The Waratahs coaching and management staff have again demonstrated that they are not able to make appropriate decisions.
It is mid year and with it, comes the Bledisloe and the Tri Nations tournaments. The Wallabies are generating the stories. So, why an article about the NSW Waratahs?
We hear from the Waratahs that they are frantically looking to replace Timana Tahu, and that the search is complicated by most Australian outside backs already signed for season 2010. Further, the Waratahs are considering combining the cash to bid for one outside back marquee player.
We heard the same bleating when they lost Dunning and Kepu to serious injuries a few months prior to the 2009 Super 14’s commencement.
This is yet another example of the Waratahs coaching and management team’s poor decision making based on a cover your arse by recruiting big names rather than take a perceived risk with a younger player. Further, it demonstrates not appreciating the:
– Ability of young players to step up;
– Wealth of talent that should already be in the Waratahs academy squad;
– Wealth of talent running around in club rugby;
– Long term insult and disillusionment that overlooked players suffer when an import arrives unnecessarily;
– Proven track record of young players in League, AFL and Soccer;
The Waratahs have first pick of a massive number of locally grown rugby players. These players know the game, its nuances, its culture and the Waratahs as an organisation. They can all play multiple positions. They remain in situ and so are supported by their own friends and family networks.
These players play open attractive rugby every weekend in clubland. Here are a few: McCabe, Andrew Smith, Grant, Josh Holmes (as an outside back), Azar (Easts), Rathbone, Shortis (Norths), Kellam (Woodies), Wright (‘Wicks) or any one of a plethora from Wests Pirates. My first choice would be Grant from Eastwood.
Some of these have been snaffled by other Super 14 teams, but others are just waiting patiently. You can probably get 3 for the price of one! And they bring excitement, enthusiasm and flair.
The current Waratahs management are still demonstrating that they are not up to the job and have not addressed the poor strategy and tactics that characterised the 2009 season. It’s not too late.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Stockpiling. rubbish. each S14 team has a maximum number of players. No one in their right mind would assemble a squad tilted towards one particular area, say Outside backs. No one. Not even the Tahs. Like an employer, employees will examine the offering of each employer and then move to the best employer. Sportsmen are no different, even if sometimes they dont get the chance to do this and have to take a risk!! Just ask Barnes and Ioane and Chambers when they joined the Koalas.
AndyS
Guest
Players displaced from the Waratahs by recruits from the Reds go to the Force - jees, you'd be stretching now wouldn't you? Would it be all players belong to the 'Tahs until they don't, or something? Cummins - was never in the 'Tahs(?), so how was he displaced? Cross - was taken straight from League Dunning - was displaced by who from the Reds? Holmes - I believe was with the 'Tahs, but was displaced by who from the Reds? Sheehan - was displaced by Holmes from the Brumbies, not by anyone from the Reds Staniforth - was displaced to Europe by the 'Tahs fascination with League players, not Reds players. Queenslanders though I suppose, at a long stretch.
JK
Guest
What is stockpiling? From what I can gather Tahs have a decent starting line up, but for a few reserve props the rest is not of high calibre or standard, yet! In professional organisations you try and acquire the best available, they have 28-30 spots are they not meant to try and fill those spots with quality? On top of that it's a competition, it's not the Tah's job to make Qld competetitive.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
el capt, Dont feel sorry for the players supposedly bumped. this is life and us NSWers realise it. you Koala supproters are only just now gettting used to full priced petrol. beale for one will rejoice. finally, he will have the experience to guide him as Barnes did for Cooper. More important, barnes seems to be a very impressive young man off the field!!!! bay35, Pablo, are you serious? I dont want him to stay at the Koalas. I want to win a S14 and build aust rugby as a result!!! sure the Qlders are screaming but the seeds were laid long ago...........
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
El Capitan, Nice to see the general feeling amongst Tahs fans appears to be "Nice to have him, but we'd prefer Barnes had stayed at the Reds to rebuild and make them strong", whereas Reds fans response seems to be "Barnes you pr!ck! Ya boo to you tahs, hope you fail." I am also puzzled by the suggestion there will be some resentment within the tahs. My suggestion would be all these blokes are pros, and want to play with the best players to make them a better team, and better players. Even younger players in the team (like Beale) or in the academy side (who can hardly say they will be kept out of the starting team), are likely to want to have a player like Barnes in the side. I am interested to see what mentoring Barnes may be able to provide to Beale, given we haven't had a 5/8 able to do that (given our best 5/8s have tended to be at best average to date). tahs stockpiling? Most of the side will be the same as last year. Mitchell and Barnes suddenly makes a stockpile? Go look at the brumbies winter wood pile!!! They bring on a good couple of juniors for 5/8, but then sign Giteau. Take Moore, Elsom, etc etc. Good for the goose? Barnes apparently said to Herbert the decision was not a finanical one. Which sounds like he wanted to play for a more competitive team. I would have preferred to see him build one at the Reds, as I thoguht they were starting to show signs of rebuilding this year, but clearly barnes didn't have the patience. While that would be preferred, I can understand him going to a side where he can have more of a shot at a title, and also probably more of a chance of playing whichever of 10 or 12 he wanted.
El Capitan
Guest
The finest satisfaction for us Reds fans will be in the Tahs don't win the comp with the cattle that they have now. But I feel more for the Tahs players that will be replaced by these new signings, and you never know, as the these players may spread a lack of teamwork, as being dirty to those who have taken their place without earning it. Had Barnes gone to the Force it wouldn't have been a big deal, but with the Tahs stockpiling players thats whats not right in Aust rugby. Aslo has Barnes shot himself in the foot by moving to the Tahs? By this I mean he was a standout for the Reds, and Deans could see this, but if the Tahs stumble along the way next season will that put his position up in the air if another player steps up in the Super 14 from the Force or Reds? Just a thought to be put out there....
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
And will Chambers is now renegotiating, Hmmm, not sure from what basis he is doing this, but anyway, he may be better of going woth the flow and coming to the Tahs also. we are very accommodating. Of course, the article has now come the full circle. What has happened to the NSW players who have been replaced by Qld players, Mowen, Barnes, Mitchell, and any others?? they certainly havent gone to the Koalas (except the faiiinga brothers), But to the force (Cummings, Cross, Dunning, Luke Holmes, Sheehan, Staniforth, ) and to the Brumbies (Fainifo, Zippa, AAC, Chisholm, Smith X 2). A bit of a merry go round, with the Koalas losing out!!!
bozo
Guest
The problem is a bit deeper than those with their hands on the levers at the moment. For instance Paul Warwick and Peter Hewat couldn't get a start in Queensland and had to come to NSW before establishing great careers in Europe late in a rugby players life.
mother teresa
Guest
EL CAPITAN mooney is a problem ;his record is terrible and he has been there since millers term always blaming others and when they depart a new lot get the blame. excuses,excuses. under 19 is his level.a good coach has the head and heart of his players; a mutual respect not see you later(in droves) bring in foley
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
other than Mitchell in west, the aussie coaches are inexperienced and yet there are plenty going around overseas and in clubland. Look at McKee or Melrose.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
reds fan, thanks for that. Should be interesting for Berrick. Anyway, its not as if the crowd is all that aggressive. Reds Fan, I note it is singular, "Fan", are you the last one standing? Foley would be the man to build the future around! except that he's taken. Ha, ha, ha!!!! Tell you what, you can have the tahs backs coach. Wisemantel, but we call him Unwisemantel!!!
El Capitan
Guest
You can't blame Mooney who had to rebuild with the poor decisions from Jones and the affect he had on that team to be beaten by the Bulls. As I've previously said, last season wasn't that bag a season. There was 4 games that were lost by less than 6 points (including loosing to the Tahs due to a lucky bounce) and a dodgey decision against the Highlanders that cost them the game. If the Rub of the green was there there would be no problem. Mgt is a problem, but the coach can only do so much, and its not like his track record is bad, coaching the Australian U19's.
mother teresa
Guest
reds fan i agree with fred those stooges at qru should as qlders all walk if they have any character;a disgrace; any organisation is only as good as its leadership and putting up with incompetents says more about us than them
FRED
Guest
RDES FAN,no youre wrong . it makes a big difference;well done, a first step.thankyou
reds fan
Guest
But Fred we all know who they are. Freer, Lewis, Mooney. Naming that makes no difference. So I still dont get your point. And yes I think they should all go.
FRED
Guest
reds fan. you suggest there is nothing you can do to relieve your frustration;try naming the mgt and coaches that coincide with being in the bottom 3 for the last 6 years.name and shame.mooney keeps his position having been there all that time.barnes just the latest consequence(.who is your local mp,do you know his name) LAS foley ,a qlder would be a good start
reds fan
Guest
It's in Sydney LAS. And he'll first have to front up at Suncorp in Sept to play against the Bokke.
JK
Guest
Oh, they have PLENTY of room!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
I must say that I have received an unpredicted amount of pleasure from this article. I wrote it expecting to get some other names of bright young things in syd grade and support for my criticism of the tahs Then barnes arrives and Ioane must be close too. But the best bit is the reaction from our northern brethren. The swirling hyperbole, and complete disregard for the sloppy way Qld is still run is great. The more crisis the closer they are to the bottom and the resurgence. Its not as tho the Koalas havent produced the players, they just cant keep them. So get ahead of the pack, go on a big recruitment drive of the next crop and pop out the other side with a strong young team for the future. Actually, dont do any of that and I can keep paying out my Qld mates!!!!! Where is the NSW QLD game next year? I dont remember? For Berrick's sake, I hope it is Sydney. Now back to all the options we have to use the copious amount of ball we will be getting next year from a pack one year on and more seasoned and very well coached by Mr Foley. Isnt he from Qld too?? Oh yea!!!!!!!!!
westy
Guest
Tarpo QLD continues to produce outanding rugby union juniors. The overriding reality is that they are enticed to better training and competitions of rugby league at U/16 ; U/18; U/20 or enticed by other rugby franchises. This will worsen with the new Melbourne franchise. The more accurate statement is the QRU have the poorest record of retaining quality local juniors of any union in Australia.The fact they are the second largest market for such juniors is even more telling. QLD Reds have now finished in the bottom 3 for six years in a row. Groung hog day cannot continue or it will become a self fulfilling prophecy.You and I know the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast bids have more to do with general dissatisfaction of rugby in QLD than anything else. While others rattle the cage of the NRL about Hunt it is a sad day when such a player at 22 despite generous approaches by the Reds does not even consider the Reds a worthwhile risk. The Reds were up there and he still chose AFL!