The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I think Alby for his efforts but equally I think it was time to move on as well. His pass and pace around the park has dropped off this season, probably for good. This will be good for both parties.
Western Force 2017
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todd4
Dave Cowper (27)
Western Force are close to pulling off an audacious coup, bringing NRL try-scoring machine Curtis Rona home to Perth and back to his rugby union roots.
The Force and Australian Rugby Union have been secretly negotiating with the big Canterbury winger for some time and although his NRL contract does not end until 2017 it is understood he is keen to make the code switch.
Rona, 23, scored 23 tries in his first full NRL season with the Bulldogs last year.
He began his career in rugby union with Wanneroo Districts before switching codes and joining neighbouring Joondalup Giants.
The 194cm and 102kg Rona was born in Waitara, New Zealand and moved to Perth when he was eight years old.
He was an Aranmore Catholic College pupil and a member of the Force junior academy when he represented WA rugby union at under-15, under-16 and schoolboy levels. He made the switch to league in 2009 and played in the WA under-18 side before signing with the Sydney Roosters and playing for their Holden Cup side, scoring 23 tries in 39 matches.
He moved to the North Queensland Cowboys where he made his NRL debut in 2014 before signing for the Bulldogs last year.
Meanwhile, Force key playmaker Jono Lance is set to return against the Cheetahs on Saturday week after missing the last nine Super Rugby games through injury.
Lance, who has not played since tearing his left shoulder pectoral muscle against the Brumbies, is likely to be partnered in the halves by Ian Prior, who has overcome ankle and knee concerns for the trip to Bloemfontein.
A new face in the squad that leaves for South Africa on Sunday will be Sydney University second-rower Matt Philips, who has been training with the Force for the past three weeks.
The Force and Australian Rugby Union have been secretly negotiating with the big Canterbury winger for some time and although his NRL contract does not end until 2017 it is understood he is keen to make the code switch.
Rona, 23, scored 23 tries in his first full NRL season with the Bulldogs last year.
He began his career in rugby union with Wanneroo Districts before switching codes and joining neighbouring Joondalup Giants.
The 194cm and 102kg Rona was born in Waitara, New Zealand and moved to Perth when he was eight years old.
He was an Aranmore Catholic College pupil and a member of the Force junior academy when he represented WA rugby union at under-15, under-16 and schoolboy levels. He made the switch to league in 2009 and played in the WA under-18 side before signing with the Sydney Roosters and playing for their Holden Cup side, scoring 23 tries in 39 matches.
He moved to the North Queensland Cowboys where he made his NRL debut in 2014 before signing for the Bulldogs last year.
Meanwhile, Force key playmaker Jono Lance is set to return against the Cheetahs on Saturday week after missing the last nine Super Rugby games through injury.
Lance, who has not played since tearing his left shoulder pectoral muscle against the Brumbies, is likely to be partnered in the halves by Ian Prior, who has overcome ankle and knee concerns for the trip to Bloemfontein.
A new face in the squad that leaves for South Africa on Sunday will be Sydney University second-rower Matt Philips, who has been training with the Force for the past three weeks.
T
TOCC
Guest
If Curtis signs with the Force, that would mean 4 of the top 10 NRL tryscorers have been linked with rugby union for 2017.
Curtis Rona(Force)
Valentine Holmes(Reds)
Semi Radradra(French Rugby)
Marika Koribete(Rebels)
Curtis Rona(Force)
Valentine Holmes(Reds)
Semi Radradra(French Rugby)
Marika Koribete(Rebels)
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
A new face in the squad that leaves for South Africa on Sunday will be Sydney University second-rower Matt Philips, who has been training with the Force for the past three weeks.
Philips will be a very good pick up imo.
rugbylad2016
Frank Row (1)
Future not looking that bright, particularly if Godwin goes.
Any word on a coach next year for you blokes?
Any word on a coach next year for you blokes?
AussieDominance
Trevor Allan (34)
Will do well in a professional environment in my opinion hopefully in a few seasons will be hardened and certainly Super Rugby ready.
Has been in between 1st and 2nd grade this season at Sydney University.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Don't follow League and am only vaguely aware of Holmes but when did his name come up and how likely is it? It's amazing this little trend. These are all young blokes who could have reasonable careers in League but are in the cases of Koribete and potentially Rona and Radradra coming back to Rugby. Does Holmes have any experience in the fame?
neilc
Bob Loudon (25)
Not according to Wikipedia - league through and through. Apparently has behavioural issues, which is definitely something I don't want to see imported into the Reds.
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
I think Rona was a 50/50 between league and union back when he was around 18 or so. Unfortunately there was no NRC back then so the U20 League competition drew him over East. People talked about him being a big loss back then. Another promising young outside back called Chance Peni also left at about the same time.
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
In an article related to Curtis Rona, I found this particularly interesting tidbit:
Though, we would need money, which is in short supply at RugbyWA.
If Meyer is a realistic chance at the post, I hope he surrounds himself with quality assistant coaches, like a Todd Louden/Jim Mckay for attack, someone for the forwards, for the defence (maybe Wessels?) etc.
Though, we would need money, which is in short supply at RugbyWA.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
I think there were a couple of quotes the other day from the Reds which suggested that the Valentine Holmes rumours were exactly that.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
mst
Peter Johnson (47)
I think the Force are in unique space for the ARU going forward. They need to retain the participation numbers and footprint and are also bound by the TV deal.
So, they they have 2 choices: invest in the Force with an attitude of looking for success to limit the losses or break even worse case, and if they get lucky have a healthy sustainable franchise - or just start flushing the $$$ away now until the end of the TV deal.
IMHO the Force need to become the "development" team / place for Australian Rugby (including speciality high performance etc for 7's. Womens, and U20's), which could justify the investment in "quality" coaches, and build using new blood and emerging talent - including in the coaching ranks under the likes of a Meyer and one other quality assistant.
IMHO if the Force are that team that provides the best opportunity to launch a rugby career in Australia, build it and they will come.
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
We'll take whatever we can get 
T
TOCC
Guest
With all the players who have already left and reported to be leaving, I can't see 2018 been any better regardless of who the coach is..
Force/ARU should look to form an agreement or partnership with someone like Fiji.. Come to an agreement where the Force play a trial match or two in Suva, coaching and support staff assist in academies run in Suva, in exchange Fiji provide scouting reports and access to local academies so the Force can sign some Fijian players.
It wouldn't be to make them eligible for the Wallabies, rather offer them professional rugby opportunities with the guarantee that if they choose to play for Fiji then the Force would make them available and offer progress reports on there players.
There's the argument that this will mean less opportunities for Australian eligible players, well that it may, but first the Force need to be competitive.. A Fijian styled Force backline would be brilliant to see and provide flavour to Super Rugby
Force/ARU should look to form an agreement or partnership with someone like Fiji.. Come to an agreement where the Force play a trial match or two in Suva, coaching and support staff assist in academies run in Suva, in exchange Fiji provide scouting reports and access to local academies so the Force can sign some Fijian players.
It wouldn't be to make them eligible for the Wallabies, rather offer them professional rugby opportunities with the guarantee that if they choose to play for Fiji then the Force would make them available and offer progress reports on there players.
There's the argument that this will mean less opportunities for Australian eligible players, well that it may, but first the Force need to be competitive.. A Fijian styled Force backline would be brilliant to see and provide flavour to Super Rugby
Couldn't you find somewhere further away from Perth? Why stop at Fiji? I hear they produce bloody good props in Rosario, there's your second academy.
T
TOCC
Guest
Fiji represents the highest producing rugby union community in the world which doesn't have a professional competition.. Top14 and Pro D2 clubs have set up academies in the pacific islands and recruit heavily yet they are even further away, there are plenty of reasons as to why it might not work, but distance isn't it.
Sevuloni Mocenacagi of Fiji Sevens was recruited to the Perth Spirit side in the 2015 NRC(he actually scored against Australia in Las Vegas this year), and Semsi Masirewa is a Fijian lad who has moved to Perth to chase professional rugby opportunities. Koroibete and Naivalu both moved to Melbourne for rugby opportunities. Eto Nabuli moved to Brisbane, Henry Speight moved to Canberra.. If there is an opportunity players will chase it.
todd4
Dave Cowper (27)
From today's West Australian;
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/31915658/force-set-sights-on-penrith-centre/
As the Western Force close in on NRL star Curtis Rona, they have turned their sights on another homegrown code-switcher, Penrith centre Waqa Blake.
Like Rona, the speedster slipped through the local rugby union net as a teenager when he was recruited by the Panthers as a 17-year-old four years ago.
He had followed the same path in Perth as the Bulldogs’ try-scoring machine Rona, playing union for Wanneroo Districts and league for Joondalup Giants.
Fiji-born Blake moved to Australia when he was nine and was spotted by the Panthers playing for the WANRL’s West Coast Pirates under-18 side in the NSW SG Ball competition.
He played two seasons in the Panthers under-20 side and in 2014 was included in the Fiji side to play Samoa.
Blake made his NRL debut last season, scoring five tries in 18 matches, but has scored just once in nine games this year as the Panthers battle to stay in finals contention.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/31915658/force-set-sights-on-penrith-centre/
As the Western Force close in on NRL star Curtis Rona, they have turned their sights on another homegrown code-switcher, Penrith centre Waqa Blake.
Like Rona, the speedster slipped through the local rugby union net as a teenager when he was recruited by the Panthers as a 17-year-old four years ago.
He had followed the same path in Perth as the Bulldogs’ try-scoring machine Rona, playing union for Wanneroo Districts and league for Joondalup Giants.
Fiji-born Blake moved to Australia when he was nine and was spotted by the Panthers playing for the WANRL’s West Coast Pirates under-18 side in the NSW SG Ball competition.
He played two seasons in the Panthers under-20 side and in 2014 was included in the Fiji side to play Samoa.
Blake made his NRL debut last season, scoring five tries in 18 matches, but has scored just once in nine games this year as the Panthers battle to stay in finals contention.
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