Waratahs 2025

[Dismal Pillock]

lo, shaping up as another Waratahs Preseason Championship

 

[A mutterer]

You need a Tom Carter variant peaking in bloody July.

Let's gooooo!

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I have always thought that those who didn't have all the natural skills made some of the best coaches

Tom Carter: The unsung hero behind the Sevens’ winning machine

Tom Carter has nearly done it all as a Rugby player.

www.rugby.com.au

I have a feeling that preseason is going to suck

Seems a common thing. Many of the top NRL coaches have been former players who had to battle for every break. Robinson, Maguire toilers who barely got a go. Bellamy always an undersized Mr fixit for Canberra. In Rugby the likes of Chieka always on the fringe as a player.

Never liked TC but it was solely as an outsider looking at his personality and also being a part of those Sydney Uni sides with 20+ Super players on the books.

Tahs of current need a reset and a kick up the ass. Think he'll bring it and revel in it.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

TC has done wonders for the GOAT Nathan Lyon.

 

[fatprop]

lo, shaping up as another Waratahs Preseason Championship

I just want to see them turn up each week, with a cogent plan and work hard for each other

In the end 2025 will be about being consistent and competitive

 

[John S]

I just want to see them turn up each week, with a cogent plan and work hard for each other

In the end 2025 will be about being consistent and competitive

At least that's building on 2024 - consistent, where we consistently lost

 

[fatprop]

At least that's building on 2024 - consistent, where we consistently lost

I have no expectations of an instant turn around, I just want to able to go to games and not be embarrassed

 

[Yoda]

lo, shaping up as another Waratahs Preseason Championship

As per usual, all Tah supporters will come out of the woodwork for the first few games… and if they don’t win, call for the heads of everyone…. Definitely not fans who support through thick and thin…

 

[Crashy]

it has been tough following them Yoda. very.

 

[Yoda]

it has been tough following them Yoda. very.

Unfortunately they have been run by the old boy network and since Cheika, a bunch of dud coaches. Hope McKellar can get some comraderie and culture back there. He has some talent to work with. Let’s see him coach. Always want all Aussie teams to play well. One plus last year that their strip looked great. Hope it stays.

 

[Braveheart81]

Unfortunately they have been run by the old boy network

Wouldn't this describe just about every Super Rugby team, every club rugby team and pretty much any sporting team around?

Sport is full of people who were once participants moving on to coaching, management and administration whether professionally or on a volunteer basis.

 

[fatprop]

Unfortunately they have been run by the old boy network and since Cheika, a bunch of dud coaches. Hope McKellar can get some comraderie and culture back there. He has some talent to work with. Let’s see him coach. Always want all Aussie teams to play well. One plus last year that their strip looked great. Hope it stays.

It will all about managing expectations, the standard approach for the aus rugby media is to drive up the enthusiasm and expectations and then start trashing he coaching team, with plenty of leaks from units about losing the dressing room etc etc

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Wouldn't this describe just about every Super Rugby team, every club rugby team and pretty much any sporting team around?

Sport is full of people who were once participants moving on to coaching, management and administration whether professionally or on a volunteer basis.

When your'e winning they call it culture.

When sports bring in people with no association everyone screams and shouts that they don't get it.

As long as the people are capable and pulling in the same direction I'm a fan of it.

 

[Derpus]

Wouldn't this describe just about every Super Rugby team, every club rugby team and pretty much any sporting team around?

Sport is full of people who were once participants moving on to coaching, management and administration whether professionally or on a volunteer basis.

I think the pejorative term refers to participants who move into coaching/administration on the basis of their involvement but don't have the competence required to actually perform those roles and are generally seen as taking a role another, perhaps less 'involved', person could perform better in.

 

[Yoda]

It will all about managing expectations, the standard approach for the aus rugby media is to drive up the enthusiasm and expectations and then start trashing he coaching team, with plenty of leaks from units about losing the dressing room etc etc

I understand the drive of positivity and hope in building up the sport. I just hate the negativity band wagon when a team or players are not playing their best. The media and socials are all experts at putting the boot in. Personally I think the Tah supporters are the most fickle. Reds are solid as are the Brumby and Force supporters.

 

[Yoda]

I think the pejorative term refers to participants who move into coaching/administration on the basis of their involvement but don't have the competence required to actually perform those roles and are generally seen as taking a role another, perhaps less 'involved', person could perform better in.

Agree with that Derps 100 percent. Goes the same with commentary jobs.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I reckon what's happened, hopefully changing lately, is the only people who will accept head coaching and admin roles, for the salaries that our teams can afford to pay, are locals and club stalwarts.

We haven't been able to afford competancy or proven experience (although that often means the spiral continues)

 

[Derpus]

That said I don't really know if that is the case with the Waratahs at this point. The coaching team at least isnt old boys (and hasn't been, for the most part, in a while). Don't know much and don't really care for the back of house stuff but I thought we had a few new kiwi administrators through the last few seasons.

I think it's just been good old fashion incompetence.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think the pejorative term refers to participants who move into coaching/administration on the basis of their involvement but don't have the competence required to actually perform those roles and are generally seen as taking a role another, perhaps less 'involved', person could perform better in.

I agree but largely the perception held about the non-rugby background alternative is that they are both more skilled and potentially don't need to be paid as much. I think it's classic grass is greener sort of thinking and that alternative either doesn't exist or isn't as skilled.

I also think we significantly underrate that a key part of any senior role within Rugby Australia (or a Super Rugby side) is to be accepted by the old boy network.

Raelene Castle was probably the best credentialed CEO we've had and she was white-anted by all and sundry throughout her tenure.

Bill Pulver had a more impressive business career than most who have come to the role but was essentially a minion of the Chairperson (Clyne).

Rob Clarke and Andy Marinos were both dominated by McLennan.

I think this is a big thing going for Phil Waugh. He is accepted by that group and the Chair is a peer and former teammate of his so they are on a far more equal footing than that relationship has been in the past.

 

[Derpus]

I agree but largely the perception held about the non-rugby background alternative is that they are both more skilled and potentially don't need to be paid as much. I think it's classic grass is greener sort of thinking and that alternative either doesn't exist or isn't as skilled.

I also think we significantly underrate that a key part of any senior role within Rugby Australia (or a Super Rugby side) is to be accepted by the old boy network.

Raelene Castle was probably the best credentialed CEO we've had and she was white-anted by all and sundry throughout her tenure.

Bill Pulver had a more impressive business career than most who have come to the role but was essentially a minion of the Chairperson (Clyne).

Rob Clarke and Andy Marinos were both dominated by McLennan.

I think this is a big thing going for Phil Waugh. He is accepted by that group and the Chair is a peer and former teammate of his so they are on a far more equal footing than that relationship has been in the past.

While I suppose this is the reality I think this is what people are referring to as being a bit fucked.