Former Test hooker Brendan Cannon is astounded by the Melbourne Rebels’ inability to land a current Wallaby star and predicts a horror entry into the Super 15.
Last week Test rugby league star Israel Folau announced he would not join the Rebels after protracted negotiations, adding to a long list of players who’ve declined an offer from the new franchise.
More importantly, Melbourne have failed to lure any big name Wallabies ahead of their 2011 introduction to Super rugby.
When the Force joined an expanded competition in 2006 they signed Australia’s best lock and Queensland skipper Nathan Sharpe, which gave the new side immediate credibility.
“It astounds me that they still don’t have their roster full, if they’d managed to jag a Berrick Barnes or a Peter Hynes or a Benn Robinson, one of those guys they were targeting, they would have had their roster full by now,” said Cannon.
“With the concessions that they were given they should have been highly competitive from day one and I’m astounded they haven’t been able to capitalise on it.
“They’ve been really hamstrung by the fact that they haven’t been able to secure a marquee, mid-20s player who’s an established Wallaby like Nathan Sharpe was for the Force.
“All the younger guys looked at Sharpie and thought, if he’s prepared to make the move and take the punt well that’s good enough for me.
“Until they do, and it doesn’t look as though they’re going to, the fact that they haven’t been able to secure someone of that ilk, a reasonably well-established Wallaby, highly-respected and regarded amongst their peers, they’re going to really struggle to fill their side with that balance of talent.”
The Rebels have been called a Dad’s Army by some, after signing aging players such as Stirling Mortlock, Greg Somerville, Sam Cordingley and Julian Huxley.
They have young Test prop-in-waiting Laurie Weeks, who was last week including in the Wallabies squad, capped English five-eighth Danny Cipriani, and some emerging talent but otherwise their star power is dim.
Cannon questioned whether the signing of Rebels coach Rod Macqueen, who steered Australia to Rugby World Cup victory in 1999 amid multiple Bledisloe Cup wins, was the filip it appeared.
“Rod Macqueen is 10 years out of the game, two years is a long time in rugby, 10 years is a life-time,” he said.
“The current group of players wouldn’t really know who Rod Macqueen is or what his credentials have been so that may not have been the masterstroke that people thought it would have become.”
He said the Rebels were also victims of the recent success of Queensland, who lost a lot of players to the Force when they were starting up, at a time when the Reds were struggling on and off the field.
The timing of next year’s World Cup in New Zealand also didn’t help, with players unwilling to take a chance on the unknown and risk a possible representative berth.
TembaVJ
Guest
Israel is a pay check player and union don't want them sort. I though he has played AFL before, he cant even kick!!! Kicking is a basic skill that these lads learn from the age of 2-3, its not the same a rugby kick. He does not even know the positions on the field. This is a pay cheque stunt and one that will burn him and the club. No thanks my rebels can find heart and guts for far less.
Red Rooster
Guest
Nicky - valiant statements - make sure you aren't the one offering up the excuses next year because they dont have any excuses based on your comments. Have you ever asked yourself why Macqueen only does short stints as a coach - its called timing. If he actually operated as a career coach then he would not have anywhere near the same record as it would have gone with the world class players that left on 02 and 03. He is good but so are his staff and players. This will be an interesting test after 9 years
Red Rooster
Guest
They have 26 signed by my count - they need wingers and No.6's
Rockin Rod
Guest
QUADE COOPER
Rockin Rod
Guest
Nice call Justin. Mark gerrard is a huge signing for the REBELS
Geoff
Guest
The Rebels needn't worry too much about being the hind suckersanyway, the Lions will be there for that honor!
Apelu Tielu
Guest
Mudsi...Kingi and Betham are better known than Larkham when Mcqueen plucked him from ACT's third grade. Their stars will rise under Mcqueen, and Robbie will have a problem with where to play them. The Wallabies' future back-line resources are going to be overflowing. Dean has already left out some really good players in Barnes, L. Turner, Chambers, Peter Ryan, not to mention Rod Davis. So many brilliant backs, but we can't buy a good lock!
Nicky V
Guest
Some Valid points, Including lack of a "Marquee, mid 20's player." I agree with the notion that this has hurt the Rebels chances of luring bigger fish. However the roster that has been put together will be solid, Friere,Mortlock, Sommerville, Weekes, Huxley, Cipriani, Delve, Kingi, etc. Depth seems to be the problem, it will be interesting to see how things pan out if injuries strike. Cannon must get paid by the word for writing these articles because his rant about McQueen is way off the mark. McQueen has been there and seen it all in rugby, not to mention won a hell of a lot a trophies along the way. The fundamentals of rugby have never changed and he has still remained on the scene enough to keep up with the modern trends of the game. Furthermore coaching is not is not all about tactics it's also about managing men. There is no doubt the the coaching support staff, (strength and conditioning coach, forwards, backs etc) will be high quality.
inkosi
Roar Rookie
Haven't they only got 10 spots left to fill? With Folau off to AFL does anyone else know any big names on their radar?
mudskipper
Guest
Cannon is new to journalism... However Melbourne Rebels will need to build their own stars... It took the Brumbies years to help develop guys like AAC, Mortlock, Giteau, Lealiifano and Toomua. I'm sure they'll be picking up some young talent soon. Kingi and Betham are already signed and could be future stars.
TommyM
Guest
Cannon is a MUPPET!!
Brett McKay
Guest
This followed last week's bizarre rant unloading on Timana Tahu - I'm more astounded that Brendan Cannon has turned so catty....
TembaVJ
Guest
I am with Sixo clock, Rod Mcqueen was a master stroke, you cannot put a price on leadership. They have sport scientist and assistant coaches to deal with the more modern build of a rugby player but Rod is in the Jake White mould inspirational leader that is able to extract that extra 10% out of a players mind and body. Cannon must be smoking his socks as the last 3 RWC have been won by the most experienced sides. THe second year recruits will learn alot form the old heads and it will establish a good foundation for the future. No oe in their right mind expects them to go out in year one and beat teams like the Bulls and Crusaders to the finish line.
John
Guest
Looking at that squad I can't help but agree with him (that's a first). That said - when people looked at the Brumbies squad in 1996 they said the Brumbies wouldn't win a game all season. This statement: “The current group of players wouldn’t really know who Rod Macqueen is or what his credentials have been so that may not have been the masterstroke that people thought it would have become." Would have to qualify as the single most idiotic statement I have EVER heard from anyone in ANY sport. It is hard to name a coach in Rugby history who has achieved more. He is the only man to have won the Tri or 6 Nations, Lions tour and World Cup. If a professional Rugby player doesn't know who Rod Macqueen is then I am not at all surprised by the tactical idiocy that has often been employed by our S14 teams this year.
Apelu Tielu
Guest
Why is Cannon shooting off like an uncontrolled, rusty cannon? Never heard anything more stupid being printed in the media. May be his time as a hooker had cooked his brain, than he forget about history and does not seen to have the capacity to analyse data. I doubt if anyone in the know expect the Rebels to be anything but more than being competitive next year. McQueen does not need stars as he can make anyone who is willing a star.
Red Rooster
Guest
Not much good if your leaders are on the sidelines. There is another 8 months of wear and tear before they even play. Only one will be on the end of season tour so they will training hard as a group (an advantage) but the question is how hard some of the players will be able to train and how often. It is certainly good to have a bunch of leaders but the Brumbies proved this year that too many does not make a title. The biggest issue will be the actual coaching. Rod will lead but the devil is in the detail - this will be done by others. Clear messages amidst a diverse group of rugby cultures will be another challenge. Ego management could be the Rebels greatest hurdle from the owners down the line. It will be interesting to see who gets quoted the most in the papers when the "new" ownership structure is put under pressure when the actual games begin
Justin
Guest
Brendon we don't have Firepower in Melbourne ;) Fair dinkum this guy is a goose. Rod is one of the most famous coaches around. To say that any of the players don't know who he is is laughable.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
It isn't a mindless comment. Amateur rugby is remarkably similar in ethos (in contrast to decades ago). Professional rugby isn't. Paul Sackey noted how much the game had changed after being injured for a period of months. As an Englishman the greatest example I can find of the changing nature of profesional rugby union is the 2005 Lions tour. Sir Clive Woodward was so off the pace he led what was arguably the greatest Lions loss in nearly half a century. Rod McQ wasn't successful with a poor Australian side, he was successful with some of the greatest players ever to pull on an Australian jersey. Granted he achieved with the Brumbies (and against all odds too), but this obsession with the man is a little OTT IMO.
mw
Roar Rookie
I would be concerned that players like Mortlock and Freier have spent so much time on the sideline in the past couple of seasons and are now not good enough to make a starting team. A 3 year contract for Mortlock is just foolish. However I agree all signings have leadership in spades.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
What Rod McQ has is timeless, it is called Leadership. It is the single most important outcome that we wish for all our players should they choose our game. It is why our game is played all over the world supported by businesses who recognise the symbiotic benefits. He should do very well because Rugby has not changed essentially for a hundred years. It is still a Team contest where the collective hearts and brains can decide the outcome against the odds, and in that environment Leaders make the difference. Why would Cannon say such a mindless thing? Mmmmmm.