Waratahs 2022

[RugbyReg]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...-as-davis-exit-confirmed-20210510-p57qee.html

Roger Davis is out of NSW Rugby, replaced by Tony Crawford.

What do people know about Crawford?

basically this:

After a 30-year career in law, Crawford is chairman of HBF Health, Heart Research Australia and is the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW.
He has served as a director and president of Northern Suburbs since 2010.

 

[Braveheart81]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...-as-davis-exit-confirmed-20210510-p57qee.html

Roger Davis is out of NSW Rugby, replaced by Tony Crawford.

What do people know about Crawford?

He's been a key part of Norths for a long time. Seems like a good rugby person to me.

 

[KOB1987]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...-as-davis-exit-confirmed-20210510-p57qee.html

Roger Davis is out of NSW Rugby, replaced by Tony Crawford.

What do people know about Crawford?

President of Norths, so it seems he is from the right postcode.

 

[Members Section]

Swinton and Hanigan are already on contract and two of our better players and both would say that their preferred position is 6.

We're already going to be playing one of them at lock for significant periods of time.

Can Hanigan play lock? 1.94 is not ideal but not much else out there

 

[Sheepie]

He has played lock for both Waratahs & Wallabies, I'm sure of it. Whether he's played lock well at these levels is a question for someone else.

 

[dru]

Why would NSWRU give their blessing for that?

If elements of the SRU were behind it (which I thought had been mooted) there is an argument for it. Either way the answer is probably no - without paying for a license.

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

He has played lock for both Waratahs & Wallabies, I'm sure of it. Whether he's played lock well at these levels is a question for someone else.

He's short for a lock but he has a great vertical leap and he's a good lineout thief. As a lock he's better than anyone else the Tahs have. Fingers crossed one of the young ones pans out as well.

 

[barbarian]

Apparently our backrow is too strong and it would have been a waste.

Better to spend our money on all these non-existent test quality Australia qualified locks and tightheads.

These things are never either/or, it's not like there's a menu of free agent players we pick from where choosing one means ignoring others.

The article doesn't mention the most critical detail - the asking price. And I'm betting as an international class player he isn't coming cheap.

So the question is then do we spend the bulk of our remaining salary cap on one player in a position where we already have depth, or look to bolster our lock/prop depth with either one big money or two-four smaller money players.

And to me I'm taking the latter option every time.

 

[fatprop]

Can Hanigan play lock? 1.94 is not ideal but not much else out there

He is the closest we see to a "Ben Mowan" type unit at 2 @ lineout time, gets up fast and accurately to catch his ball and poach the bad guys

He is likely to be budgeted to play 80 minutes most weeks between lock & 6

 

[Dctarget]

These things are never either/or, it's not like there's a menu of free agent players we pick from where choosing one means ignoring others.

The article doesn't mention the most critical detail - the asking price. And I'm betting as an international class player he isn't coming cheap.

So the question is then do we spend the bulk of our remaining salary cap on one player in a position where we already have depth, or look to bolster our lock/prop depth with either one big money or two-four smaller money players.

And to me I'm taking the latter option every time.

I actually suspect he's not on that much money. I can't imagine the Crusaders breaking the bank for anyone with their depth.

 

[Braveheart81]

Paul Doorn said the focus is on recruiting at lock and tight head prop which is exactly what everyone here is saying is the main need.

 

[Blackadder]

Waratahs taking aggressive approach into Trans-Tasman as reinforcements emerge | Latest Rugby News | RUGBY.com.au

Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco is already in Australia and at the Tahs

 

[Members Section]

Paul Doorn said the focus is on recruiting at lock and tight head prop which is exactly what everyone here is saying is the main need.

But who? Arnold maybe? who is out there?

 

[Braveheart81]

But who? Arnold maybe? who is out there?

I don't know. They don't have to be a star at all to improve things for the Tahs. If they can't find the right lock then the money can be spent elsewhere. There are lots of positions where upgrades would help.

There's also no point blowing the budget on a position of strength. Given the finances and the underspending this year there's a reasonable expectation that money saved in 2022 (by not signing Matera) could be used in 2023 if they can't find a better place to spend it in 2022.

 

[upthereds#!]

But who? Arnold maybe? who is out there?

Arnold has alreayd rumoured to have rejected the Australian offer returning after the Euro season in 2022 and opted to extend with Toulouse.

Skelton is who the Tahs really need.

 

[7137]

I actually suspect he's not on that much money. I can't imagine the Crusaders breaking the bank for anyone with their depth.

I don’t really think they have that much in the way of depth at openside currently.

 

[rugboy]

Should have a crack at bringing Nick Frost home, he was good in the final, stuck behind Neville and Swain at the Brumbies and off contract.

 

[Members Section]

Should have a crack at bringing Nick Frost home, he was good in the final, stuck behind Neville and Swain at the Brumbies and off contract.

Not a bad play, a bit cheaper that bringing blokes back from France currently on $750k usd when the cap goes down next yr

 

[hifflepiff]

Hockings would also be a great get. He's young and you could likely get him cheaper than any of the other overseas locks with the enticement of future Wallabies caps.

Between him, Williams, Douglas and potentially Frost, the Tahs could quickly get a great stable of young up and coming locks.

 

[Derpus]

Arnold has alreayd rumoured to have rejected the Australian offer returning after the Euro season in 2022 and opted to extend with Toulouse.

Skelton is who the Tahs really need.

Wayne Smith again described him as a 'non jumping lock', dismissing him as a foolish option.

I think Skelton will be happy playing in yet another final in Europe, in the form of his career and earning bank.