The Western Force’s rebuilding phase is officially over, with assistant coach Joe Barakat declaring the team simply can’t afford to have another losing season.
The Force are yet to reach the finals since their 2006 inception, and they face a fight just to stay in the competition beyond this year as SANZAAR weighs up the future direction of the league.
If SANZAAR deems Australia need to cut one of their five franchises, the Force could be forced into extinction.
The Perth-based franchise is doing everything within its powers to save themselves, launching an ‘Own the Force’ campaign in a bid to become Australia’s premier publicly-owned club.
But achieving on-field success remains a critical part of the Force’s survival hopes.
More wins would attract bigger crowds, which in turn would pump more revenue into the struggling franchise.
The Force will start 2017 as one of the fancies for the wooden spoon.
But Barakat, who cut short his stint at Irish club Ulster to join the Force as an assistant to rookie coach Dave Wessels, says the team simply doesn’t have the luxury to go through a rebuilding phase.
“We know our backs are against the wall a little bit, and we don’t have time for a rebuilding year,” Barakat said.
“When you talk about rebuilding periods, you can afford to lose. At this stage, we can’t afford to lose.
“It’s about winning games, and that’s what we’re about.”
Barakat is the Force’s forwards coach, and he makes no apologies for his straight-shooting approach which he claims was fostered by his 19 years spent as a teacher.
“I’ve got a bit of grey hair, but there’s not a lot of grey matter in my thinking. There’s probably a lot of black and white,” said Barakat, who has previously spent stints at the Waratahs, in Japan, and with the Fijian Rugby Union.
“Look, I think it’s about rules. We’ve got to be quite succinct with what we have to deliver this year.
“If there were some grey areas that we could work with this year, maybe I could sort of walk a little bit before I’m running.
“But I think everybody’s just got to start running, and everybody’s got to be heading in the right direction.
“The no-nonsense isn’t aggressive no-nonsense. It’s know your job. Don’t come here without knowing your job.”
The Force start their season away to the Waratahs on February 25.
Jock Cornet
Guest
The ARU do nothing full stop . Nothing for any province .
Maroon Kev
Guest
So you've seen them roll the Tahs a few times then buddy!!!?
mania
Guest
piru - I wish WF luck then. if they have the grassroots in place then all they have to do is survive a few years to gain from it. minimum of 5 years. I hope it works. seeing force go from cellar dwellars to the top and even a super final would be a birdie to the ARU totally agree with u that ARU self serve themselves by throwing money at the top of the pyramid all the time. they don't get it. frustrating.
Wozza
Guest
I totally agree that Oz doesn't have the depth to fill 5 sides especially given the number of guys who play in the NH. I think there's a place for the force but they'd really need to attract maybe 5 or 6 quality imports to put a competitive team on the field. Ditto the rabble who despite all the hype will finish mid table at best. I'd really like see these teams survive as they are great for developing the game in non-traditional rugby areas but who knows Agree with Piru below regarding the AFL. It's amazing how professional they are when establishing new teams. The sport has boomed here (Northern NSW) since the Gold Coast team came in. All the local towns have junior teams with paid coached and everything supplied. They're like the sporting equivalent of the Mongol hordes the way they come in and establish themselves. There's no way the self serving, not to mention broke ARU can compete with them.
piru
Guest
If the ARU had treated the Force the way the AFL treats it's expansion teams we'd have been in the finals a few times by now imo. Hell, if the ARU had even given the Force the same level of support as they did the Rebels that would have been something,
piru
Guest
mania I agree with you re: grassroots, but the reality is the ARU runs things from the top down, at least outside of Sydney and Brisbane. Ironically, grassroots / community rugby has gone from strength to strength since the Force came to town, and is what will really suffer if they are removed. It's taken a while but Perth kids are showing they are just as good as anyone given the same chances, it would be an utter shame to take it away again. I'll just go back to supporting my hometown Crusaders as will most immigrants here go back to supporting their home nations / towns - it's the kids who'll feel it and where will they look? To the sports that are here, namely AFL and soccer and soon enough League
Markus
Guest
I used to think the same. It turned out I just didn't like seeing teams I support constantly lose scrums. Watching an opposition that prides themselves on their scrummaging be put flat on their backsides has been as satisfying as any try I have witnessed.
mania
Guest
piru - I feel your plight but this is aus' domestic issues. this is what ARU should be addressing and dealing with.its not for SR to deal wit this. however, saying that, SA got away with it getting their additional teams and they should've remained at 4 teams in total. so I don't think WF and Rebels should've ever have been allowed. Aus doesn't have the grassroots for it. get the grass roots going and that's where the battle vs NRL will be won.
AndyS
Guest
So, much like the Highlanders until the NZRU decided to treat their teams evenhandedly....?
piru
Guest
WA is one of the few places in Aus where rugby has a higher participation than league. regardless of whether people outside of Aus are watching, to abandon the west would only strengthen the NRL. As I said above, they are circling, they have a big name game here at least once a year and are now playing tests here as well. I'm sure they would thank the ARU for all the money put into developing the kids who go on to league in lieu of a rugby pathway in WA.
piru
Guest
Jock where on earth were you sitting at $70 a seat?
Jock Cornet
Guest
I agree I'll watch the tahs and brumbies and all black sides . Hate watching the sa sides and agree the force only win because the other sides don't turn up. I watched a few games in wa last year at $70 for a seat. They are doing nothing to attract spectators or sponsors.
mania
Guest
its not just reds fans. most fans outside of aus dont watch WF or Rebels games and in most seasons will only watch one aus team, which ever one is on top. i and many others dont watch aus derby's anymore because theyre so poor. ARU need to stop using SR as development games. its an international product with a lot of the games played at test level. bottom line is there are too many teams and it doesnt make any sense for SR to have Rebels and WF. they are a bringing all of aus rugby down.
mania
Guest
it wouldnt be a cure all to aus rugby, itd just be a start. WF havent shown any reason why they should stay in SR. i also feel this season is WF's last chance to prove that they are proper contenders. else itll just be the same old same old bottom dwellers making up the numbers. the games that force win are usually due to them not being taken seriously and teams resting their top players against them. ARU uses SR as development for their players and the aus conf is seriously bringing down the comp. getting sick of watching en masse mediocre players in the aus conf. ive made it a rule not to watch aus games if i can help it now. how many other fans feel the same? good luck WF i hope u prove me wrong, but i and many others dont think that aus has ever been ready for 5 teams. ps i think rebels should go as well
piru
Guest
Said what exactly? Was that supposed to be English?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
There is an unsportingly growing willingness amongst too many people in Australia for the WF to be dissolved. It is somehow felt the WF is dragging everyone down and that being disbanded would be a cure-all for Australia's rugby union ills. Perhaps Spirit's success will rub off on the Force.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
piru
Guest
In my experience the most rabid anti Force lot are generally Reds fans. I'm not sure if it's an attempt to keep the spotlight off their own ordinary performance, a lingering butthurt that Sharpey chose to come west or something else. All we can do is keep going to the games, keep cheering and hope they can get a roll on. BTW, we're paying $54 to top the Aussie conference, the next best odds are Rebels at $8. I reckon that's a bet worth taking,
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Piru - I wonder how many wins we need before being guaranteed, according to many Roarites, to be dissolved? Barakat has same messaging as Wessells - Do the simple things well. That will give us 7 wins which means the Brumbies will be dissolved instead of us :-)
piru
Guest
If the Force go there'll be an NRL team here within months, reaping the benefits of all the programs put in to develop the young talent over here.