Comments on: Tahs signings a slap in the face for locals

By: Georgie McHugh

Georgie McHugh — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:51:46 +0000

Do you know if Luke is still playing with Gordon?

By: a girl

a girl — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:36:01 +0000

He has been out for the year (2010) after a shoulder opperation in february. He is getting back into it next year..

By: Gee

Gee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:40:55 +0000

Old man Emu people in sydneys west do feel disenfranchised with the Waratahs, the western sydney teams – Parramatta and Penrith are goin downhill as there is no local interest and lack of attraction to local and other players as there is no “Waratahs” playing for these teams, so how are the two teams meant to support, represent and boost Western Sydney if there are no Waratah players playing for these teams. How many Waratahs are running around for Randwick or Uni compared to Penrith and Parramatta ?

By: OldManEmu

OldManEmu — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:57:02 +0000

Dear me Yikes – theferocity of that response suggest you might have a personal stake in the administration of NSW Rugby.

Take it from me, as someone who lives west of Homebush, quite a deal west, country folk and particularly those south of say Cowra regard the Brumbies as a NSW country team. So whatever the reasons, people in NSW country do feel disenfranchised from the Waratahs.

By: Yikes

Yikes — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:55:22 +0000

Oh Hammer. You’re really going back to the greatest hits here. Warehousing players in academies? That old chestnut? How many times does this ridiculous myth have to be debunked on the Roar before people get with the program? Your comments on courses are so comical they don’t deserve a response!

By: Yikes

Yikes — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:45:41 +0000

Oh what a load of crap!

The team’s been to Bathurst, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Newcastle, Central Coast in the last couple of years and will go to Lismore and Orange for games next season.

By: Hammer

Hammer — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:33:36 +0000

Wow try and figure out whats happening at the Tah’s, GOOD Luck. Over the years I have seen a gradual decline in good coaching, coaching programs, the ARU level 1,2 and 3 programs are so for behind the time its a disgrace. So the outcome is simple junior players are not being properly developed, they are in academies that flog them measure them, council them but rarely coach rugby. so it’s far easier to (as in NSW’s) warehouse them so they don’t get games. Then when they look around for replacements or are recruiting its again far easier to get players from overseas that have ben COACHED properly.

EG. Luke Rissman played NSW B in last years Nationals in Canberra. Won a place in the Aust Schoolboys, then won starting spot in the team. I believe that no Australian province has showed any interest in him. 187cm 100Kg;s Australian Schools player with no province ???

I don’t know where or if he is still playing but he is typical of the lack of support our professional teams give our elite pathways.

By: Hoy

Hoy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:47:35 +0000

I was under the impression he signed for Manly after the ARC, as NSW wouldn’t play him, they only said he would be in the squad or academy. He wanted to start, and I think from memory, after some good games possibly had a case for starting for the Tahs.

But then, he went to League pretty easily, so who knows. He is going well there.

I remember watching him play the ARC and there was massive talk that he would be in the ilk of SBW, but it looks like he has gotten a lot bigger than what he was, and has lost a fair bit of mobility. Not too sure he ever had the handling of SBW either. Still, he goes in hard.

By: jerome

jerome — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:48:28 +0000

Yeh thats the bloke. He would certainly seem to be forth choice at the Brumbies but I would be very surprised if he wasn’t a better option than Lealiifano. He represented SA in U/19′s and U/21′s and was selected in the wider Springboks training group in 2008 before signing with the Brumbies.

By: smithy09

smithy09 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:58:01 +0000

I know for a fact they made an offer to Cameron Treloar before last season before the coach was anounced then withdrew it after Hickey was announced as coach. Then again this year looked like offering him a deal before telling him with the loss of Lote Tuquri their most important option was to secure an outside back leaving him no choice to sign again in Italy somewhere. In the past 2 years he captained the Rays in the ARC to the championship, won the Italian Championship with Calvisano and also played Heineken cup last year. Whilst he has only made a few appearances in club rugby in the last few years he has played well over 100 first grade for Warringah. Surely he may have been a better option. Hard to say as not easy to monitor his form whilst in Italy.

By: Vented Relief

Vented Relief — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:21:56 +0000

Don’t forget Freier. NSW has a multitude of good hookers at the moment.

By: chris, syd Aust

chris, syd Aust — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:05:24 +0000

was that the chap that sent in the dvd of himself coz he couldnt crack a s14 safa side… sounds like he would be 4th choice fly half now.

1. gits
2. tomua
3. leleafino
4. dollie

By: jerome

jerome — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:58:04 +0000

A little off the topic but considering the Waratahs signed Roodt does anyone know what happened to the Saffa fly-half Isma-eel Dollie who the Brumbies signed at the end of 2008? I don’t think I heard him mentioned once during the Super 14 this year.

By: Cracker

Cracker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:55:00 +0000

Pardon my ignorance on that one. I thought Hargreaves had just finished his first year of league.

I remember them talking him up a few years ago prior to the ARC and during that tournament was the only time I’d seen him play, but he was a big boy then and at 18 years old he seemed primed for great things.

By: Bay35Pablo

Bay35Pablo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:05:54 +0000

Central North, Parramatta’s Sitiveni Mafi springs to mind, but you’d said he’s off the boil. So does Hugh Perrett, but I think he’s a flanker. Beyond that I’d have to do some research. I can’t say I know the club ranks well enough to suggest blokes who can step up, but in a way this is part of the comment. Why aren’t they lined up and being developed? Where’s Jimmy L’Estrange’s club rugby factory? Are we really having to go to foreign players for good reason?

By: Rah Rah Rasputin

Rah Rah Rasputin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:04:33 +0000

Cracker, it was also right about the time Rocky Elsom was coming into his own as a No 6. The Tahs also had Palu and Lyons. It looked like his path was blocked, so you can’t blame him really.

I think the recruitment of Jowitt shows that players don’t come from the shute shield ready made for super 14, especially when it comes to tight five forwards.

There is also the new super rugby team to consider which is bound to drain talent.

I wouldn’t be so surprised if the Tahs move Mumm to blindside flanker, given all the lock talent they have – Caldwell, Douglas, Thomson, Roodt, Mafi. Maybe there is also some ongoing concern about Will Caldwell. He hasn’t been on the field since the end of the Super 14 and rumours are that he has lost a tremendous amount of weight. And for that matter, what about Fava?

My 2010 Tahs are:

Robinson
Polota- Nau
Baxter
Caldwell
Jowitt
Mumm
Waugh
Palu
Burgess
Barnes
Mitchell
Carter
Horne
Turner
Beale

re: Fitzpatrick, Kepu, Roodt/ Douglas/ Mafi, Mowen, Holmes, Sidey/ Halangahu, Anesi

By: Firestarter Bob

Firestarter Bob — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:55:07 +0000

The Waratahs gave up being a NSW team long ago.

By: The Link

The Link — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:18:30 +0000

Was he ever on the Tahs roster? He’s at the end of his 2nd year of RL BTW.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:00:16 +0000

Cracker, he was outstanding as a 6 for the Rays during the ARC, but was already signed by Manly at that point. He’ll be with the Roosters next year..

By: Central North

Central North — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:00:04 +0000

They offered him 180k per season when he was just 18 years old, that’s how.

By: Cracker

Cracker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:48:48 +0000

How did NSW let go Jared Hargreaves-Waeres? He was a very promising number 8 and has now gone to Manly and is running around belting people for NZ in the current league 4 nations. In the media there is no mention that he’s a rugby player and in his first year of proper league. But how could NSW let him get away when they knew how good he could be. I think he’s still only 20

By: Jameswm

Jameswm — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:40:48 +0000

Thanks rusty – I like him then, if that’s his style.

Thanks Jimmy – forgot about Anesi.

So Tahs 22 looking like this?

1 Robinson
2 TPN
3 Baxter
4 Caldwell
5 Mumm
6 Mowen
7 Waugh
8 Palu
9 Burgess
10 Barnes
11 Anesi
12 Beale
13 Horne
14 Turner
15 Mitchell

16 Fitzpatrick
17 Kepu/Palmer
18 Roodt
19 Fava
20 Holmes
21 Halangahu
22 Carter/Nasiganyavi

Also
Cam Jowitt
Chris Thomson
Rory Sidey

Weakest position is 13 I think. Tight 5 not what it used to be unless they let Roodt give us some grunt!

By: Central North

Central North — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:40:02 +0000

David Dennis came through the Tahs Academy system and he has always been seen as a 6, not a lock, at provincial level. Don’t confuse the fact he plays primarily lock for Sydney Uni – Cutter’s spot on about his height/weight stats.

Who’s been snubbed at club level?

Thomson is in the squad, Douglas – who’s got genuine height and if he’s anywhere near as tough as his brother Luke (Sharks prop in the NRL) will have no problem stepping up – is still a tad green to mix it around the park, Mafi seems to have gone off the boil (and I keep hearing whispers he’s being shopped around here and overseas in union and league) and like Douglas is green.

Bay – can you give me some options?

By: Rusty

Rusty — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:29:38 +0000

Roodt is a great move as he is a typical 4, not a 5 or hybrid as most locks nowadays are. So you can expect him to be putting his bulk (121kg) into the tight and scrums instead of swanning around in the centres. For that reason he is a great loss to the SA rugby and Bulls academy. Not to mention the supporters who were rooting for Roodt

By: JimmyJam

JimmyJam — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:29:34 +0000

Mumm also covers 6 if one of these new guys fills role of lock with either Caldwell or Thomson

By: JimmyJam

JimmyJam — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:27:16 +0000

Guys,
Roodt was signed as an emerging player who can eventually play for the wallabies via residence. Jowitt has an australain parent or grandparent. Anesi was the marqee signing.

By: jerome

jerome — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:19:33 +0000

Hendrick Roodt was signed under the marquee rule because he hasn’t represented South Africa and so therefore could play for the Wallabies in 3 years time, provided he’s good enough and stays long enough to qualify.

By: Jameswm

Jameswm — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:07:50 +0000

NSW recruited Dennis to play 6.

My question is – even if Mowen is your primary no.6, who will play there if he gets injured?

Also – interesting that one of these foreign players was signed as a marquee player – I’ve never heard of either. Surely if you want a marquee name you’d try for a Matfield or Chabal?

By: Bay35Pablo

Bay35Pablo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:53:07 +0000

Cutter, that suggests Dennis (i) wasn’t recruited properly by NSW given he has tended to play as a lock, and (ii) really was the bottom of the barrel for the Wallabies.

A few years ago we were swimming in locks. Where have they gone? Is this a problem with the insistence on them being utilities and able to play 6 as well?

By: Cutter

Cutter — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:53 +0000

Dennis is a club lock. He would only ever be a provincial 6. At 192cm and around 105kg, he isnt big enough for a lock’s set piece work. Whilst I dislike the residency rule in rugby (as with cricket where England will soon have 11 South Africans playing for them), Dennis isnt the answer.