Waratahs 2021

[Blackadder]

I'd be starting fellow Junior Wallaby Donaldson at flyhalf to see what he has to offer. Harrison has had a fair go.

Ben had some decent game time tonight. Kicked very well. Very Long and strong kicks especially at penalties time.

Failed a bit to marshal the troops well, didn't run the ball much when he needed to.

Another work in progress but Harrison was the better tonight.

Happy to have him in the squad and hopefully he will get a good run soon

 

[molman]

Hanigan moving on makes sense for everyone I think. His best position is 6 but we've got plenty of competition in the backrow with Dempsey, Swinton, Harris and potentially Tafa and we need to do better at lock, particularly with Simmons leaving.

From a moneyball perspective we can't really pay him what he's worth whilst retaining the players we need to retain and recruiting the specialist locks we need.

I still feel it's a shame. He was finding a nice vein of form a year or two back but then he started having all his issues, concussion etc. Not sure he ever got to where he could be. Always felt he was a much maligned player who played with a lot of heart and the early rise to Gold didn't do him any favours in many ways. Playing some Div 2 in Japan is probably the refresh he needs. All the best to him.

A lot of the old Gibbson/Cheika crew will be gone soon. Curious to see what Penney can craft with his squad selection next year. Though to be fair I doubt the budgets will be the same as years gone by.


As for us, now we start speculating on what our lock stocks are going to look like next year. I'm not sure I'm pinning my hopes on Ryan McCauley. Great opportunity for locks in the Shute Shield, Hospital Cup etc.. to stand up.

 

[KOB1987]

^^^^ Staniforth is coming good I reckon, is he signed for next year?

 

[molman]

Ben had some decent game time tonight. Kicked very well. Very Long and strong kicks especially at penalties time.

Failed a bit to marshal the troops well, didn't run the ball much when he needed to.

Another work in progress but Harrison was the better tonight.

Happy to have him in the squad and hopefully he will get a good run soon

It's not unexpected that Donaldson is less effective at marshalling the troops or that Harrison is better at this stage. I'd be concerned if it was the other way around. The amount of opportunity is rather skewed. Donaldson needs more time in the chair to start to show his full potential, he's a very capable player. I'd love to see him keep getting some time as you are always only an injury away from him being our starter ala Brumbies with Lolesio.

 

[molman]

^^^^ Staniforth is coming good I reckon, is he signed for next year?


Staniforth goes through phases. Has had some ripper games. He needs to find that consistency that the best players have.


He's off contract next year and it hasn't been announced if he's resigned or not.



This article inferred that they would aim to keep the majority of the off contract players;


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...s-hunt-still-in-the-dark-20200728-p55gb3.html



"Rapp estimated 26 players will be confirmed as returning for 2021 and beyond - 17 in the main squad and nine in the wider training squad.

That still leaves 14 others and Rapp believes “about nine” will put pen to paper in coming weeks."

So it looks like they are expecting to lose around 5 or so players in an ideal world.

As well as Maddocks, Dempsey, Robertson and Hanigan, who have all played for the Wallabies, five-eighth Harrison and back-rower Harris are high on the priority list, according to Rapp.



Seems they were pretting keen to keep Hanigan too.


Overall I've been happy with some of the new signing announcements. Porecki and the expected Godwin I think will be good for the squad in adding some worldly older heads.


I really want to know what is going on with Tepai Moeroa. He's not even warming a bench atm.

 

[Blackadder]

I still feel it's a shame. He was finding a nice vein of form a year or two back but then he started having all his issues, concussion etc. Not sure he ever got to where he could be. Always felt he was a much maligned player who played with a lot of heart and the early rise to Gold didn't do him any favours in many ways. Playing some Div 2 in Japan is probably the refresh he needs. All the best to him.

A lot of the old Gibbson/Cheika crew will be gone soon. Curious to see what Penney can craft with his squad selection next year. Though to be fair I doubt the budgets will be the same as years gone by.


As for us, now we start speculating on what our lock stocks are going to look like next year. I'm not sure I'm pinning my hopes on Ryan McCauley. Great opportunity for locks in the Shute Shield, Hospital Cup etc.. to stand up.

That would be the trophy fans get at the end of the season

 

[Rugbynutter39]

It's not unexpected that Donaldson is less effective at marshalling the troops or that Harrison is better at this stage. I'd be concerned if it was the other way around. The amount of opportunity is rather skewed. Donaldson needs more time in the chair to start to show his full potential, he's a very capable player. I'd love to see him keep getting some time as you are always only an injury away from him being our starter ala Brumbies with Lolesio.

You could say exactly same for Kuenzle for Brumbies - give them bit of time in the chair and don’t expect
Immediate perfection

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]


Staniforth goes through phases. Has had some ripper games. He needs to find that consistency that the best players have.


He's off contract next year and it hasn't been announced if he's resigned or not.



This article inferred that they would aim to keep the majority of the off contract players;


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...s-hunt-still-in-the-dark-20200728-p55gb3.html




So it looks like they are expecting to lose around 5 or so players in an ideal world.




Seems they were pretting keen to keep Hanigan too.


Overall I've been happy with some of the new signing announcements. Porecki and the expected Godwin I think will be good for the squad in adding some worldly older heads.


I really want to know what is going on with Tepai Moeroa. He's not even warming a bench atm.

Moeroa is clearly not impressing the coaching staff. I think he's already been told to look elsewhere.

 

[molman]

You could say exactly same for Kuenzle for Brumbies - give them bit of time in the chair and don’t expect
Immediate perfection

Agree. I like Kuenzle. He has his chance with Lolesio likely out for all of SRAU.

Different player than Lolesio. A different shape to his movements being taller than Harrison/Lolesio/JOC (James O'Connor)/To'omua etc.. then you have Reesjan Pasitoa and Mack Hansen vying/developing down there. Exciting times with this future collection of 10's.

 

[molman]

Moeroa is clearly not impressing the coaching staff. I think he's already been told to look elsewhere.

Thats a given. Just curious to know what it is. Attitude, skills, fitness, other?... he's still got a year on his contract so it'll be interesting to see what he does. It was interesting they didn't send him off to Shute Shield with the others not getting any game time.

 

[Drew]

Agreed it is weird. He can’t improve any of those qualities or disprove others perception of him without playing. I was chatting to someone far more knowledgeable than I am on rugby, he said his defensive positioning wasn’t great when he got his one chance Pre-COVID. He was put at outside centre and I don’t think he would have the lateral speed, decision making skills to cope with that position at Super Rugby level. But you’re right, it is a mystery. He had a history of concussion in league, spooked perhaps? If he’s fit to play and hasn’t played since high school he should be having a run somewhere otherwise it’s $ down the toilet.

 

[rugboy]

Agreed it is weird. He can’t improve any of those qualities or disprove others perception of him without playing. I was chatting to someone far more knowledgeable than I am on rugby, he said his defensive positioning wasn’t great when he got his one chance Pre-COVID. He was put at outside centre and I don’t think he would have the lateral speed, decision making skills to cope with that position at Super Rugby level. But you’re right, it is a mystery. He had a history of concussion in league, spooked perhaps? If he’s fit to play and hasn’t played since high school he should be having a run somewhere otherwise it’s $ down the toilet.

It is really weird. He actually looked good in the A games before shutdown. He was outplaying Walton and was a handful in midfield in each of the games I watched.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Agreed it is weird. He can’t improve any of those qualities or disprove others perception of him without playing. I was chatting to someone far more knowledgeable than I am on rugby, he said his defensive positioning wasn’t great when he got his one chance Pre-COVID. He was put at outside centre and I don’t think he would have the lateral speed, decision making skills to cope with that position at Super Rugby level. But you’re right, it is a mystery. He had a history of concussion in league, spooked perhaps? If he’s fit to play and hasn’t played since high school he should be having a run somewhere otherwise it’s $ down the toilet.

In short looks a dud signing - and if way off pace at training then no point playing him - as to comments meaningless competition I don’t get that and not sure players feel that way as bragging rights to claim to be best of the oz super rugby sides this season would have thought means something as it does playing for wallaby positions. Each to their own. Also glad we have a finals series as opposed to nz where already the winner now known today.

 

[sendit]

im sure the Two Blues wouldve been stoked to have him for the remainder of the season if the tahs haven't got use for him

 

[Drew]

Maybe a dud signing, at present we wouldn’t know unless we went and hung around by the fence in Daceyville and tried to judge his body language, etc from a distance. We’d know more if he was having a run for the Two Blues and killing it or sucking at SS level

 

[molman]

It is really weird. He actually looked good in the A games before shutdown. He was outplaying Walton and was a handful in midfield in each of the games I watched.

I thought he looked 'ok' in the Waratah A games. Good into contact. Passing game and option taking looked a little rusty/off. Can't recall his defence efforts or positional play being poor, but I'd have to look at him more closely.

Maybe a dud signing, at present we wouldn’t know unless we went and hung around by the fence in Daceyville and tried to judge his body language, etc from a distance. We’d know more if he was having a run for the Two Blues and killing it or sucking at SS level

Shame no more 'A' games to see how he 'is' going. They were great to get some insight into how the other half of the squads were going.

 

[Braveheart81]

James Ramm has re-signed for two more years until the end of 2022.

Wouldn't have thought so at the start of the season but this is an important signing! What a breakout season he's had.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

James Ramm has re-signed for two more years until the end of 2022.
Wouldn't have thought so at the start of the season but this is an important signing! What a breakout season he's had.

I was certain Nick Malouf would have had a run by now and that out of the young wingers that Mark Nawaqanitawase was the one who would have stood up.

Ramm is just a footballer and I love it.

 

[RugbyReg]

Pat Tafa off to Japan? That’s pretty damn significant.

 

[Raytah]

Pat Tafa off to Japan? That’s pretty damn significant.

View attachment 11722

Big loss given the multi-year investment in his development.

Comfortable with Tahs depth at 8 between Harris, Dempsey, Holloway. No idea who is going to play in the row next year with Hanigan and Simmons moving on. Though they might have looked for Tafa to fill the tight head lock role but doesn't look likely now.