Waratahs 2025

[Wilson]

Eamon Doyle has to be in the senior squad next year.

You can't delay making a player like that a fully contracted player who is competing for game time. He's tough, skillful and has a huge motor and is clearly a strong leader.

He's still got another year of 20's left yeah? I reckon the ideal for a guy like that is giving them some early season minutes in super to set the standard and then letting them get solid game time in club and age grade with an expectation that they really boss it. Of course there's always the possibility that they just keep playing super if they demand it, but I think you've got to be really careful with tight 5 players that young.

 

[Braveheart81]

He's still got another year of 20's left yeah? I reckon the ideal for a guy like that is giving them some early season minutes in super to set the standard and then letting them get solid game time in club and age grade with an expectation that they really boss it. Of course there's always the possibility that they just keep playing super if they demand it, but I think you've got to be really careful with tight 5 players that young.

I agree with you that ultimately you want him playing consistent games rather than spending the season playing limited or no minutes off the bench but I also think there's every chance he's debuting for the Wallabies at age 21 (like Salakaia-Loto or Rodda).

I think the old adage that if you're good enough you're old enough rings true.

For me, it's putting him in a position to let him compete and then seeing how he compares to the guys who are older and more experienced. I think there's every chance he surpasses current matchday 23 players very quickly.

 

[Tomikin]

Eamon Doyle has to be in the senior squad next year.

You can't delay making a player like that a fully contracted player who is competing for game time. He's tough, skillful and has a huge motor and is clearly a strong leader.

He'd look good in a Brumbies jersey

 

[Dctarget]

I agree with you that ultimately you want him playing consistent games rather than spending the season playing limited or no minutes off the bench but I also think there's every chance he's debuting for the Wallabies at age 21 (like Salakaia-Loto or Rodda).

I think the old adage that if you're good enough you're old enough rings true.

For me, it's putting him in a position to let him compete and then seeing how he compares to the guys who are older and more experienced. I think there's every chance he surpasses current matchday 23 players very quickly.

Agreed, he was the best on the field out of both teams. Looked a level above. Was the first game that I watched him play, is he always like that? I assume so by his captaincy.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Eamon Doyle has to be in the senior squad next year.

You can't delay making a player like that a fully contracted player who is competing for game time. He's tough, skillful and has a huge motor and is clearly a strong leader.

100% and you cop what may be some salty about a older player not getting a chance for what Doyle can be when hes 23-24 years old. He also has plenty of experience at 6 & 8 if you don't want to put him straight into the tight stuff then over time partner him with Phillip.

 

[Dctarget]

Gordon re-signs for two more years.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Fingers crossed we see a Teddy Wilson re-signs soon and that's good depth in job with a good age gap for future proofing.

Force looking for their next 9 and I would assume the Brumbies potentially sniffing around for a backup. Not sold on Thorn from what are very limited showings. Goddard is a known quantity and serviceable but strikes me as a Josh Holmes type of streaky at the top level but a beast in Club land. They do have Dan Nelson in their system who is a neat style of 9 and probably the most similar to Lonergan.

 

[wamberal99]

Lachie Albert is, or was, on the Brumby books? He is pretty good in clubland.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Seems to have been let go and Thorn took that spot in the squad. Safe and cheap way of roster managing a position to almost have one halfback a rookie. If they earn an extension good luck but if not after a couple of seasons you go to the new guy.

He's one of many guys competing for those 3rd guy jobs like Robertson got the chance at the Force and has been ooook.

 

[scrumhalf]

Tane into the starting team, personally think its a great move. I've watched him grow up since trininty and i think his game style and knowledge quesitons why he was ever dropped. Great to see him back in the blue, looking forward to the game.

 

[wamberal99]

Tane into the starting team, personally think its a great move. I've watched him grow up since trininty and i think his game style and knowledge quesitons why he was ever dropped. Great to see him back in the blue, looking forward to the game.

He has been messed around, unfortunately. Wallaby Test 23 one year, cannot make the Tahs the next . Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[Major Tom]

Fingers crossed we see a Teddy Wilson re-signs soon and that's good depth in job with a good age gap for future proofing.

Force looking for their next 9 and I would assume the Brumbies potentially sniffing around for a backup. Not sold on Thorn from what are very limited showings. Goddard is a known quantity and serviceable but strikes me as a Josh Holmes type of streaky at the top level but a beast in Club land. They do have Dan Nelson in their system who is a neat style of 9 and probably the most similar to Lonergan.

Thomas surely being sounded out surely.

 

[Major Tom]

He's still got another year of 20's left yeah? I reckon the ideal for a guy like that is giving them some early season minutes in super to set the standard and then letting them get solid game time in club and age grade with an expectation that they really boss it. Of course there's always the possibility that they just keep playing super if they demand it, but I think you've got to be really careful with tight 5 players that young.

To me he strikes me as a real big Sean McMahon.
I’d look at what the Reds have done with Pakeho. Get mins in trial games and exhibition matches (like he has already) and rotate him out to manage him. Or he may be up to it just like Dre. Obviously, playing tight 5 is different kettle of fish.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

To me he strikes me as a real big Sean McMahon.
I’d look at what the Reds have done with Pakeho. Get mins in trial games and exhibition matches (like he has already) and rotate him out to manage him. Or he may be up to it just like Dre. Obviously, playing tight 5 is different kettle of fish.

Will need the time in the gym and natural growth but I’d like to see him keep playing trials, A games and potentially get some time off the bench in the backrow if the game suits.

 

[Braveheart81]

The key to me is giving him a main squad contract. Even if he barely plays in 2026 you need to make him part of the squad and lock him in for the future.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He has been messed around, unfortunately. Wallaby Test 23 one year, cannot make the Tahs the next . Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

He was a victim of the teams early away losses then wasn't he sick and Creighton got the start when they gave the Force a thumping at home? Creighton got the gig from there which I get from the coaches perspective.

He gets a chance to own it right now. If he could steer a team around to knock off the top 4 Reds and keep the Tahs season alive it's his jersey again.

 

[Wilson]

He was a victim of the teams early away losses then wasn't he sick and Creighton got the start when they gave the Force a thumping at home? Creighton got the gig from there which I get from the coaches perspective.

He gets a chance to own it right now. If he could steer a team around to knock off the top 4 Reds and keep the Tahs season alive it's his jersey again.

This is out of order - the Force game was the tahs 4th game (and win) of the season and that was when Edmed dropped back (ostensibly because of sickness), before they had travelled at all.

What happened from there is much more subjective, but for mine the backline has generally functioned better under Creighton, and his game management has been superior. He's not been perfect by any stretch, but he's a much steadier hand which is important for a team trying to bed down their systems.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Sorry got the first bit wrong your'e right. But, the early wins weren't convincing with 1 bye in there also.

In all honesty neither are THAT good. Creighton crabs sideways and stands still when receiving the ball. I know coaches instruction plays a big part of it and the mid field bomb has been a constant but as an overall player skill wise Tane would have him covered but hasn't ever strung together enough of a run of games. He's had a couple good then a lot bad where Creighton hits that slightly above average almost every time.

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

The reality is none of Edmed, Bowen or Creighton have shown themselves to be premiership-winning flyhalves and the Waratahs need to find someone better.

 

[Cole]

The reality is none of Edmed, Bowen or Creighton have shown themselves to be premiership-winning flyhalves and the Waratahs need to find someone better.

Agree with this, Bowen tbf has had limited opportunity. Would think they might be sounding out a guy like HMP, to me he has a higher ceiling than the 3 they have, and is definitely number 2 for the Reds, so might shift with the hope of a starting position to start to build a case for WC2027