Waratahs lose one star, but re-sign another
By Adrian Warren, 17 Mar 2010 Adrian Warren is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Brumbies, Dan Palmer, Kane Douglas, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
The Waratahs have re-signed one forward lost another and will hold talks on Wednesday with a third, as the Super 14 rugby player merry-go-round gathers momentum.
NSW announced on Tuesday they had re-signed emerging 20-year-old lock Kane Douglas for two years.
On the debit side, they lost highly regarded 21-year-old prop Dan Palmer to the Brumbies.
Wallabies hooker Adam Freier, who hasn’t played yet this season following back surgery and has been linked to Melbourne, will meet Waratahs coach Chris Hickey on Wednesday.
Hickey didn’t expect to get a decision from Freier on Wednesday, but would like to keep a player he described as “an important part of the Waratahs for probably seven or eight years, both on and off the field.”
“We’ll sit down and have a look at where his future might be heading,” Hickey told AAP.
Hickey said he was comfortable with where the Waratahs were in their contract negotiation, whilst admitting they could be a distraction.
“We’re well advanced at retaining all the players that we’re looking to retain,” Hickey told AAP.
Hickey was happy to retain the services of Douglas, who revealed he had at least one other suitor among the Australian Super franchises, having spoken to Melbourne Rebels coach Rod Macqueen.
“I gave it (Melbourne) a bit of thought, but deep down I probably wanted to stay, I like it here,” Douglas told reporters on Tuesday.
“My mum and dad just moved down recently (from Yamba on the NSW far north coast). I like the coaches and the players here, I think we’ve built a good team.”
Maintaining the family theme, Douglas is living in the unit of his older brother Luke, the NRL Sharks’ 2009 player of the year.
“I have it pretty easy, I live with my older brother and I don’t pay much rent,” Douglas said.
“Luke has come and watched me in the last two weeks, and then I went and watched him on Saturday, it’s good, I always go to his games whenever I can.”
On a Junior Waratahs professional contract at the start of this year, Douglas is being upgraded after a string of strong displays in four consecutive starting appearances.
“He’s worked really hard and his performances in the games he’s played have been terrific,” Hickey said of Douglas.
Having already played on the likes of Springboks star Victor Matfield, Douglas could line up against Wallabies stalwart Nathan Sharpe in this Saturday’s clash with the Force.
“It will be good, he’s a good player, to be honest, I just go out there and play my own game and then if I get a chance to go up against him, maybe put a hit on him,” said Douglas, who doesn’t consider himself a Test prospect yet.
Hickey was philosophical about losing Palmer, who has been unable to break into the to 22 this year behind Test props Al Baxter, Sekope Kepu and Benn Robinson.
“He felt that there was perhaps an opportunity for him with the Brumbies that perhaps wasn’t going to be available at the Waratahs for at least 12 months or so,” Hickey said of Palmer.
“I’m disappointed to see him go, but I understand his position and certainly wish him the best.”
Hickey remained optimistic Test back rower Wycliff Palu would be available for Saturday’s game with the Force in Perth after being rested from training early in the week after straining his hamstring against the Lions last Friday.
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James said | March 17th 2010 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Its a great move for Palmer if he can get some more game, but shouldn’t the Brumbies be chasing/ developing some depth at loose head. Alexander was great at tight head for the Wallabies last year and it is a shame he is not being played there by the Brumbies.
I think is a very short sighted move by the Brumbies.
Bay35Pablo said | March 17th 2010 @ 11:42am | Report comment
Douglas looks well worth retaining, but hardly “star” status yet. Palmer going to the Brummies is strange, given it would appear better to go to the Rebels to get time, unless the BRummies know they are about to lose someone. Again, hardly call him a “star”.
This is what having 5 sides is all about, these type of players having somewhere else to shine. Could never happen to the same extent with only 2 state sides, and the Shute Shield could only do so much.
ballboy said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
James – Alexander has been one of the standout if not THE standout prop in the S14. I can’t understand the constant criticism of the Brumbies coaching staff when playing Ben at LH has freed him up and allowed him to utilise his skills wide of the ruck. Look at his stats compared with all other props.
formeropenside said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
ballboy – props are (or should be) judged firstly on their scrummaging; anything else is mere cream on the cake. I dont know that Alexander has been the most devastating LHP going around come scrumtime; if anyone, that is probably Benn Robinson, much as it pains me to say it.
Balthazaar said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more. The sooner Australian rugby followers start judging their props by their scrummaging skills first, and all else a distant second, the better.
JK said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
I think most of us do, but I understand what you are saying, Personally I can gauge a prop’s performance based on how many times the commentators call thier names outside of scrums, if I don’t hear anything they’ve usually had a bloody blinder.
Hawko said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
The loss of Palmer from the Tahs is typical of their short term thinking. Already this year Ben Robinson and TPN have played injured and now it looks like Palu will this week. The plaudits for Alexander over Robinson are a direct result, Ben hasn’t been playing his best. Fitzpatrick should have had more game time to allow TPN to recover for the harder games ahead and give him a chance to establish his credentials. Palmer has had no time to prove himself because the only time Baxter has been off the field Kepu, a LHP, has replaced him. Now McCaffrey, our next long term number 8 when Palu goes, after the S14 if rumours are true, can’t get any S14 experience against a team that is badly wounded and on the bottom of the table. Nadolo and Betham can’t get a game either.
From what I have seen, Palmer, Fitzpatrick, Kepu and McCaffrey would not be disgraced by being selected this week, they would be starting every week if they were with the Force. Short term thinking as is evident here will have academy guys moving out to other teams just to get a start to prove themselves.
ballboy said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
Former – in the days of old, yes. Props were rated on their scrummaging, their abilit to act like a brick wall on the try line and little else. But times have changed. Just as backs are now expected to do their bit in the mauls and cleanouts, fowards are expected to contribute to the skills aspect of the game – passing, catching and kicking. And I agree that Robinson is probably the best scrummager in the engine room – but what’s his overall contribution to the game? Not as influential – I didn’t realise he was carrying an injury.
The Brumbies have bought very well over the last year and Palmer is another good young promising prospect. Similarly, the Tahs may have just let another one slip away. The irony in all this is the Brumbies are having a dream run with no injuries so the guys in waiting must be getting edgy. And when they do get an injury (Mortlock) everyone celebrates because the great man is not really hitting his straps this season. Can’t wait to see how T. Smith goes this Friday.
Balthazaar said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
And as soon as an opponent brings to a test match a very strong scrum, such thinking is exposed for what it is, poor judgement.
Australia has recently gone down the path of thinking of props as an extension of their backrow abilities.
Who wants Marsailles QF 2007 to happen again?
When the going gets tough, and playoff games in the Rugby World Cup are amongst the toughest, teams will ruthlessly target weaknesses in the opposition.
If Australian selectors ignore the potential match-turning strength of the scrum, through promoting balllrunning but insubstantial scrummaging props, the Wallabies will always have an Archilles heel, rather than a strength to be drawn from in ardurous circumstances.
formeropenside said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
From about 2003 – 2007 the Australian scrum was average to poor as a result of picking props with workrate, and as a result we lost a lot of useful first phase possession.
Occasionally a prop is described to me as “being like an extra backrower”, which sounds good, until you realise that the backrowers cant act as an extra prop in the scrum.
Brett McKay said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
speaking of new props guys, the Brumbies have named Jerry Yanayanatawa on the bench this week in place of Guy Shepherdson. Not sure if Shep has an injury or what. Andrew Smith has taken Tyrone Smith’s bench spot..
Brett McKay said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
Canberra Times story, seems Shep has an option to leave after this year…
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/mortlock-out-of-clash-with-blues-20100317-qdjt.html
Empire said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
Some are missing the point here, Alexander has been awesome in the scrum so far – certainly had it all over a springbok front row last week.
He has proven, on both sides of the scrum that he can compete, and win against the best.
Tie in a good running game and solid defence, and you have a great player in the making. He is relatively young, and should improve further.
Enough of this NSW/Brumbies comparison (at least until they play!).
Think rather that Robinson, TPN and Alexander look like they will give scrums for the next few years pain whilst in the green and gold – that’s worth looking forward to!
mattamkII said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
JK – very good call.
My club and comp has an avid photographer who take hundreds of pics every week and puts them up on facebook. While its nice to a pic of myself, I have a theory that if I am more than a few feet away from hitting a ruck, then I am doing the wrong thing.
Brett…Shep has been struggling since 2007.
I think we all agree here. The difference a powerful scrum can make cant be measured.