They have a backline stacked with as much talent as any other in the competition and arguably the best coach in Australia, but is it going to be enough to help the Rebels to a maiden finals appearance? In the tenth part of our 2019 Super Rugby preview series, we run the rule over Melbourne’s chances this year.
Melbourne Rebels
Coach: David Wessels
Captain: Dane Haylett-Petty
Major signings: Isi Naisarani (Brumbies), Quade Cooper (Reds), Matt Toomua (Leicester Tigers)
Major departures: Amanaki Mafi (NTT Communications Shining Arcs), Lopeti Timani (La Rochelle), Sefa Naivalu (Reds)
Squad
Dane Haylett-Petty (c), , Anaru Rangi, Angus Cottrell, Ben Daley, Billy Meakes, Brad Wilkin, Campbell Magnay, Fereti Saaga, Harrison Goddard, Hugh Roach, Isi Naisarani, Jack Maddocks, Jermaine Ainsley, Jordan Uelese, Luke Jones, Marika Koroibete, Matt Philip, Matt To’omua, Mees Erasmus, Michael Ruru, Pone Faamausili, Quade Cooper, Reece Hodge, Richard Hardwick, Rob Leota, Ross Haylett-Petty, Sam Jeffries, Sam Talakai, Semisi Tupou, Sione Tuipulotu, Tetera Faulkner, Tom English, Will Genia
Last season
Won 7, lost 9, finished second in the Australian Conference, ninth overall
With new coach David Wessels on board, the Rebels had their best Super Rugby season in 2018, finishing second in the Australian Conference and ninth on the overall ladder.
Had it not been for a thrilling last-round loss to the Highlanders at Forsyth-Barr Stadium – a match the Rebels led with 15 minutes to go – Melbourne would have been headed to the finals for the first time, but 2019 offers a good chance for them to break their duck.
Melbourne coach David Wessels. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Strengths
Melbourne’s backline is a fearsome beast, packed with Wallabies all the way through. Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Will Genia and Matt Toomua (who won’t link up with the Rebels until midway through the season) are all automatic selections for Michael Cheika’s World Cup squad, while Tom English, Billy Meakes and Jack Maddocks are on the fringes of the national side.
The centre of backline attention this year, however, will be a man out of Wallabies favour these days. Quade Cooper has moved south after not playing a single Super Rugby game for the Reds in 2018.
Polarising though he may be, there’s no doubt of Cooper’s talent, and the prospect of him rekindling his title-winning halves partnership with Genia is an enticing one. If he can find his best form and get this backline clicking, the Rebels will pile on the points all year.
Quade Cooper: coming (back) to a Super Rugy game near you. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Weaknesses
The forward pack just doesn’t have the same talent as the backs. Adam Coleman is an excellent lock and Jordan Uelese has plenty of potential, but the losses of Amanaki Mafi and Lopeti Timani will hurt the Rebels, regardless of their unsavoury end-of-season incident notwithstanding.
How new signing Isi Naisarani performs in their absence will be crucial, but even if he is superb from day dot, the entire forward pack – particularly the front row – will need to improve if the Rebels are to make the most of their talented backline and snare a first ever finals appearance.
They’ll also hope for a clean bill of health throughout the year given their lack of depth up front. Uelese’s recovery from last year’s ACL injury will be critical in that regard – the hooker is targeting a Round 1 comeback, but can he be effective from the get-go without a full pre-season behind him?
Related
Prediction
There’s no shortage of try-scoring potential in this Rebels line-up, but will the forwards give them enough room to be at their best?
We’ll say they will. Coleman’s bonafides are well known, Naisarani is as promising a forward as there is in Australian rugby, and they’ll be able to help this pack reach their potential – if Uelese can come back fit and firing.
Assuming the performance up front is there, then the Rebels are going to be a tough opponent out-score, particularly once Toomua joins the squad after his Leicester duties have finished up.
Prediction: First in the Australian Conference, sixth overall
The Roar’s 2019 Super Rugby preview series
4. Highlanders
5. Chiefs
6. Rebels
7. Sharks
8. Waratahs
9. Jaguares
10. Brumbies
11. Bulls
12. Stormers
13. Blues
14. Reds
15. Sunwolves
Omkalai
Guest
Indeed she did but Cricket NSW says she did so because Matt had signed with the Rebels
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Nope. So much depends on the forwards winning ball, securing ball and gaining the ad line with quick presentation. Otherwise the vaunted backs, including Cooper, will be on the backfoot all season and go nowhere fast.
Jacko
Guest
Thorn did not impose any further sanctions.....he just did not select him and told QC to go look elsewhere to play SR or go play club rugby...Plenty of Squad members in SR sides play club rugby....The role RA should have played was to get QC employed elsewhere as they were also paying him big $$....But just as it was Thorns choice not to select QC it was also QCs choice not to go to another franchise for last year and to play club rugby so QC actually imposed a longer sanction on himself based on your theories
Jacko
Guest
Thats the funny thing Ken......A year in clubland may have done him harm or could have been the best thing for him....It certainly would have been easier for him physically and he was quite good in the NRC but can he re-adjust to SR level?
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Jacko, I do believe the Super coaches sho y is pick their teams and not RA. But when the national governing body hands down a penalty, it should be the end of the matter. To me, a see no difference in a player get ring a Red Card, get sanctioned by Sanzar, and the coach extending the penalty by say, a year. The players are just footy players, not a part of a congeration where a fundamentalist preacher is in the pulpit. I suppose if a Board supports the Coaches views, that is the end of the matter.
JP
Guest
Reds are a bit short. $250 i would have thought.
Locky
Guest
You must have been asleep or overseas in 2010 2012 and 2013 when they played very well.
Locky
Guest
Lookin forward to the Rebels season ,they have the best halves combo by lightyears, so if the forwards hold parity those two hopefully can unleash those explosive outside backs Maddocks DHP Koroibeite English Hodge etc etc.They should top the aussie conference.
Jacko
Guest
Bobby surely you believe the Head coach should have the right to not select a player.....It seems from your comment that you believe RA should select the teams...not the Coaches...
Jacko
Guest
yes in theory the other 2 should be able to override Cheika but it will be interesting to see it play out.......Hopefully Johnson has the final say on who the 3rd selector is and hopefully its not a Cheika yes man as that will achieve nothing......Surely Cheika would'nt sabotage a game's tactics to ruin QCs chances or deliberately make QC look bad?
Kick n Clap
Guest
And look at how many big important games the Force won over the years?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
That's what I thought - does Johnson have the ability to say "you have to select this player" and then what? Select him at 15, select him at 12 or select Foley at 12 and then say "well that didn't work".
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
My thoughts too Jacko. But selecting him is one thing. Letting him play with a complimentary backline is another. I can hear the conversation. ‘Bernard, sorry mate. The panel want Quade at 10. But I need you on the field. Just play at 12 for a couple of games till Quade stuffs up. Then we’ll be back in business’
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Train. Prejudice needs no evidence.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Quade the unknown?
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
The Rebels look a mite weak in the front row for mine. Good hooker depth but the props will struggle to assert dominance over any Kiwi or SA side. After A.Coleman and M.Philip the lock situation looks pretty desperate also. I suspect coach Wessels will have RHP and L.Jones subbing in the 2nd row quite often over the season. My prediction, Rebels third behind Brumbies and Tahs in the Aussie conference, perhaps fighting with the Reds for the bronze medal. Star-studded backline will have it's work cut out behind a pack mostly moving in reverse gear. Rebels have got a backrow and backline to die for. A shame the Reds couldn't get J.Maddocks to move up to Queensland on a promise of giving him a fair dinkum run at 5/8th. But that's spilt milk now.
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
I like Hodge on the wing with DHP at 15. Both dropping back to defend kicks equals two good kickers to clear and win vital territory. Hodge also runs great lines so can see him hanging off Quade's shoulder and making some good metres. Korobiete on the other wing makes for a great back 3.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Is? The Rebels weren’t dominant before he left - though he looked capable. He must be tearing up Top 14 now then.
hhhmm
Guest
Wouldnt read anything Harris writes. He has had a hate on for QC forever and was one of the NSW rugby journos ( esp G Robinson) that were cheerleading the Cheika for coach in the background of McKenzie coaching.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Valentini was just grabbed very early. Rebels took a big punt in Leota - and he was a year older.