Wallaby flanker Michael Hooper is leaving the Brumbies for the floundering Waratahs next year, but he doesn’t regret the decision despite NSW’s horror 2012 Super Rugby season.
Hooper had a breakout year in the Australian capital, forcing his way into the Wallabies and earning rave reviews as the Brumbies led the Australian conference until the final round.
However, the 20-year old, who has spent three years at the Brumbies but hails from Sydney’s northern beaches, is looking forward to joining the Tahs.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for the Tahs,” Hooper says.
“I grew up in Sydney and my family’s there, it’s a great place. I love it and get back there as much as I can. The decision for me, going forward in footy and lifestyle-wise, it was the best decision and I’m looking forward to it.
“The good thing about the Tahs is that they’re always in the mix. It’s not been a great year, but they never have years when they win no games.”
It’s been a very tough season for the Waratahs. NSW won just four out of 16 games and finished 11th on the ladder, and the future of coach Michael Foley is still in doubt. The Tahs suffered injuries to several of their star players, crowd figures dropped and a player clean-out is now on the cards.
You could understand if he had thought twice about the switch.
However, he has made the move, and Hooper will be a welcome fresh face for NSW when they try and put 2012 behind them next season.
“Even when they’ve lost games by a point, they’re always a good strong team,” Hooper says. “So I think you can bank on that. They haven’t had a great season but I can worry about that next year and rip in, and hopefully (results) will be different next year.”
Hooper is one of the outstanding young talents in Australian rugby. A junior Australian rep, he got his first Wallaby cap off the bench against Scotland in Newcastle this year. The Manly Marlins junior learned from legendary openside George Smith in Canberra and his game has gone to another level this year.
Tough, fast, tenacious at the breakdown and with good ball skills, he is a good addition for the Tahs. With his brother Richard, a winger, a regular feature in Manly’s first-grade side, rugby runs strong in the Hooper family. Michael’s father played the game and as he holds an English passport, we should be happy that the loose forward chose to represent Australia rather than England.
Against Wales, Hooper was teamed with captain David Pocock late in games, as Robbie Deans employed two fetchers. This policy hasn’t been in vogue for the Wallabies since the days of Smith and Phil Waugh.
But with the importance of the breakdown, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both Hooper and Pocock, potentially the youngster’s replacement at the Brumbies, paired together at some point against the All Blacks and Springboks.
Twitter: johnnyddavidson
Bakkies
Guest
How much time do they get for this so called beach lifestyle. The Brumbies team training plan is very structured maybe the Tahs are the opposite. Due to the size of Sydney he won't get the same team unity that he did at the Brumbies.
Bakkies
Guest
Faingaa like his older brother Anthony did early on his career has missed a lot of Rugby through injury. White has already been found out when he played Ita Vaea at 7 which would happen again if Faingaa was out injured.
Bakkies
Guest
Yeah this was announced before Easter. Hooper was stupid too make that decision so early in the season and won't say it publicly. This wouldn't be in the headlines had Hooper stayed at the Brumbies. The whole thing is a disaster for the players as Alcock, Jenkins and McCutcheon committed to new deals with the Tahs around the time Hooper was signed. I wonder if the Tahs management said it to those three players that this was in the pipeline. I sincerely doubt it as it would require them to be honest.
Bakkies
Guest
I say one of them will get a loan to the Rebels which will turn out to be a permanent move (see Jono Owen). Rebels have no openside with Chamberlain and Lipman gone.
mudskipper
Guest
Pocock needs to be professionally sensible and move on from the Force, he has been there since 2005, thats long enough to know its time to try something else... As for Hooper I wish him all the best at the Tahs... And Colby will be back stronger in 2013 he is a very good rugby player...
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
gatesy if that's the reason why then fine, but if it's for the Waratahs then...
gatesy
Roar Guru
You can take the boy away from the beach, but you can't hold him back from it for too long, and Canberra winters can be cold!! Good luck to him.
Sircoolalot
Guest
He was going to move to the Tahs before there was any news of Pocock moving to the Brumbies...
the Bone
Guest
Poor Force missed out on Chieka now missed out on Foley. Brian Melrose now front runner, will this be enough for pocock to stay? He was his coach at 20s.....
the Bone
Guest
I think you will find Alcock is from SA and had a nice offer from one of their SR teams last year
John Davidson
Roar Guru
Agreed that Colby is a very good player, I wrote that a while back - http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/03/30/michael-hooper-and-colby-faingaa-the-tale-of-two-brumbies-tyros/ But Pocock at the Brumbies would be a huge. Of course, it would be a disaster for the Force
jeznez
Roar Guru
JD - correct on the timing. Regarding the Brumbies - they already have Colby Faingaa who is a very good 7. He was injured so missed most of this year but was neck and neck for selection with Hooper last season. They really do not need to be pursuing Pocock.
Carnivean
Guest
He hasn't had a chance to get established because he played to his potential already. He's a mature performer that plays his best consistently. At Super 15 he's proven his worth. At Test level he doesn't have quite enough to be given more exposure. He can't compare to Smith or Pocock at test level, and that is what is required to give him more chances. Our problem is that we play the other top 2 teams in the world often, so he would be constantly pressured by the best in the world, and would continue to shown up. On the other hand it is possible that Gill and Hooper will be that good, and that they will be able to compete evenly with the Kiwis and Boks, or even best them. Hodgson will never do that. McCalman isn't good enough either, and will struggle to make it back. Don't get me wrong, I like both players, Hodgson moreso even, but at the top level they aren't what will get us to #1.
Wilson
Guest
Please. Hodgson has had scraps of games and never given a chance to get established like others. His stats were often better than Rocky or Higgers at the time, for the time he was on but was out of favour. He won Man of the Match twice in mid week games full of established Wallabies and still Deans didn't give him a run. I've been on tour and watched him play in the midweek games. He plays out of his skin at that level when given chances. How many chances has Higgers had when he was playing very poorly? If Hodgson was given half the opportunities then I would suggest he had been given fair go. McCalman is solid but not as impressive IMO. But he is on Deans' coffee date list so will be back in favour when fit I'm sure. Based on form he shouldnt be given a sniff this year. I'm not a blind Force supporter getting excited for every player. But I support BB on this until the cows come home.
Akann
Guest
Johnno, the current structure is already not ideal for NZ and SA as we have to put up with a lower quality comp due to your talent being spread over five teams. Wanting a 6th team is asking a tad too much I would think.
John Davidson
Roar Guru
Actually Ads, Hooper made the decision to join the Tahs much earlier this year, before the whole Pocock thing started. Considering he grew up in Manly and was a Tahs fan, an obvious decision to go home. But Pocock to the ACT as his replacement is bloody good for the Brumbies, if it comes off.
Carnivean
Guest
Vicks has retired if I'm not mistaken. If not, then it's merely assumed that he will sooner or later.
jameswm
Guest
Alcock's done well, but Jenkins and Cutch are a fair way back. Hooper could fill the final spot in a very strong pack. Would be better if Vicks could get game time with Timani and Douglas. Just need to teach the Tahs to go forward, get the ball on the move, support the ball etc.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Bingo
Ads
Guest
Reading between the lines - Pocock is going to Brums, so move to Tah's or ride the pine....