Melbourne’s Super Rugby season has hit a new low with a demoralising 44-3 loss to the lowly Kings in Port Elizabeth.
The Rebels were primed to crack their first victory in South Africa after a gritty draw last round to the Sharks, but they delivered an insipid performance that could be classed as their worst of the season.
The South African team, who sit bottom of their conference yet also claimed the Waratahs’ scalp last week, posted six unanswered tries with the Rebels unable to build any attacking pressure.
They had plenty of chances, particularly in the first half when they dominated 58 per cent of possession and 57 per cent of territory, but were unable to capitalise and trailed 8-3 at the break.
Former Melbourne Storm winger Marika Koroibete toiled hard but, with his old side flying at the top of the NRL ladder, he must be questioning his decision to switch codes.
Halfback and skipper Nic Stirzaker was a late withdrawal with an ankle injury and Melbourne suffered another blow when they lost starting No.9 Mick Snowden with a foot problem just 24 minutes in.
The Rebels were forced to shift Colby Fainga’a to halfback, with the hard-working flanker taking time to adjust to his new duties.
While they were still well in the game at halftime the second half was one-way traffic with the Kings sharing the spoils.
Winger Makazole Mapimpi, who scored in the 70th minute, was a stand-out as was flanker Andisa Ntsila.
Fainga’a, who took over the captaincy in the absence of Stirzaker, was gutted by the performance.
“A bit of adversity came our way and we weren’t good enough to adjust out there,” Fainga’a said.
“It was an extremely disappointing result for us.
“We’ll have a good review and a lot of hard truths are going to come out of that game.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
More evidence for the Rebels to go!!!! Haha but seriously yeah. All teams are not at a good enough level to indicate long term stability. All have different issues, but ultimately unless the Force (or another team) get 15k+ every game until the end of the year it's something we should just disregard completely on they basis they're all in the same boat.
piru
Roar Rookie
Agreed TWAS everyone has their challenges - crowds aren't great anywhere and I think arguing over numbers under 15000 is a waste of time. I started to watch the Rebels Kings game and there looked to be less than 1k there.
Bakkies
Guest
Works better for Tarts fans who aren't affected by it
ScottD
Roar Guru
That could even be what they are doing mate.
ScottD
Roar Guru
That could even be what they are doing mate.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I think there are plenty of worse teams than them for sure
Bakkies
Guest
Teams have been under reporting crowd attendance figures for years due to reduce their tax bill. Others have counted season ticket holders as attendees even though they may not have been in the ground for that specific match.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Bakkies, I imagine they're not paying tax on a 'per head' basis but rather on the revenue through the ground. Surely their tax component is on the dollar value of the tickets, they're going going to be paying the same amount of tax for platinum and GA seats, so I don't see the issue with free tickets being counted. If the free tickets were taxed then why does the AFL sell $0.00 tickets for kids on Sundays? They'd have more kids at an average sunday MCG match then the Force (or any team) get at a home game. Seems ludicrous to take an item with no cost. Actually, they could stick as much tax on it as they want as 100% of $0.00 is still $0.00...
Browny
Roar Rookie
TWAS, Smith traveled but wasn't fit for the first game and it's probably worth noting that Colby only missed one game due to the birth of his daughter. Minor details really in the grand scheme of things. Can add Stirzaker and Snowden to that injured/unavailable list now though... ScottD, some of them were injuries that the S&C couldn't have prevented. Some may be related, although I think a lot have been in game injuries, a few breaks/fractures, ACLs, etc, not the obvious S&C thing where everyone is doing hamstrings and other soft tissue/muscle injuries. That being said when the list gets to this size it definitely begins to raise some eyebrows. Jordy Reid - broken back - game injury Toby Smith - hamstring - during preseason game Ben Meehan - unsure? Lopeti Timani - suspension Sam Jeffries - lingering foot injury from preseason Alex Toolis - back injury from last year/pre-season Sean McMahon - injury from wallabies tour - reaggrevated during recovery Cruz Ah Nau - knee - in game Harley Fox - ankle Jonah Placid - knee? iin game Pama Fau - acl - pre season Rob Leota - knee Jack Maddocks - shoulder Tim Metcher - foot - in game Dom Shipperly - knee - nrc Colby Fainga’a - child birth Dominic Day - can't remember... shoulder? Also add in guys like Naivalu, Inman, Stirzaker and several others who have missed multiple games so far with shoulders, head-knocks and the like. Regardless of the reason (or lack thereof) it's not pretty reading (or watching).
Browny
Roar Rookie
ScottD, if that is the case they should go with what the AFL does on the sunday games. Kids are free (with an adult, of course) but they need a ticket to scan in. You can 'buy' these tickets online or at the ground when the parent get's theirs. Everyone scans in and out, everyone is counted, kids still free, no real hassle to the parents. Everybody wins.
Harry Jones
Expert
They're not a great team. But aren't they fairly good? 11th out of 18 teams? If that's not fairly good, then is Super Rugby comp just all dog biscuit?
Bakkies
Guest
I see that two Kings players are looking at joining the Cheetahs for next season. Mapimpi is one which is a pity as he has the potential to become a cult hero with the Kings support.
Bakkies
Guest
They would have to report that figure to the tax man and with people getting in free they would have to pay extra in tax with no profit to cover the payment.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes absolutely they are both in the same crappy position wrt injuries A friend said to me he thought that the question needed to be asked of the conditioning team as some of these injuries seem to be taking far too long but I am not sure how much is play related or public understating of the injuries and how much is management related
ScottD
Roar Guru
Actually I might be wrong about the ticket scans and will check that
ScottD
Roar Guru
1. Yes, Saturday night was a bit different because it was the Eagle Dockers derby which is a big deal in Perth. We also get the same issues as others for easter etc. Oh to be in NZ with no real competition for attendance. Anyway it is what it is and we have to accept it or deal with it. I guess every franchise has its own unique problems to deal with.. 2. Yes it is mate but the kids don't need tickets and the official count goes on the tickets that they scan at the gate. I agree it is stupid and should be changed but that is the way it is done.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Last time I looked Jayden Ngamanu came through the Perth high school system not moving to Brisbane until his last or 2nd last year of school, Nic Jooste came through the Hale school system in Perth, I am told Clay Uyen also went through the Perth school system but I can't vouch for that. Not a great number and certainly the WA under 20's wasn't successful in last couple of seasons but incorrect to say "WA not producing any elite juniors"
ScottD
Roar Guru
well I am very glad you asked me that mate :) All of the injuries below are medium to long term and all are to players considered to be in the Force "best 25" - chosen because the Force have announced that they have exactly 25 players in their squad who can currently take the field. Props Jermaine Ainsley*, Ben Daly (as of this weekend) Locks Matt Philip, Richard Arnold*, Adam Coleman*, Ben Matwijow Loose Fwds McCalman*, Adam Cottrell*, Halves Ryan Louwrens*, Michael Ruru Backs Chance Peni*, Dane Haylett-Petty*, Luke Morahan*, Brache (uncertain as of this weekend) plus a couple of others that I can't be bothered looking up. Those marked with * are in the starting 15. Others like RHP have been excellent at both loose forward and filling in at lock but is not in the starting 15 and may not be in the 22 at all if the above players get back in. Very few of those that you mentioned were in the run on squad mate. At best they were in the reserves. Most couldn't even make the team until those above were injured. Grant for example I am pretty sure played his first game on Saturday and still wasn't in the run on squad.
Train Without A Station
Guest
So the same as the Rebels then? They went to SA with the following players unavailable: Jordy Reid Toby Smith Ben Meehan Lopeti Timani Sam Jeffries Alex Toolis Sean McMahon Cruz Ah Nau Harley Fox Jonah Placid Pama Fau Rob Leota Jack Maddocks Tim Metcher Dom Shipperly Colby Fainga'a Dominic Day As far as I'm aware, the only full time squad member that has stayed in Melbourne to play club was Pat Leafa. With every other member on tour or injured. That's 17 full time squad members who were unavailable, leaving about 18 official squad members available.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Every team has scheduling issues and clashes though Piru. The Easter weekend hurt the Brumbies crowd for the Rebels for example and likewise the Reds and Kings game. My point is you can't cite them as an individual issue for one team. I don't see why the kids would not be counted. It's in both the stadium and Force's best interest to include everybody who comes through the gate after all.