Waratahs want to feel the love

Prehaps if some of the higher paid "star"Waratah players put as much effort into the game as Tommy did we might have a better team. All the people here that sit around criticising Tom musnt watch the game too closely. he doesnt miss tackles, he always gets over the advantage line, he is always first on the kick chase and he is loved by his team mates. Who wouldnt want that from a aplayer? He is very much like Nathan Grey and i never heard this much criticism of Nathan.

"Feel the love " huh? I wish they could feel my boot up their collective backsides for most of them :-)

stillmissit & jeznez - It's hard for me to fathom what's going on at the Tahs. Surely the left hand needs to know what the right hand is doing for us to ever get moving again. So many stuff-ups that just seem to get excused as 'business as usual' at this crazy franchise. My question is how bad does it actually need to get before someone who can do something says 'enough is enough', let's stop all of this and move forwards. Not backwards, not sideways, FORWARD!!!! I just can't accept that out there in club land, we can't find some exciting & skillful next generation players who would kill to play for the Tahs. What's the talent scout guy doing who goes to park games, listens to coaches, takes phone calls from other Rugby nutters, reviews tapes and is always on the look out for the next Tim Horan, David Campese, George Smith, etc, etc. What the HELL is that guy actually doing in uncovering future Waratah players? Sorry for the rant. It's just that I reckon the Waratahs may well not survive another season like 2012. And I was hoping that all Tah news from here on in would be positive not depressing. :(

chester my good Sir, I actually do not dislike Tom Carter the guy and I have no personal opinion of him. However I do dislike TC the Waratah Rugby plodder at 12 or 13. I've heard him interviewed and he comes across as quite a likeable fellow. But so what? I judge him not on that unless of course he's there as a PR Officer. I get that he's loyal, passionate and well liked by his team mates. It's just that, IMHO anyway, he's not a Super level Rugby player. Neither was Hangers. No doubt others will come along and not be able to step up to the next level too and they too need to be sent packing. That's professional sport for you. Clearly my opinion about Tom is not shared by who ever was the genious that re-signed him. It seems to me for the Tahs to make any impact in 2013, they will need to become far more ruthless. Ruthless on the field & ruthless with selections. Otherwise the Waratahs who are spinning at the plug hole as the bath drains, will go down the gurgler.

The more I think about it the worse this signing looks. In the squad right now they have Barnes as first choice 12 - I assume they are thinking there is no cover for him but AAC and Horne can probably both do the job better than TC. Mitchell and Turner can cover FB, Kingston was initially promoted as a centre so he'd be the cover for 13 if Horne or AAC weren't available. I think we saw this year that with our main wingers out we have a lack of depth, Pakalani, BKH, Betham, Trist all had goes without cementing a spot. I saw an article on Michael Hooper's brother Richard scoring a hat trick of tries for the Marlins over Uni yesterday - typed his name into youtube out of curiosity and he has a decent little highlights reel. He seems to have some very good pace, perhaps he should be the Tahs next development player?

Happened in May mate. I like what is happening with the NSW board, Tim Gavin came in as President in April so there are some good people getting involved there. Farr-Jones has said that the split structure of boards with separate Waratahs Inc board will be up for review when the current 5 year licence runs out in 2014.

When did Nick take over this job? I must have missed it on the roar. If he has been there for a while he has been very quiet.

I was enjoying NFJ's comments until it got to the get Carter moment, then my confidence in Nick's ability to turn this lumbering ship around left on a jet plane.

Blinky - I am with you I think this is a huge FAIL for the Waratahs. Is there no one there who can ID young talent, can they only see what is directly in front of them. Next thing they will be announcing that Rocky has changed his mind and will be staying.

Blinky Bill I have seen on several websites your dislike for Tom Carter. It is evident that you strongly dislike the guy. But if he wants to stay at the Tahs on a reduced contract and play off the bench, play for one province only and show some loyalty and also play for his club is its 150th year- what is wrong with that? he has played 70 games for the Tahs and is in top 10 try scorers for the Tahs in Super Rugby. He is a solid player who shows passion for the team.If anything the Tahs need less rock stars and MORE players like him. I think everyone needs to distinguish between what he brings to the team and their personal opinions of him

To get the Fans back one simple solution ..... STOP KICKING THE BALL Fans will return if the Tahs run the ball but they NEVER DO..( I have the ball now time to kick it..) I know of people not renewing there membership ... TIME TO GET THE MESSAGE.

Well he won't make the 22 when everyone is fit, should the Tahs keep him on the books knowing that they can put him into 12 and he won't miss tackles when the inevitable injuries occur? Or should they be looking for a younger player to develop? A couple of Shute Shield centres have gone off-shore recently as they were unable to get contracts, do we keep letting young guys leave in order to retain a guy like Tom? Halangahu is also rumoured to be leaving, if they retain him as well then we'll know that the Tahs powers that be still don't get it. Ironically if it was a case of keeping Carter or Halangahu, I'd keep DH. As someone in the squad primarily for injury cover DH covers more positions than TC, who only covers 12.

I used to think the same thing about TC but after I watched his interview on Fox Sports re: his re-signing, I changed my mind. He's intelligent, well spoken and loyal to the club which is something that is becoming rarer in the world of rugby.

Will someone please remind the Waratahs of what you call someone who does the same things over and over, expecting to achieve different results. The reappointment of Foley and resigning of Carter would seem to me to fit right into that pattern of behaviour. And this is the "good news" that is expected to engage the dwindling number of season ticket holders who are weighing up whether it's worth giving them one last shot? (Lol, perhaps the fans on that basis could be accused of like minded thinking.) I'd rationalize my decision to renew my tickets tho on the basis that it was an investment in retaining my seats for the post Foley error (sic). It's boneheaded thinking that has found the Watatahs where they are today. And this was epitomized by the comments of Tahs number one fan Phil Kearns on this weeks Rugby Club with his blinkered narrow minded comments regarding the perceived weakness in the Aus conference. By PK's thinking the problem was just too many teams. The solution was therefore simple, cut the number of teams. Let's not even attempt to consider options for strengthening the structure that we have for the benefit of Australian rugby generally. And this from a guy who has been providing advice to the Waratahs board during the annus horribilis. I respect Kearns as a player and commentator but his views are quite often unidimensional, and on this occasion a great example of the sort of head down bum up thinking going on at the Tahs. Let's hope that NFJ can bring some expanded cerebral presense to the table. And soon.

Tom Carter was shown up by the better/quicker players in the tournament this year. But I am guessing that his league talk was floated in the media because the Tahs are not paying much to keep him. He is still a good sub and brings a lot of passion to the side.

Yes Colvin, it seems that Nick has not been paying attention. I like Tom carter but he has his limits and is not what I would call a game breaker. NFJ is painting over the cracks. A great and proud Australian player. But not a visionary this week.

It's about making money no 1, and winning and making money go hand in hand. Pro sport is about 1 thing only IronAwe making money is the no 1 priority. And making an effort comes from how much the players want to earn the money or good money $$$$. Maybe a pay rise might motivate the tah players who knows, but money talks is the no1 motivator to win and play well otherwise the players get the sack.

Gpc, its not about winning or losing. Its about playing with heart and giving it everything. Which the Tah's just don't do.

All Nick has to do is summarise the posts in Roar over the past year to establish a winning business plan for the Waratahs.

GPC, did the Reds kick the leather off the ball? My impression was generally they tried to play expansive rugby, they just weren't good enough to pull it off. Tahs fans would love that from their team. Also the Tahs fans can't be the worst in rugby if booing your own team is the benchmark. The Brumbies fans booed their own side more times this year.