Michael Hooper has stepped down as captain of the NSW Waratahs barely a week before the side’s opening Super Rugby match of the season.
Veteran second-rower Rob Simmons will take over from Hooper, with Kurtley Beale named as his deputy.
Hooper has held the position since 2016, when he took over from Dave Dennis, but was also the stand-in captain when the side won their maiden Super Rugby title in 2014.
“It’s been an honour to represent New South Wales as a player alone, but the opportunity to lead a fantastic group of men over the journey to date has been a humbling experience,” Hooper said in a statement.
“It’s a role that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, but I feel that the time is right for someone like Rob to lead this group in the season ahead.
“Someone of his quality and character both on and off the field, leading this young team around will be extremely valuable moving forward – he has the full support of myself and the wider leadership team in building a culture we feel will bring NSW success in Super Rugby.”
Speaking to the media following the announcement this morning, Hooper said it was a decision which has been in the works for some time.
“It’s been a long one. It’s been something which has been on my mind in this environment for a good 18 months. So it hasn’t been something which has been on a whim or anything like that.
“I went into last season fully committed to the role but also before that I’d had question marks over my position as captain. And with the change of coach, with Rob [Penney] coming in, Rob’s been amazing in giving me the time to really mull it over. We’d spoken about my role – where I saw that, how to get the best out of myself over the next four years.
His decision to quit as Waratahs captain raises questions over whether he will continue in the same Wallabies role. Hooper has captained Australia 48 times – nearly half of the 99 Tests he’s played in the green and gold – and stepping down as national captain would allow for a complete changing of the guard under new coach Dave Rennie.
However, there’s no guarantee of change with the Wallabies. It’s not at all unusual for national skippers to not hold the same role with their state or provincial side – Kieran Read, for example, played under Sam Whitelock’s captaincy at the Crusaders in recent years – and Hooper said that, while he needs to talk to Rennie about it, he still wants to remain Wallabies captain.
For Simmons, the elevation to the Waratahs captaincy is the latest benefit for an unlikely change in his rugby career. After 114 Super Rugby appearances for the Reds, Simmons made the switch to Queensland’s great interstate rivals after being released in 2017 and has since been one of New South Wales’ most consistent forward performers.
With a two-year contract extension inked last year, the 100-cap lock will become the 172nd captain of the Waratahs.
“The significance of being selected by my teammates as their leader in 2020 is certainly not lost on me and it’s been an extremely humbling experience as we approach the new season,” he said.
“I’ve always prided myself on having a team-first mentality and that won’t change.
“Michael has built a wonderful platform [as a leader] and the support and experience he’ll provide along with the leadership group will be important in ensuring we meet the vision our squad has set for the season ahead.
“The ‘c’ may be next to my name but we’ve got a strong collection of senior players that are all responsible for driving standards within the group and educating the next generation of [NSW] Waratah on what it means to represent our state at the highest level.”
Ed
Guest
True. We are curmudgeons according to Geerob: "Discounting the curmudgeons who will never accept an openside breakaway who doesn't play the classical fetcher role of a David Pocock, George Smith or Richie McCaw, Hooper's consistent level of performance over his 10 years in professional rugby is unmatched...." Hooper was the Wallabies best backrower in 2019. Pocock was in 2015/16/18 and McMahon was in 2017. So I don't understand this "consistent level of performance"? Can't believe SR kicks off next Friday and the long-term forecast for Canberra is 37 degrees on the day.
Ed
Guest
Rocky was never captain at the Brums - Hoiles was in 2010 and Gits in 2011.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No the captain shouldn't. The 9 and 10 are actually seeing how the defence are reacting, etc. to understand if the game plan is actually working to achieve what they are hoping. Now a good captain may say "kick it out in the 22" but again - doubt that a Cheika team is given much discretion here. A huge issue is game plans are about getting the defence to react to then exploit. But Cheika doesn't consider the opposition so any Wallaby game plan will have massive flaws.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
If you're using r mccaw and k read as a benchmark for ref management, they are all less than average
Rugger
Guest
“Captain Junkie“. Yeah I’m sure that’s exactly who the juniors need to aspire to be. Karmichael should be a million miles from honorary positions as it’s entirely inappropriate
pm
Roar Rookie
I think you are pretty heavily underrating him as a player, criticizing him for what he isn't rather than what he is. I've seen a lot of that against Kerevi and of course Folau. These are players pretty much any international side would have loved to have over the last five years... Having said that a change of captaincy might not be the worst thing. I was watching some games where Moore was captain and you could see he dealt more effectively with the referees. And just a fresh start with a new coach
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Peter I agree, but a captain that repeatedly goes against the coaches intentions won’t remain captain.
PeterK
Roar Guru
twas - a good captain will realise when on the field the coaches preferred points / go for the try situation is applicable or not, whether it is working or not. Say the preference is go for a try but the captain realises from previous attempts they stand little chance from a lineout so makes an on field decision to go for the points, or the coach's preference was go for the points but the captain realises the conditions (weather) or the kicker is off his game and decides the try is the better option. A smart thinking captain will decide what is better in the situation and over rule the initial guidelines from the coach.
PeterK
Roar Guru
twas - As for game plans? The captain should determine on the field that Plan A is not working. Then he can request input from 9 and 10 on what alternatives there are. The captain can always determine that a plan is not working and a new one is needed. 9 and 10 then execute the new plan. Only weak captains leave it all in the hands of the 9 and 10 and shrug their shoulders when plan A is not working.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
He was also captain for the Waratahs, with a coach who had a very different temperament to Cheika, and displayed exactly the same short comings.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well no. It’s one team. Because England have also done reasonably well with Farrell. It’s one case, where Irish rugby as a whole was better managed. Best may have been the better captain, and choosing a bad 80 minute player over a great front rower isn’t better. But you want your captain to be an 80 minute player if you have the options.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah he would have been my pick for captain actually
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Tbh I think the word “humbling” has lost pretty much all meaning in the mouths of interviewed sports stars. Just one of those words you’re expected to trot out.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Well said, fella!
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I would have thought it pretty obvious that I was referring to recent history, once we moved to an 8 man bench and tight forwards rarely play more than 50-60 mins. The fact you needed to obfuscate there indicates to me that you did get my point. That’s a ridiculous argument. Just a way for you to disregard the facts that contradict your spurious claim that front row forwards shouldn’t captain these days as they don’t play much.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
I love it. Beale at 10 is suicide.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
I think it will make him a better player. He'll have less things to worry about, e.g. press sessions, in-game chats with the referee. It will give him more energy to put into his performance.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
... or yet another kiwi Trojan horse (Trojan kiwi???) ...
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
You keep saying this. I can’t recall this happening.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
Panic Inexperience Incompetence