Western Force 2024

[The Marketing Pigeon]

Waratahs lock down golden Gleeson as Donaldson heads west

Rising star Langi Gleeson has extended his NSW and RA contract until 2025, but Ben Donaldson is set to sign with the Western Force.

amp.smh.com.au

Donaldson and potentially Harris to the force. Great to see the depth of this force squad building but definitely a blow to Pasitoa’s development

 

[Dctarget]

Waratahs lock down golden Gleeson as Donaldson heads west

Rising star Langi Gleeson has extended his NSW and RA contract until 2025, but Ben Donaldson is set to sign with the Western Force.

amp.smh.com.au

Donaldson and potentially Harris to the force. Great to see the depth of this force squad building but definitely a blow to Pasitoa’s development

Pasitoa, injury or otherwise, has not delivered and it's a professional game. This is a great move. Further bleak news for Captain Wells with Harris coming across, getting a bit of a glut in the backrow, assuming a couple will move on. Speaking of, where is Naisarani for the final game?

 

[WFDS]

Pasitoa, injury or otherwise, has not delivered and it's a professional game. This is a great move. Further bleak news for Captain Wells with Harris coming across, getting a bit of a glut in the backrow, assuming a couple will move on. Speaking of, where is Naisarani for the final game?

Happy to see Wells move on.

Rodda for skipper if he can stay fit. Would hopefully entice him to resign

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yeah, Wells has never been bad or let anyone down but good teams are always looking to sharpen the axe and this is one of those times I think.

 

[Boof1050]

Pasitoa, injury or otherwise, has not delivered and it's a professional game. This is a great move. Further bleak news for Captain Wells with Harris coming across, getting a bit of a glut in the backrow, assuming a couple will move on. Speaking of, where is Naisarani for the final game?

Mate Pasitoa got given 1 season with Prior as his half most of the games and then got injured needing a knee reconstruction. We’ve certainly got better than Harris in our squad they just can’t get a start behind Wells unfortunately.

 

[Marce]

Waratahs lock down golden Gleeson as Donaldson heads west

Rising star Langi Gleeson has extended his NSW and RA contract until 2025, but Ben Donaldson is set to sign with the Western Force.

amp.smh.com.au

Donaldson and potentially Harris to the force. Great to see the depth of this force squad building but definitely a blow to Pasitoa’s development

Finally Force is recruiting young Aussie talent. This is the pathway

Although we (Tahs) lose players, Im happy that they stay in Australia

 

[farva]

Mate Pasitoa got given 1 season with Prior as his half most of the games and then got injured needing a knee reconstruction. We’ve certainly got better than Harris in our squad they just can’t get a start behind Wells unfortunately.

Yeah, I still think Pasitoa, with Fines and White partnering him, should get a decent crack. His opportunities so far have been limited.

But he is still unproven so Donaldson coming across is not a bad thing either. It creates competition for a starting spot. And its a long season so hopefully both will get a good run.

Backrow is getting pretty full now (pinched from TWF)
Kane Koteka 2025
Carlo Tizzano 2025
Tim Anstee 2024
Ollie Callan 2024
Jackson Pugh 2024
Michael Wells 2024
Will Harris ????
Ned Slack-Smith ????
Isi Naisarani ????

The areas that worry me are outside backs and hookers. Kaitu'u is signed but he has dropped away from where he was a few seasons ago. We dont really have a second hooker yet although Horton is here as injury cover. In the backs priority is to get Kiribidge and Mataele resigned. That is some serious strike power out wide with them. And I wouldnt mind seeing Jake Strachan resigned.
I also want to see Marley Pearce and Siosife Amone given contracts. Both have looked pretty good so far as young props. But we definitely need an experienced tighthead - what is Ollie Hoskins doing now LI have wound up? Time to bring him home! And resign Medrano, he seems to like it in Perth.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Vosayaco has started a number of games at 8 as well.

More than likely a few of the names on that list will move on.

 

[Wallaby Man]

Good signings from the Force.

I personally prefer Pasitoa than Donaldson in the talent stakes.

The back row options are good but a lot of them, so suspect a few might leave. There has been rumors around Anstee looking at the 7s. Also wouldn’t surprise me to see Koteka, Wells or Vosayaco in Japan or France

 

[upthereds#!]

Quite a few names in the backrow. Few under contract but might be happy to move on - agree with Wallaby man.

With London Irish struggling - you'd think Hoskins would be a target. Also Ainsley from Highlanders would be a solid.

 

[ForceFan]

Finally Force is recruiting young Aussie talent. This is the pathway

Finally? What a totally disingenuous comment.
This IS NOT something that the WF has JUST started doing.

During and at the end of the 2022 Super Rugby season the the following players left the WF: Greg Holmes, Andrew Ready, Jeremy Thrush, Sitaleki Timani, Fergus Lee-Warner, Brynard Stannard, Michael McDonald, Jake McIntyre, Kyle Godwin, Richard Kahui, Brad Lacey, Byron Ralston, Jack McGregor.
Only 3 of these players were not Australians.

The named 2023 squad of 43 (including injury covers) include 11 sourced from OS: (Kalipu, Norris, Tiatia, Mataele x 2, Spink, Medrano, Rebolo, Kibirige, Simpson, Foliaki).
That means that there are 32 Australian players in the squad.
The squad is one of the youngest in Super Rugby with an average age of 24.5 years.

For 2023, the WF brought back the following Aust players from OS: Hegarty, Stewart, Horton, Tizzano and Naisarani.

The 2023 WF Academy has 21 members: 13 recruited from WA Club Rugby and 8 from Australia's East Coast.
Is that the largest Academy squad in Australia?

By my count that amounts to 53 Australian players out of a total of 64 players. 35 of those Australian players are under 24yo.

I reckon that the WF has the balance about right and is taking a longer-term view while still trying to maintain enough experienced players to be competitive and having an influence on the younger players.

 

[rugbyAU]

Potential 2014 Force XV

1 - Angus Wagner
2 - Tom Horton
3 - Marley Pearce
4 - Jeremy Williams
5 - Izack Rodda
6 - Will Harris
7 - Carlo Tizzano
8 - Isi Nissarani
9 - Nic White
10 - Ben Donaldson
11 - Manasa Mataele
12 - Hamish Stewart
13 - Sam Spink
14 - Zac Kibirige
15 - Chase Tiatia

 

[Agent]

Potential 2014 Force XV

1 - Angus Wagner
2 - Tom Horton
3 - Marley Pearce
4 - Jeremy Williams
5 - Izack Rodda
6 - Will Harris
7 - Carlo Tizzano
8 - Isi Nissarani
9 - Nic White
10 - Ben Donaldson
11 - Manasa Mataele
12 - Hamish Stewart
13 - Sam Spink
14 - Zac Kibirige
15 - Chase Tiatia

I used to fly into WA a good deal for work and we often joked WA was 2 hours and 20 years behind the eastern states. Your prediction of a 'Potenital 2014 Force XV' suggests we were half right!!

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Potential 2014 Force XV

1 - Angus Wagner
2 - Tom Horton
3 - Marley Pearce
4 - Jeremy Williams
5 - Izack Rodda
6 - Will Harris
7 - Carlo Tizzano
8 - Isi Nissarani
9 - Nic White
10 - Ben Donaldson
11 - Manasa Mataele
12 - Hamish Stewart
13 - Sam Spink
14 - Zac Kibirige
15 - Chase Tiatia

We won't win a single game if that is the front row. I am sure Cron is trying hard to land some front row replacements. Hoskins, Sio, Ainsley, Pone etc

 

[Dctarget]

Your new Premier, Roger Cook, was a pretty handy rugby player back in the day. Represented WA U18s.

Let's hope he throws the WF a bone or three.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

A few notable people in WA are rugby men.

 

[NCT]

Not sure Donaldson is the best guy for the Force, pretty underwhelming. I wonder how Stewart views this, since apparently playing 10 was one of the drivers for his move West. Playing with White might change things.

 

[Misunderstood fan]

Yeah Burey and Pasitoa fighting it out, and then let’s not forget Strachan can play 10 too.

I think Pasitoa will find his way to the starting 10. If Hamish wasn’t there, Pasitoa would be ideal at 12 outside of Donaldson. Pre-season is going to be competitive. Strachan will be on the move I think.

 

[Tazzmania]

Tom Horton and Charlie Hancock signed for 2024/2025

 

[brokendown]

I think Pasitoa will find his way to the starting 10. If Hamish wasn’t there, Pasitoa would be ideal at 12 outside of Donaldson. Pre-season is going to be competitive. Strachan will be on the move I think.

yep,suprised Strachan wasn't given many opportunities this season