Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Off contract at the end of 2025
Waratahs 2025
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
He was given a go enough I think.... Got more of a chance than his brother was which is a shame. If he goes on to play for Scotland good luck to him but I didn't even see him dominate a Club game for Easts.
Could he become something? Sure. Sadly we don't have the resources to hold everyone and hope. Especially the ones with a direct line to other countries like he does.
This, this post couldn't be more accurate. This and loaning players needs to be fully adopted.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
I think Lancaster is bit different to tuipolotu though. He is currently a better player than Reilly and has more upside than Pietsch long term. He'd lock a starting spot down.
Tuipolotu was was amongst Foketi, Perese, Walton, Wilson. He's not better than any of them currently and had two Wallabies in the starting spots. Shame that 4 of the 5 have now left which probably would have got him a clear run to a spot but so be it.....
Tuipolotu was was amongst Foketi, Perese, Walton, Wilson. He's not better than any of them currently and had two Wallabies in the starting spots. Shame that 4 of the 5 have now left which probably would have got him a clear run to a spot but so be it.....
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
This kind of thing seems to happen to the Tahs a lot. I feel like our backrow stocks were absolutely loaded only a season or two ago and now they are pretty bare.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
It's cause and effect - overload on a position and you risk loosing too many of them because you haven't been able to value any of them individually as highly as the market will. Did seem to be particularly bad under Coleman, but I don't think he had great ideas about what a super rugby level squad should look like, as compared to the lower levels he was more familiar with.
That said it's not just the tahs who are going to be facing it the next couple of years, after all the Rebels players have landed there's every chance there will be collateral damage to some of the super squads. Reds in particular have a tough course to navigate around locks.
Agent
Billy Sheehan (19)
Only 3 have left - Perese, Tuipolotu, Wilson. Foketi and Walton are still there unless I've missed something.
KiwiM
Arch Winning (36)
That's the old NZ system. I agree it worked well
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Lets hope the Reds are watching then with the way they are absorbing talent at the moment. Brumbies have been able to hold onto guys but probably helps they have been deep across front row and especially Hooker where injuries do happen throughout the year so guys inevitably get more mins than a Centre in a perfect world. Brumbies have been thinner there but not exposed with the durability of Tua, Sapsford and Len (usually)
dru
David Wilson (68)
I don't see this as a Reds issue but an RA one. RA wanted the Rebels to be supported and to off-load costs from the RA contract guarantees. I really hope that the Reds bargained for appropriate commercial recompense. While the squad is undoubtably stronger a lot of that wasn't needed, comes with issues in terms of players part way through the development cycle, and as noted a future off-loading challenge.
To be clear, the ex-Rebels are welcome, just the cost issue inherited from RA is not.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
It's a real worry for me, though I do have a fair bit of trust in the leadership at the moment, they've been making the right moves for some time and clearly aren't being to quick to jump on the guys that would completely unbalance the squad (Salakaia-Loto and Leota). I do think Salakaia-Loto still ends up in Queensland given all the rumours though, so it will need to be managed. The amount of off season rugby does help a bit in this situation too - a young player stuck behind a wallaby can still be confident they'll get 5-10 top level games a year for their development and have a shot at demanding a place, and the coaches have much more data to work with in choosing who to retain.
It's a bit less of a problem for the Brumbies as a net importer of talent - they only have so many locals to hold onto and they build there is a lot more external recruitment involved in building their squad (even if it happens at age grade). Talent exporting states like NSW and QLD can fall into the trap of trying to lock down the best guys from each age group, even if they're all 10s, or locks or whatever. That said, success has defintiely helped the Brumbies here - in development of players and on the field. There's value in staying at a place where you'll get better and you've got a real chance at being involved in the big games. tahs are probably getting burnt particularly bad now because failure has coincided with these guys coming off contract.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
I'm not saying the Reds are directly just taking everything that moves as players seem to want to be there but a by product of it might be the exodus of guys at the end of next year and some could be guys you want long term but have been jumped in the depth chart by a more senior recruit. right now. A guy like De Luttis would be high on any sides recruitment wish list I'd say and he has quite the stable of Props around him in QLD.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
I disagree, it absolutely is an issue for all of the super sides, and not just during this period. RA does have some responsibility (and they are trying to exercise via centralisation) but building out well balanced squads is 100% the domain of GMs/DoRs/Head Coaches of the super sides.
Starting to get off topic for the tahs thread at this point, but as far as the Reds go they are probably even more responsible for their own setup than either the tahs or Brumbies, given their resistance to centralisation.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Feels like Doorn has been redundant for quite some time now, it's only just being made official.
Rob42
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Brumbies have been able to hold onto guys better because they can assure players they'll be well-coached and given the best opportunities possible - even their 3rd-string hookers can get Wallabies caps. That kind of track record takes years to develop. The Reds can point to a track record of stability in coaching, even through times when Thorn was maybe not the coolest coach going around. The Tahs might - might - have put the right pieces in place now, but it will still take years for them to show any sort of stability.
And keep Whitaker???
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Whitaker is a relatively minor cog, probably the best place for maintaining continuity.
Haha.