say a Western Sydney team one day isn’t a bad idea (if GRR is even a thing anymore). But when they asked for a Western Sydney proposal it wasn’t the right time.
Bandar
Bob Loudon (25)
They had someone willing to fund it all and turned him down - he now own 2 MLR teams full of Aussie talent the Tahs could really use now.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
I respect your post but to me you don’t get many chances for private investors to invest in rugby and let alone western Sydney which has been for a long time identified as high priority for growth but lacking any strategy execution by RA and NSWRU so don’t buy the not ready as nswru financially on its knees and financially challenged so obvious hindsight is rejecting outside private investment in known opportunity area for growth failed to tap into (western Sydney) is massive fail.
No let’s be clear not taking up outside investors prepared to invest in team in western Sydney was massive miss as you don’t think twiggy would also be supporting western Sydney team to still be part of the equation as well.. of course not
Nswru has made really poor decisions over the last 8 years which is why we are where we are..
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Forget the talent. It's the millions of dollars in development that he's about to spend on building the Rugby scene and pathways in Austin and LA. Western Sydney has been utterly neglected for far too long and that kind of spend could have gone a long way.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Nah mate we don't need that here.
dru
David Wilson (68)
I'm not so sure, Derpus. There may well be a real opportunity for Australian rugby for a second Sydney team. And competition might actually get the best out of Waratahs Ltd.God knows they are not putting their best foot forward at the moment.
What is not needed is another team oh the coast, which possibly some of the SRU lobby would like. That shit between SRU and NSWRU they need to sort out themselves.
dru
David Wilson (68)
Ah. Soz.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Yes.
The money (and coaches and players it funded) moved overseas.
A real shame. The yet untapped talent in the west would be more than Tonga.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
Yeh was private investor but as grr team it would have meant if got up would be supported by twiggy (support as major power broker not money here)
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Confirmation the Derpus is a secret NSWRU double agent.
Members Section
John Thornett (49)
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Which is why they won't be the ones to ever do it.
Though, having a team based out of the region isn't necessarily the key factor in developing the overall game. The Waratahs could be well supported in theory without having to be based in the west if they actually invested in and engaged with the community beyond the odd photo op. And if they did this then I'd be fine with a theoretical 2nd Sydney based squad being based in the northern half of the city.
If they Tahs were to look to actually develop a strategy to engage with schools in the western half setting up school based 'clubs' or something similar and competitions and then set up academy hubs in and around places like Campbelltown/Camden, Liverpool, Blacktown, Penrith, Parramatta etc. then they'd see at least as much growth and interest as a team based in the region and playing out of Bankwest.
It's actually how Adam Gilchrist (who was the private investor interested in placing a GRR team in Western Sydney) orgs. are planning on doing in both LA and Austin. The ops. are based in El Segundo. They are playing out of the Coliseum but will be setting up regional hubs across the LA and surrounds to coordinate and engage with the existing and propagate not only their brand but the game within those communities.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
To me when an investor comes forward willing to invest in a western Sydney team you don’t knock it back as never too early when it is outside investor who then was lost as when turned down pursued other opportunities
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
I don’t think anyone disagrees with that but it doesn’t really answer the question.
incidentally I was talking to an ex Waratah and Wallaby last night and had a fairly lengthy discussion about the Waratahs issues overall, but with regards to the coaching specifically, the view is that Penney and Gibson before him aren’t necessarily poor coaches, it’s that they are kiwis and coaching Australian teams requires a unique coaching style, different to what NZ teams need. Before anyone asks he said that Rennie is attuned to this.