Will the Waratahs Fan Forum deliver another roasting?

Of course, you have to have access to a train, which means anyone on the Northern Beaches has to get over the Harbour Bridge to get there. Not possible on a Friday night. When we used to go to a game it took over an hour to get there and park - and pay for the priveledge of parking in a muddy paddock and longer on the way home. Pity about Homebush because virtually anyone in Sydney can get there easily. Old Lady

Tom Carter is too worried about how good he is looking to be worried about what is happening to the rest of the team. I wouldn't have him on the bench. He barely passes, can't kick and goes AWOL when it gets a bit hard. Classic seagull Old Lady

Yep it's a results business. It's been a problem at the Brumbies for the past few years. Apart from this season obviously they have been winning games. The fickle fans still expect the style of play that was seen when Larkham, Roff and co were playing. It's not always going to happen. The squad is young and the players have very different skill sets to the former greats. The Brumbies will be very young next year and Jake White's first priority is to work on them up front and build combos. The forwards have been solid but Rea and Friend gelled no combinations

Ulugia was still poor. He was a solid player at the Brumbies but was squeezed out because of reduced squads and Edmonds and Moore in the squad.

I've just read elsewhere about the potential centralized academy approach you mentioned. I hadn't realized it was a national academy potentially based in Sydney and Brisbane. It is suggested that the state based academies (Tahs, Brumbies etc.) will be replaced by this ARU run academies. This changes everything.

I think the playing style did change after the last forum - fact is the forums should be uneccessary but the last one seems to have contributed to some positive changes.

There is a request mechanism, Rickety. All clubs know what it is and how to do it, including Avoca Beach. You have a new, hard working development officer now on the Central Coast who hails from your own club. Use him.

I guess my main question is about development. Perhaps it's more of a question for the ARU but the Waratahs must have a hand in their own academy. Now I'm going way off topic and returning to a old rant, but I believe the academy competition is incredibly important. Many on the Roar lament that we don't have player depth in Australia. That is not correct. You just have to look at the talent running around in the state schoolboys championship to see that the future is promising. It was recently quoted that ARU have 750 schoolboys on the pathways to gold program. Where do they go after school? Colts is a great development tool but it doesn't have the "'prestige" of being on an academy program. The goal of being a super rugby player appears closer if you are in the junior stable. This is the appeal of the Toyota Cup in the NRL. The pathway is map out as Elijah Taylor said (see earlier post). I still think these up and coming players need to do the hard work through Colts and Grade but concentrating the national talent in one competition (in addition to Colts if possible) would assist their development. Money is obviously a hurdle, but these guys don't need much money. Toyota cup are only basically paid grocery money. An academy comp would cost substantially less that the ARC. We saw how well players like Beale played in the ARC when exposed to a tier 3 type competition. The jump from grade to super rugby is great. These players need another tier. I think an academy comp should cater for players under 26 years.

It's only 6 months since the first forum but so far they have: - appointed a new head coach and a senior assistant coach... Which may bring a different playing style - started to engage with the community better, via the Community Connect program. I agree we don't need 10,0000 coaches, but after years of frustration (real or perceived) it's refreshing to have a voice. All ideas don't have to be implemented (we'd end up with a camel); but as long as we are given a reasonable explanation why it can't happen and an outline of the big picture we'll be happy 'most' of the time ;) . As fans we just want to be kept in the loop.

Levelheaded - what avenues do we have to go to the 'source' and ask? Agree with you on the signing of Pretorious.

The Rebels have nine internationals, including Adam Byrnes.

For mine, I'm still struggling to understand what the Waratahs take out of these forums. Have Tah fans noticed any improvements in areas noted from the first meeting, be they on-field or off? Or is this just a way of appeasing a frustrated fan-set by giving them an opportunity to vent, with nothing really coming out of it from the club's perspective? I like the transparency to members, but your club doesn't need 10000 coaches. Eventually you just need to let your coach and CEO do their job and hold them accountable in the case that they fail to do so.

Speak for yourself, say the Rebels ;)

Hi p.tah, the national academies are said to be run by a centralised approach via the ARU. We are in an international sport with competing priorities, success for the sport is to create a level playing field and hence a spread of talent. NSW can only contract 30 players, and 5 extended players - where do they hold and fund the other players? of course they can't. Why can't we support these guys and where they are going - turn up and support!

Just a few updates on observations from feedback, Timani is due back in February and they signed an import because the value verses the return was incredible. Every team has a senior and developing international player, excluding the Rebels who appear to have nearly 12 players in their squad - so if we are going to have a crack review fact on fact! As a supporter do you want the best team - if that means they pull a half back who just won the South African player of the year and he was real value for money I hear, would you not take him and allow him to develop players around him??? If you want to remain competitive, surely they need too?? No chance with Mowen, hear he wanted a year contract and plenty through the grapevine - woulkd you not take Rocky instead - seriously? I reckon the problem with Rugby is no one seems to go the source and ask!

While Mumm is not huge, he is hardly "too small" to play lock. His stats are comparable to the Brad Thorn or any of the French second rower. Rather, the problem is that he is soft and lack the ability or willingness to impose himself on the the game. As others have already pointed out he will most likely begin the season in the starding line up, given the injury to Vicks and the anticipated late arrival of Timani (how late will depend on whether his team makes the finals), with Kane Douglas - the only other options for second row at that stage will be Pertersen and Dennis. Interestingly, I have noted that he is now listed at 113kg, when had been previously listed at 109kg. Despite peoples opinion of him, I am sure he would have been disappointed to miss the World Cup squad, especially give his involvement over the last few years. Maybe this is part of a plan to resurrect his international career?

McCaffrey has gone to the force. Fitzpatrick needs to improve his scrummaging before get more minutes on the field. I was more then impressed with how Ulugia improved over the season.

I would hope for greater community engagement by the Waratahs. We had an AFL development officer visit our local primary school - he did a slick presentation - handed out a dozen or so sherrin's - asked who wanted to play AFL and all the kids raised their hands and cheered. The players have to realise that they are also responsible for putting bums on seats. The more that they get out and engage the better our game will be. All they need is a canned 6 slide Powerpoint Tah presentation and some meaningful give aways - it is not rocket science. The Tahs website need to have a Player Request Box - so that clubs can place requests to have players visit their schools/clubs etc

Agree WCR - Vickers would be my choice as well. I also believe that he would be well suited to manage referees - he is articulate and smart. Barnes would be my VC and would run the backs. I believe that they would work well together. Mumm has well and truly had his turn and has been found wanting.

Well the proof will be in the pudding, I really hope that NSW doesn't trumpet what a 'great side ' they have at the start of the season only to once again go down their common and so so easy rut of surrendering to comfortable mediocrity . I hope Mr Foley notes well that your past sins will come and strike you in the face.His derision and contempt of HIS QLD coach when he was playing is surely going to come back to haunt him sometime in the 2012 season. I sincerely hope he has learned from that and he may handle it with maturity and patience when it comes and be blessed :-)