Western Force 2014

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Love the fact that we've picked up Adam Coleman. He's been great with the Two Blues over the last couple of seasons. A real athletic style lock.

 

[Bairdy]

While the squad you've typed up, Gaffa looks just about finalised, I can't help but think we might need one more specialist 6/8 like in the Higgers/Timani mold; a wrecking ball in tight or out wide, with or without the ball.

 

[ChargerWA]

Update​

​

2014 Squad So Far​

1. Chris Alcock 2014​

2. Phoenix Battye 2014​

3. Junior Rasolea 2014​

4. Nathan Charles 2014​

5. Angus Cottrell 2014 ​

6. Pek Cowan 2014 - Wallaby Caps​

7. Sias Ebersohn 2014 Development Player Spot​

8. Kyle Godwin 2016 - WA​

9. Matt Hodgson 2015 Wallaby Caps​

10. Kieran Longbottom 2014 - WA​

11. Alby Mathewson 2014 Marquee Player Spot​

12. Ben McCalman 2015 Wallaby Caps​

13. Ed Stubbs 2014​

14. Chris Tuatara-Morrison 2014​

15. Hugh McMeniman 2015 Wallaby Caps​

16. Luke Morahan 2015 Wallaby Cap​

17. Zack Holmes 2015 - WA​

18. Ian Prior 2015​

19. Sam Wykes 2015​

20. Tetera Faulkner 2015​

21. Dane Haylett-Petty 2014 - WA​

22. Willhelm Steenkamp 2016 Marquee Player Spot​

23. Jayden Hayward 2014 Development Player Spot​

24. Chris Heiberg 2016 Development Player Spot​

25. Marcel Brache 2015 Development Player Spot​

26. Heath Tessmann 2014​

27. Salesi Manu 2014​

28. Pat Dellit 2014​

​

EPS 2014​

1. Luke Burton - Inside Back - WA​

2. Ryan Louwrens - Half Back - WA​

3. Rory Walton - Lock/Flanker​

4. Adam Coleman - Lock​

5. Robbie Able - Hooker​

​

Off contract (in RED = Must Keep)​

Nick Cummins​

Winston Stanley​

​

​

​

GONE​

James Hilterbrand (EPS)​

Sam Christie (EPS)

Mick Snowden (EPS)​

Ben Jacobs​

Sam Norton-Knight​

Toby Lynn​

Salesi Ma'afu​

Lachlan McCaffrey​

Will Tupou​

Brett Sheehan​

Ben Whittaker​

Richard Brown​

Alfie Mafi​

​

Rumoured Signings​

James O’Connor​

Great effort Gaffa.

Bit surprised to see Tuatara-Morrison still there. He didn't get a run last year and his defence in the Lions game was underwhelming. Hopefully he is working hard and comes into contention.

If we can keep Cummins and sign JOC (James O'Connor) next year will be looking the brightest in a few years for the Force backline.

 

[ChargerWA]

While the squad you've typed up, Gaffa looks just about finalised, I can't help but think we might need one more specialist 6/8 like in the Higgers/Timani mold; a wrecking ball in tight or out wide, with or without the ball.

Agreed.

I think every Aussie team needs one of these. 8 is a critically shallow pool in Australia while Palu and Higgers are injured and Auelua runs hot/cold. McCalman gives us good value, but he is hardly a wrecking ball.

Jake Shatz should hopefully continue to break out. At 22 his time is now. Doesn't help us though.

 

[Forcefield]

I don't think you could go too far wrong with a backrow of McMeniman/Hodgson or Alcock/McCalman.

On the wrecking ball front, I really liked the looks of Scott Sio's younger brother Pat in the U20s. He will probably get a bit bigger, but he seemed to use the weight he has pretty well.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Totally agree on the dearth of quality eights in OZ. I've not seen it as bad as it is right now. I'm sure there will be good ones come along at some point, but we (both the Force and the Wallabies) do lack an eight who is either an athletic perpetual motion machine (a la Kieren Read) or a line smashing mad dog (any number of Saffer back rowers). Benny Mac does a great job, but I can't help but feel he lacks just a little bit of size to be a serious international standard eight.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

First Day of Pre Season for the boys Kyle Godwin day 1 19.5 for the YOYO test that is a massive massive score. Richie McCaw holds the Record for the All Blacks at 19.3 this kid is going to be a machine!

 

[GaffaCHinO]

^^ Correction Conrad Smith is the holder at 19.4 so Kyle still wins

 

[farva]

What is the YOYO test?

 

[D-Box]

Nastier, more game specific version of the beep test

 

[Braveheart81]

What is the YOYO test?

It's a slightly different version of the beep test.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

First Day of Pre Season for the boys Kyle Godwin day 1 19.5 for the YOYO test that is a massive massive score. Richie McCaw holds the Record for the All Blacks at 19.3 this kid is going to be a machine!

So is KG fit enough for the EOYT?

 

[GaffaCHinO]

So is KG fit enough for the EOYT?

From the Pics he doesnt have a sling on but wether on not he is doing any contact i dont know. I guess the thinking would be let him have a full preseason and get him 100% for next year.

 

[TOCC]

So is KG fit enough for the EOYT?

You don't exactly need a shoulder to do a yoyo test, it's all running.. His shoulder could still be on the mend

 

[swingpass]

so it was presumably the shoulder of his non-dominant arm that was fixed, otherwise just imagine how many yoyo tricks he could perform if he gets 19+ with his weak hand !

 

[oztimmay]

so it was presumably the shoulder of his non-dominant arm that was fixed, otherwise just imagine how many yoyo tricks he could perform if he gets 19+ with his weak hand !

*boom* *tish*

 

[sudrugby]

It seems like a new South African will play for the Force next year -> Francois van Wyk

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Dont think Van Wyke will be in the main Squad no than likely in the Acadamy teams with Ollie.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Any movement on O'Connor Watch?

How many unsigned positions are left, and for how long can the Force keep these vacancies open?

IIRC the Honey Badger has still to agree terms.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Any movement on O'Connor Watch?

How many unsigned positions are left, and for how long can the Force keep these vacancies open?

IIRC the Honey Badger has still to agree terms.

http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=34099