Waratahs 2025

[Froggy]

Some of it is timing. For example, Gill and McMahon left because they were behind Hooper and Pocock, both of whom were really generational talents. Others, like Skelton, hadn't really matured into the players they became later, and saw opportunities overseas because other players were being preferred.
As this is a Tahs thread, while they are significant losses to the Tahs, none of Hanigan, Swinton, Harrison, Perese or Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) were realistic chances of being in the Wallabies first 23 this year. I think Hanigan and Swinton are significant losses, but both will be 29 next year, a rugby career has a fairly limited life-span and you can't really blame them for grabbing the money. Harrison is disappointing, while he hasn't set the world on fire this year, I think that's pretty understandable for someone who has had effectively two years out through injury, and at only 24 still had time to grow into a top line player, and perhaps even a Wallaby.
Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) and Perese are both very one dimensional players, both very strong runners with the ball in hand, but very suspect in defence, both have a tendency to lose the ball in contact, and both are dreadful decision makers. From what I've seen of Sua'ali'i, he will be Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) with the addition of the ability to tackle!

 

[Marce]

I bring hope for the next season:

 

[eastman]

i think the complete opposite.

Too often we hear that these guys have gone OS and are suddenly killing it. Then they come back and they aren’t particularly better they left. There are exceptions but there aren’t many.

I think much of it has to do with the systems/ teams that these players end up in.

Does anyone seriously think that Mack Hansen is one of the top wingers in the world and would make a material difference to the Wallabies?

 

[Marce]

I think much of it has to do with the systems/ teams that these players end up in.

Does anyone seriously think that Mack Hansen is one of the top wingers in the world and would make a material difference to the Wallabies?

He doesn't but I'd take Bundee Aki everyday of my life

 

[RugbyReg]

He doesn't but I'd take Bundee Aki everyday of my life

Keep it clean….

 

[Marce]

Keep it clean….

If you are a moderator is easy to bully a foreign user. It's like the NRL bullying Rugby Australia, easy peasy lemon squeezy

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

i think the complete opposite.

Too often we hear that these guys have gone OS and are suddenly killing it. Then they come back and they aren’t particularly better they left. There are exceptions but there aren’t many.

It becomes a bit romanticized. The injured player coming back does the same thing. Or the belief of Kearns just plugging away as a reserve grade battler.

Players like Arnold and Second Rowers in general are always in high demand world wide even at the top sides. Can accumulate wins and trophies by being pieces and not the star. Then they come back and when the performance is just at the actual level they are we get the shits.

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

Too often the reason these players really shine overseas is because the competition isn't as good. The best French players are split into 14 different teams. The best NZ players are split into five different teams. Is it any wonder why these expats look so good?

 

[Dctarget]

Too often the reason these players really shine overseas is because the competition isn't as good. The best French players are split into 14 different teams. The best NZ players are split into five different teams. Is it any wonder why these expats look so good?

Yeah once again this is a bit out of date. France now draws a lot of the best players from Argentina, England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. You now have Joe Marchant, Owen Farrell, Jack Willis, Skelton, Petti, Dan Biggar, Ben White, Fainga'anuku, Sowakula, Kremer, Delguy, Kolisi, Henry Arrundell plying their trade.

They're all walk up starters to their national teams and they're now supplementing the Top 14. Not to speak of the massive legion of players the next level down like Alo-Emile, Simone, Goodhue etc.

Things have changed and are still changing.

 

[Yoda]

I bring hope for the next season:

If you think he is going to save the Tahs….you need to see a therapist!

 

[Italophile]

Others, like Skelton, hadn't really matured into the players they became later,

Skelton in Australia was massively overweight, a lumbering behemoth, almost too big to squeeze into a scrum. Lack of self discipline? Poor player management? Probably both. Sarries knocked 10-15kgs off him and revealed the potential. The rest is history.

 

[Highlander35]

After his debut season Skelton basically started whenever fit for the Tahs and got plenty of runs out for the Wobs. When he arrived at Sarries, he wasn't guaranteed a place in the 23 outside of the international or rest weeks when Itoje/Kruis were unavailable: instead competing with the likes of Dominic Day for the 19 jersey.

That's a big change in pecking order, you've got a lot of growing up to do when that happens.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Skelton in Australia was massively overweight, a lumbering behemoth, almost too big to squeeze into a scrum. Lack of self discipline? Poor player management? Probably both. Sarries knocked 10-15kgs off him and revealed the potential. The rest is history.

Moved away from mum's cooking and KFC on the drive home

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

It becomes a bit romanticized. The injured player coming back does the same thing. Or the belief of Kearns just plugging away as a reserve grade battler.

Yeah and people on these forums (including the journos who then write articles) try to pull the name of someone obscure so they sounds like they know what they are talking about. It then becomes an echo chamber without anyone actually spending the time to watch their form.

 

[Marce]

If you think he is going to save the Tahs….you need to see a therapist!

Obviously you didn't read my opinion about Sua'ali'i-gate. I was against to spend the benefactor's money on him

 

[Marce]

Skelton in Australia was massively overweight, a lumbering behemoth, almost too big to squeeze into a scrum. Lack of self discipline? Poor player management? Probably both. Sarries knocked 10-15kgs off him and revealed the potential. The rest is history.

It's different when you live alone overseas in a country you don't know. Despite that he was useful for the 2014 championship

 

[HarryElite]

Where have they said that?

Rugby Australia statement regarding Melbourne Rebels

Rugby Australia (RA) advises that the application from a Consortium seeking a Participation Agreement for the Melbourne Rebels to participate in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition has been unsuccessful.

www.rugby.com.au

 

[fatprop]

For all the bitching on talent identification i thought this was interesting

World Class Gym Growth Accelerator on Instagram: "If you had the opportunity to meet with the GREATEST NRL Coach for business advice but you had to pay $10k for 30 minutes, would you do it? Mark Capelin, owner of @tribesocialfitness did and it’s on

thegeronimoacademy on May 23, 2024: "If you had the opportunity to meet with the GREATEST NRL Coach for business advice but you had to pay $10k for 30 minutes, would you do it? Mark Capelin, owner of @tribesocialfitness did and it’s one of the MANY things that sets him apart and makes him far...

www.instagram.com

 

[rugbyAU]

the roar reporting Tupou will join the tahs next year

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He better look at some income insurance