Diverging into other threads but we desperately need some NRC style comp that comes after Super rugby. 2 QLD teams, 2 NSW Teams, 1 ACT Team, 1 Vic team and 1 WA team. The Vic team might need some players feeding in from NSW, QLD and Brumbies somehow. And the force team would ideally just be based on the east coast for ease. This is where U20's could get more experience. I'd maybe mirror this with the U16 and U19 comps and have double headers etc. Just run it all everything from October to mid-November.
Western Force 2025
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
I think the Western Force are a far far better team then results have shown, a bounce of the ball here and there, a little bit more rugby brain and they are in finals and are we still talking about the Coach in this way?
One aspect I look at from a coaches point of view, is has he made them better players and I think that clearly he has. Have a look at the player stats from this year and then look at this first year with the side, we now have 1, or 2 in the top performing categories - https://super.rugby/superrugby/competition-stats/, we have zero players in any category in 2022.
From a player recruitment point of view when the Waratahs and the NSWRU agreed to a centralisation plan with Rugby Australia, which gave Rugby Australia responsibility for the Waratahs' high-performance operations—including players, it meant that the top returning players from overseas would be funnelled to NSW. How NSW can fit - Bell, JAS, Tupou, Jorgenson, Leota, Samu, Kellaway into the salary cap is obsurd, Tupou and JAS alone would take a huge chunk of that so the Western Force are already behind the 8 balls
***RANT OVER**
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Well you wouldn't know if some players have improved because he hardly plays them (Pasitoa and Leahy). He also had Mac Grealy going well at fullback and decided to parachute Beale into fullback over him which makes no sense to me. The decision to rest players for Fiji was an odd one also. I don't think they are far better than their record but they're not as bad either. End of the day it is a results business and Cron really isn't getting them.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
He’s Darren Coleman with a better lexicon.
Rugby people love hearing the terms.
All our teams problem when it goes bad it must be someone else’s problem.
Rugby people love hearing the terms.
All our teams problem when it goes bad it must be someone else’s problem.
Now I will agreee, i was surprised Grealy was moved from FB to wing to get KB (Kurtley Beale) back in, I was never excited when he got the ball in back field while with Mac you did think he could make something happen.
I still believe and hopefully he can get some new cattle in over the off season and give the Lions a shake up in late June
I think its unfair to compare him to DC, by all accounts he was a shocker. You can tell that Cron knows his stuff and can actually coach.
Tazzmania
Dave Cowper (27)
Both Stewart and Potters performances against the Tahs shows just how beneficial and needed the rest against Fiji was, especially for Stewart. (Note The trip was Perth to Melbourne to Fiji, Fiji to Melbourne to Perth +-15,000 km in the air)
Beale has only played four games and has stats of 37 runs , 243 metres gained, 6 defenders beaten 1 clean break and 4 offloads. However more than that he brings a much needed voice to the backline and his mentoring and direction is beneficial to those around him.
Leahy is still a bit small and was found out on The Forces development tour to South Africa, needs to time before he is ready.
Pasitoa is a difficult one, I do not know what has happened there. It would appear due to his bigger body shape after his aweful injury run that they are looking at an outside centre position for him, and as you would know that is a diffuclt one to learn quickly and needs time. I suspect this years Australian Provisional comp if it happens or a Force development tour will be the time to give him time in the saddle.
Based on a Super Rugby Table Format 2025 was the best year tipping out 2022.
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Mr Pilfer
Ron Walden (29)
Getting rid of Cron now I am sure would send the club further backwards. In the last couple of years he has brought back a lot of quality players from overseas (BPA, Tizzano, Potter, Dolly, NCD). I am sure he is actively looking for more of the same to improve the squad and hopefully the carrot of the home world cup will help him.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
I don’t mean now when bringing him up but he’s contracted through next year. What is the result to extend?
If it’s 5 wins is that enough?
If it’s 5 wins is that enough?
Tazzmania
Dave Cowper (27)
I do not beleive it is a number, but rather further signs of improvement, ability to recruit / retain players, player buy in, and most importantly player development.
Agree with some points. Beale adding “voice” just doesn’t cut it for me. He should come off the bench just like JOC (James O'Connor) does.
Leahy has is green but I wouldn’t classify him as small. Would have thought he’d get a crack on the wing when Pietsch was injured.
Tazzmania
Dave Cowper (27)
Beale did come off the bench, Grealy started at fullback against the Tahs.
Poolman got first go due to having a few more Super games experience first, and also probably due to his height being 1.95m compared to Leahy's 1.88m, and a potential kick chaser at that height.
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Yeah was talking about a few weeks ago. When the force were still a good chance of finals.
Mr Pilfer
Ron Walden (29)
I would say finals next year as a minimum.
Twiggy has been very quiet lately, not sure if he made it to one game this year, if he was it wasn't promoted. All his claims of making the Force the biggest club in the world are not eventuating so he needs to pull his finger out and do something ha ha
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
Hopefully he doesn't pull his support out, then you're fucked
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
Don't think he will. It's such a small amount of money for him to keep a WA community organisation running.
He may not give a shit about them, but they may as well get their pocket money every year.
He may not give a shit about them, but they may as well get their pocket money every year.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Would depend on who else is a) available, and b) wants the job wouldn't it?
And the answer is probably not someone who ends up above Cron in a recruitment search
I'd say Cron is probably going to get another offer, whether they make finals or not
Nuggetyflyhalf
Peter Burge (5)
This is a cop out.
Nuggetyflyhalf
Peter Burge (5)
they had a good enough roster. When they were top 4 everyone was raving about them. Not a good year.
Cron has just been added to the AUNZ coaching ticket, I wonder if Les is starting to set up his potential coaching squad, piece says Zane is already going, maybe Cron too? https://www.rugby.com.au/news/cron-...nal-xv-coaching-staff-for-lions-match-2025527