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Waratahs 2025

Rugby Survivor

Rugby Survivor

Ted Fahey (11)
Houston has dominated Club Rugby for a few years now. Deserves his chance and a bigger body after his pre-season with the Tigers last year.
Best THP in the Shute Shield is Tristan Fuli from Gordon. Needs to get fit but no doubt the best scrummager in the competition.
 
The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
Makes you think. What's around and above a player makes a hell of a difference.

Not saying he'll be starting for the Wallabies v the Lions but he didnt forget to play Rugby this season or learn to play in the last three months.
 
Hogan

Hogan

Herbert Moran (7)
The Waratahs have a history of stifling the ability and potential of up and coming 10s…Mason, Harrison, Donaldson and Edmed but to name a few. Let’s hope the trend doesn’t continue.
 
Jimmy_Crouch

Jimmy_Crouch

Peter Johnson (47)
Which of those did they genuinely stifle? Edmed still developing. Harrison was out injured for 2 years and signed overseas and Donaldson was moved on due to the quality of the other two and Bowen. All these of those players are still developing. Mack Mason straight up wasn't good enough to begin with. He was signed after the Storm and the Reds let him go. Wasn't a star in the Shute Shield for Easts. Sometime players cant develop because they are already maxed out.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Hogan said:
Mason, Harrison, Donaldson and Edmed
Click to expand...

sorry, but none of those, to me, have looked anything more than medium Super Rugby standard, Harrison is the only unit who looked a possibility of doing something and he has been made of glass

"if" "The Waratahs have a history of stifling the ability and potential of up and coming 10s" it is more about getting a functioning set of pigs who would provide a platform
 
KOB1987

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
I'd be interested to hear from a 'clubbie' who has also played super rugby if there is one here as to the step up required to go to the next level. I have heard it's all about the speed of the game, especially when going up to test level, and not so much the physicality. At the end of the day we don't have anything in between so we have to accept that our pro players can only go to club level to play other than super, so if there are enough of them the quality should translate to the tier down, right? The leaguies say the say the same thing re speed when stepping up to origin, and then how the international game is a step down because all of the competiton are comparatively shite.
 
Strewthcobber

Strewthcobber

Simon Poidevin (60)
There is quantitative research done on this, using gps trackers etc.

Distance run and events in each game (number of rucks etc) is relatively the same at semi-pro club, pro level and international level.

What changes is the speeds and forces get higher, and the top speeds and highest forces are higher for longer
 
The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
Hogan said:
The Waratahs have a history of stifling the ability and potential of up and coming 10’s…Mason, Harrison, Donaldson and Edmed but to name a few. Let’s hope the trend doesn’t continue.
Click to expand...
I can see how it it can easily be described like that but Mason wasn't at the level required, Harrison always hurt and the other two may be beneficiaries of a weak play-making group nationally of really elite talent that makes us think the Tahs are the ones blowing it. The fact Tom Lynagh at this stage of his career is a Wallaby shows us that.

Can also show a guy like Foley who came through the system and debuted as a Fullback right? Was then developed into a 10 that almost won a WC for Aus and is probably the most reliable 10 of the last decade. I think we will see more fall off the cliff but I do think its player ability as much as coaching.

Strewthcobber said:
There is quantitative research done on this, using gps trackers etc.

Distance run and events in each game (number of rucks etc) is relatively the same at semi-pro club, pro level and international level.

What changes is the speeds and forces get higher, and the top speeds and highest forces are higher for longer
Click to expand...
The amount of repeated effort at those speeds and force is the difference. It's the difference amongst the pro teams as well. How many times have we seen the Wallabies hang in there with NZ for 25 mins each half then get blitzed in the last 15 when they can't maintain.

There is also whats between the ears. You can see some great 1st graders who still get by off being an athletic freak. Equals out when you go up a level and it's how you control an opponent over purely dominating one.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
One of the best descriptions of becoming a pro player was from James Haskell, he suggested one of the key criteria was to be turn up each week and deliver whilst playing injured. He said over his whole career he can't remember many games where he wasn't taped, on anti-inflammatries and or being needled to play with the best players just getting it done and delivering week in week out. Many a club player may be able to play "a" game, but having the physical base, the discipline in recovery and having the mental fortitude to do it again next week is the issue. Eels stalwart Nathan Cayless has said the same.
 
Brumby Runner

Brumby Runner

Jason Little (69)
Noah is the most like-for-like among today's 10s, with his less than effective short kicking game, his less than effective running game and his inclination to just send the ball to his centres without setting up great attacking plays. He outshines Nard in some aspects - he can kick the ball further, he is a better tackler/defender and probably a better and longer place kicker. Maybe he can develop into as good or even better No 10 than Nard if given patience and encouragement by the coaching staff and angry fans.
 
Strewthcobber

Strewthcobber

Simon Poidevin (60)
Lolesio is almost exactly the same age now as when Foley made his starting test debut at 10 against that France c side in 2014.

Lolesio has 25 tests under his belt.i spose the question is has playing him that much that early made him a better player? Or are we better off waiting until our playmakers are matured like we did with Foley?
 
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