Waratahs 2022

[Rebel man]

OK, a young fringe super rugby player gets a base offer to stay (all he deserved) but was offered a better contract to play pro rugby o/s

Why is this is a problem?

Good luck to the guy

The issue is with the failures of rugby here. Due to years of neglect we can only support 5 sides on less money than they can make overseas. It hurts the wallabies depth as we lose players overseas some to play for other national sides.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

The issue is with the failures of rugby here. Due to years of neglect we can only support 5 sides on less money than they can make overseas. It hurts the wallabies depth as we lose players overseas some to play for other national sides.

Pathways also - do you choose league where more opportunities and more money or union where less (domestic) opportunities and less money (domestically).

 

[fatprop]

The issue is with the failures of rugby here. Due to years of neglect we can only support 5 sides on less money than they can make overseas. It hurts the wallabies depth as we lose players overseas some to play for other national sides.

Mate, we could have 10 sides and this would still happen, and really, it was highly unlikely he was going to be a Wob any time soon - he hadn't even nailed down a ponies starting spot

 

[Rebel man]

Mate, we could have 10 sides and this would still happen, and really, it was highly unlikely he was going to be a Wob any time soon - he hadn't even nailed down a ponies starting spot

We could but if we generated enough money to have ten pro sides we would probably have enough to pay more than Irish clubs

 

[7137]

We could but if we generated enough money to have ten pro sides we would probably have enough to pay more than Irish clubs

The old “if we had more money we would have more money” trap…

 

[wamberal]

We could but if we generated enough money to have ten pro sides we would probably have enough to pay more than Irish clubs

We've got more than enough wingers IMHO.

 

[Rebel man]

We've got more than enough wingers IMHO.

We are struggling at FB, he could have been tried there.

 

[Adam84]

This really isn’t a discussion for the Tahs thread, he isn’t even from NSW

 

[Pfitzy]

We are struggling at FB, he could have been tried there.

We're struggling at 10, so the answer was Quade as well. We could say that about a lot of guys at FB, and really it's all sliding doors.

Have a look at Ireland: the starting halfback is a discarded kiwi who was barely Super quality. The 12 is another one if more talented. They've got or had Saffers in a few spots. Their MOTM in a flogging of Wales 2nd XV is an Aussie who has been on the Emerald Isle 5 minutes.

A nation that has never made the RWC Semifinals and suddenly that's the measuring stick? C'mon now, let's be reasonable.

We know that winning Wallabies = bigger profile for rugby, so that should be the goal. Maybe a bit of central control in contracting (draft system, etc) might be the way in order to help stop the drain when one franchise won't come to the table.

 

[Pfitzy]

We know also that some guys from Australia, who aren't anywhere near a Super squad, are heading over to MLR for a crack at their league. There are a few dollars in that, but also gives them a taste for pro footy to see if it's all that.

Speaking to a mate on Saturday at the Tahs trial, he said a guy he went to school with in NZ has basically toured the world playing semipro level and doing comfortably well out of it. No Lamborghinis or anything but accommodation paid for, a bit of match fee to sweeten the deal, and a job that worked around his training hours. Quite a decent life with time in Portugal, Russia, and north america.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

We're struggling at 10, so the answer was Quade as well. We could say that about a lot of guys at FB, and really it's all sliding doors.

Have a look at Ireland: the starting halfback is a discarded kiwi who was barely Super quality. The 12 is another one if more talented. They've got or had Saffers in a few spots. Their MOTM in a flogging of Wales 2nd XV is an Aussie who has been on the Emerald Isle 5 minutes.

A nation that has never made the RWC Semifinals and suddenly that's the measuring stick? C'mon now, let's be reasonable.

We know that winning Wallabies = bigger profile for rugby, so that should be the goal. Maybe a bit of central control in contracting (draft system, etc) might be the way.

Ireland have consistently ranked higher then wallabies for some years but I also not really bothered by the Hansen to Ireland and to me good on him for opportunities presented with Ireland and him grabbing it. I don’t personally get all the fuss, he wanted a change and yeh we have some ok depth in wingers. If he was proven fullbank better then banks different story but he wasn’t so NEXT

 

[Rugbynutter39]

We know also that some guys from Australia, who aren't anywhere near a Super squad, are heading over to MLR for a crack at their league. There are a few dollars in that, but also gives them a taste for pro footy to see if it's all that.

Speaking to a mate on Saturday at the Tahs trial, he said a guy he went to school with in NZ has basically toured the world playing semipro level and doing comfortably well out of it. No Lamborghinis or anything but accommodation paid for, a bit of match fee to sweeten the deal, and a job that worked around his training hours. Quite a decent life with time in Portugal, Russia, and north america.

Yeh hence I think Mlr is ok at the moment as another pathway to develop players - that changes of course if mlr grows to offer Japan or Europe like salaries and hence ability to lure them back fades.

 

[Pfitzy]

If he was proven fullbank better then banks different story but he wasn’t so NEXT

(I personally think he is a better winger than Wright because top 2 inches - that is probably where the Ponies fell down, but the ship has sailed).

EDIT:
(Ireland are remarkably good at peaking between RWC).

 

[Greenwhiteblack]

Was a decent day - Tahs conceded one try and scored about 12 of their own.

There were very few first-stringers in the Tahs' change strip, but some are putting their hands up. Many of the others were from other Premier Clubs or extended squad. A couple of Aussies 7s players I noted.

The best thing that could be said about the club sides up against them was effort. However, the fitness of a lot of those guys wouldn't see them through First Grade in many Subbies clubs, and is probably the reason they lose in the back half of games so badly.

The club v club games were entertaining tho, and it was a nice stadium, and I got a good 20 minutes watching one section of the day with Paul Doorn and having a bit of a chat about the season ahead.

#namedrop #micdrop #cya

I hate to admit it but the Shute Shield is slowly losing it's grip as the premier club comp in the country. I'd say the Hospital Cup in Brisbane is a far better comp and a more even comp, even the last placed Sunnybank beat Easts last season who were reigning Premiers. I couldn't see Parramatta knocking off anyone in the Sydney comp let alone Gordon or Uni etc.... Parramatta looked so unfit it wasnt funny....

 

[Lightblue]

Mate, we could have 10 sides and this would still happen, and really, it was highly unlikely he was going to be a Wob any time soon - he hadn't even nailed down a ponies starting spot

If he wasn’t better than Andy Muirhead, I’ll give it up.. and maybe Banks as well... Brumbies coaches obviously didn’t agree...

 

[formerflanker]

We know also that some guys from Australia, who aren't anywhere near a Super squad, are heading over to MLR for a crack at their league. There are a few dollars in that, but also gives them a taste for pro footy to see if it's all that.

Speaking to a mate on Saturday at the Tahs trial, he said a guy he went to school with in NZ has basically toured the world playing semipro level and doing comfortably well out of it. No Lamborghinis or anything but accommodation paid for, a bit of match fee to sweeten the deal, and a job that worked around his training hours. Quite a decent life with time in Portugal, Russia, and north america.

Living the dream.
I remember reading of the first Aussies to do this (names escape me) and the interest it generated.

 

[MarkJ]

If he wasn’t better than Andy Muirhead, I’ll give it up.. and maybe Banks as well... Brumbies coaches obviously didn’t agree...

On form last year he wasn’t. And he was awful under the high ball, though I assume they’ve fixed that in Ireland.

 

[Lightblue]

Disturbing to hear the Waratahs are lining up Kurtley Beale for next year.... watching him in the Wallaby jersey recently he is not so great ... makes some awful blunders for an experienced and talented player. The fact that Dave Rennie speaks so highly of him based on his sub par Wallaby performances recently is truly baffling. Hope Petaia comes through this year with some solid performances in the 15 jersey to give the Wallabies options at the back.

 

[Jimmyjam]

Disturbing to hear the Waratahs are lining up Kurtley Beale for next year.... watching him in the Wallaby jersey recently he is not so great ... makes some awful blunders for an experienced and talented player. The fact that Dave Rennie speaks so highly of him based on his sub par Wallaby performances recently is truly baffling. Hope Petaia comes through this year with some solid performances in the 15 jersey to give the Wallabies options at the back.

What's disturbing about it? Who doesn't make mistakes in a game?

Seriously, Beale is significant a step up in both talent and experience from most of the backs in the Tahs squad. He would provide a level of experience that they desperately need. Can play every backline position from 10 to 15. Why wouldn't you want him?

Perhaps, and just perhaps, Rennie could be a slightly better judge of rugby talent than you.

Rennie specifically said there are no guarantees for Beale or anyone else, but he is still backing himself to have a crack at a spot in 2023 whilst also taking a massive haircut in cash. Says a lot about the bloke in contrast to some other o/s wallabies who are just chasing the cash.

 

[TSR]

Well, it’s disturbing that efforts to bring back Beale seems to have taken their focus away from retaining Hanson.