Western Force 2013

[Brumbies Guy]

Don't understand why some people keep seeing Colby Fainga'a moving on because another fetcher is in the squad. The Reds have at least two fetchers in their ranks, but nobody says "Oh gosh, Robinson should move on...."

He's contracted anyway, and working with Pocock will do wonders for him.

Because Pocock has signed a 3 year contract. There is little chance of him now getting significant game time to push for a higher contract or higher honors. Unless he can cement a spot at 6 or 8 next season he will move on to a team he can.

 

[Ghibli]

Because Pocock has signed a 3 year contract. There is little chance of him now getting significant game time to push for a higher contract or higher honors. Unless he can cement a spot at 6 or 8 next season he will move on to a team he can.

He would be closed at the Reds and probably the Tahs. I guess he could leave the Brumbies to try to push for higher honors with the two remaining teams?

 

[Brumbies Guy]

He would be closed at the Reds and probably the Tahs. I guess he could leave the Brumbies to try to push for higher honors with the two remaining teams?

He's young enough and has the CV to go overseas, make a few bucks and come back to Super Rugby a better player in 2-3 years time too if he doesn't get picked up by Rebels or Force next year. Villi (the middle Fainga'a) recently debuted at 7 for the Tongan team, so Colby also has that option up his sleeve to go to Europe as a Pacific player.

 

[Ghibli]

He's young enough and has the CV to go overseas, make a few bucks and come back to Super Rugby a better player in 2-3 years time too if he doesn't get picked up by Rebels or Force next year. Villi (the middle Fainga'a) recently debuted at 7 for the Tongan team, so Colby also has that option up his sleeve to go to Europe as a Pacific player.

I agree that the overseas option could be attractive for Colby, and in a few years time there could be more S15 opportunities for him. This said, he needs to fully realise his potential for that to happen.

 

[It is what it is]

Force Priorities;
Get a great coach appointed for a contract of 3 years and announced asap. Forget players for the moment, this is the main challenge and will determine your chances of survival and prosperity.
Get your Coach, CEO, President and Board on the same page or make changes to the people.
Write off your chances of being competitive in 2013 and set expectations accordingly.
Conduct a brutal review of your roster with the goal of becoming competitive in 2014 and 2015. Shed dead weight and invest in 'keepers'.
Conduct a brutal review your key support people....CEO, Manager, S&C, Marketing & Sponsorship etc and make tough calls.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

You can't help but feel that Force are becoming a real basket case, if they were a horse you would just shoot them and put them out of their misery, time for ARU to step in urgently and sort something out.

Could have said the same about the Reds, Brumbies and Highlanders. You could still say the same about the Lions and Cheetahs. Heck, even the Tahs are great underachievers in relative terms.

My point is that teams can turn their fortunes around if they confront the brutal truth and act, as each of the first three mentioned organisations did.

 

[en_force_er]

Phil Mooney showed his ability to pick promising young players, maybe he'd be a good fit?

If not him, get creative. There's nothing worse in professional sport (and you see this a lot) than when a team has no good options (in terms of both players and coaches) they pick up some guy that's coached a high level before but has never been overly sucsessful (say, hypothetically if they rehire John Mitchell).

If you get creative you could be the spring point of something special, it's not like it could get TOO much worse anyway.

 

[Empire]

I agree that the overseas option could be attractive for Colby, and in a few years time there could be more S15 opportunities for him. This said, he needs to fully realise his potential for that to happen.

I think you'll find Colby will be happy to even run next season - his ongoing injury concerns have crippled his chances this year. And more than likely made his bargaining position difficult.

1 year to go on the contract, follow the top 7 around and soak up as much knowledge as possible, get the foot right - and hopefully grab some game time. Pocock is a ridiculous trainer, and being in the same environment will only spur Colby on.

Come next year, reassess and go from there - hopefully a few more doors will have opened up.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Phil Mooney showed his ability to pick promising young players, maybe he'd be a good fit?

If not him, get creative. There's nothing worse in professional sport (and you see this a lot) than when a team has no good options (in terms of both players and coaches) they pick up some guy that's coached a high level before but has never been overly sucsessful (say, hypothetically if they rehire John Mitchell).

If you get creative you could be the spring point of something special, it's not like it could get TOO much worse anyway.

Phil Mooney has worked miracles at wests since being there and his experience with youth through being the former u21 Australia coach will do wonders. I feel that if Link hadn't signalled his intentions to return to Australia Mooney may still have had the top job at the reds.

 

[Linebacker_41]

Phil Mooney showed his ability to pick promising young players, maybe he'd be a good fit?

From all reports and the limited number of times that I have met him I think Phil is a good bloke. He works hard and he is very good with the younger developing players.

However from people both within the Reds and Otago ITM teams the feedback that I have had was not complimentary. A testament to that was Phil getting a co-coach in his second year in Otago.

I do agree that Phil has been good at spotting talent though, not sure whether he has chosen some absolute rank outsiders who came good or just followed what everyone else was saying in terms of the upcoming talent.

High Performance Manager for Phil - Maybe, Head Coach - No based on track record.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

From all reports and the limited number of times that I have met him I think Phil is a good bloke. He works hard and he is very good with the younger developing players.

However from people both within the Reds and Otago ITM teams the feedback that I have had was not complimentary. A testament to that was Phil getting a co-coach in his second year in Otago.

I do agree that Phil has been good at spotting talent though, not sure whether he has chosen some absolute rank outsiders who came good or just followed what everyone else was saying in terms of the upcoming talent.

High Performance Manager for Phil - Maybe, Head Coach - No based on track record.

He was successful enough with Otago but their rugby organisation within that province is shambolic they are operating deep in the Red and the board wasted a lot of money on players without consulting coaches and shunned local talent to other provinces and this was a problem long before Mooney came. A lot of people in Otago respected Mooney and his coaching but I believe fans blame the association more than coaches or players. Funnily enough this seems to be the same problem at the Force .

 

[kronic]

@oliverpeterson: It might not just be @pocockdavid who leaves the @thewesternforce to join @BrumbiesRugby

 

[Brumbies Guy]

@oliverpeterson: It might not just be @pocockdavid who leaves the @thewesternforce to join @BrumbiesRugby

Battye coming back home?

 

[GaffaCHinO]

@oliverpeterson: It might not just be @pocockdavid who leaves the @thewesternforce to join @BrumbiesRugby

Vern Reid?? Please let it be vern reid!

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Battye coming back home?

He is already signed till 2014

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Ruan Smith i heard

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Here is the force 2013 list so far showing player movement so far
Signed PLayers in bold
Expected to be unavailable either not signed yet or leaving in red
New signing in 2013 in purple
Phoenix Battye 2014
Richard Brown 2014 - Wallaby Caps
Nathan Charles 2014
Pek Cowan 2014 - Wallaby Caps
Nick Cummins 2013
Pat Dellit 2013
Sias Ebersohn 2014Gene Fairbanks Injury prob Retired2012
Tetera Faulkner 2013
Matt Hodgson 2013 Wallaby Caps
Toby Lyn 2013
Keiron Longbottom 2014
Salesi Ma'afu 2013 Wallaby Caps
Alfie Mafi 2013
Lachlan McCaffry 2013
Ben McCallman 2013 Wallaby Caps
Napolioni Nalaga 2012 France
Sam Norton-Knight 2014 Wallaby Caps
David Pocock 2012 to Brumbies Wallaby Caps
Jordan Rapana 2013
Willie Ripia 2012 replaced by David Harvey 2013
Junior Rasolea 2014
Ben Seymour 2013
Nathan Sharpe Retired 2012
Brett Sheehan 2013 Wallaby Caps
Cam Shepherd england 2012
Rory Sidey 2013
Winston Stanley 2013
James Stannard Japan 2012
Will Tupuo 2013
Justin Turner 2012
Ben Whittaker 2013
Sam Wykes 2013

26 players signed, just 4 places left Plus EPS you would think that Godwin will get a contract so thats 3 left to sign. Tuner hasnt been resigned yet so not sure whats happening there.

 

[tigerland12]

The Force should definatly look at Brisbane Premier Grade. Quality players coming out of our ears that would be really really good for the Force to develop.

A few names that are prospects Pettowa Parakka (Prop), Ruan Smith (Prop, already played), Michael Stollberg (Lock), Nigel Ah Wong (Flank), Dion Taumata (Fly), Matt Brandon (Fly), Taikato-Simpson (Wing), Damon Murphy (Fullback), Brett Giilespie (Center), Lindsay Crook (Wing)

 

[mudskipper]

As CEO of JOC (James O'Connor) Inc, JOC (James O'Connor) made a branding decision to take his product to another market....prat.

JOC (James O'Connor) has done a lot of ads since signing with Melbourne... it didn't hurt his profile brand in moving east to a large city, he just should've said it publicly... I must say I dont think Melbourne is helping his rugby any... pony club would have been a better choice...

 

[en_force_er]

JOC (James O'Connor) has done a lot of ads since signing with Melbourne. it didn't hurt his profile brand in moving east to a large city, he just should've said it publicly. I must say I dont think Melbourne is helping his rugby any. pony club would have been a better choice.

I hear he has a lot of fun about town in Melbourne. For all Canberra and Perth's merits they don't have Melbourne, Sydney, and (to a less extent) Brisbane's Bar/Nightclub/Coffee Shop culture.

This stuff is in my opinion is a silent drawcard for bloke still under 25 and perhaps even older.