Fresh out of quarantine and having returned to the loving arms of avid Australian rugby fans, Nic White is set to leave his mark on Australian rugby, both domestically and internationally.
Signing with his old club, the Brumbies, he is preparing to take over from Joe Powell, who is off contract at the end of the 2020 season.
White’s signing seemingly spells the end of Powell’s fortuitous career at the Brumbies throughout which he earned three representative caps, debuting for the Wallabies against Fiji in 2017. With a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the future of his playing career, Powell has stepped up to the plate and taken advantage of the unfortunate COVID-19 circumstances.
The reformed Super Rugby AU competition has provided Joe Powell with a platform to advertise his savvy scrumhalf talents in the hope to spark interest from prospective clubs. If Powell’s 2020 rugby season has demonstrated anything to these clubs, it’s the sheer dogged determination that he possesses. Selfless play and close support after tackle busts have remained a central feature of his style.
There is no doubt that Powell’s skill would be a valuable inclusion to any club looking to strengthen their scrumhalf position. However, with the uncertain COVID-19 circumstances inhibiting travel and ensuring the process of acquiring international players is becoming increasingly strenuous for both parties, a potential move overseas could prove challenging. As I see it, Joe Powell has three options.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Option one: Reimburse the faith
The first option for Joe Powell would be to reimburse the faith that the Brumbies invested in him by continuing to play his best in the hope to stay at the club for his post-2020 playing career. However, accepting a deal to remain at the club ensures that he would need to compete for the starting spot with seasoned scrumhalf, Nic White. Furthermore, the stay option seems increasingly impractical with academy recruit Issak Fines appearing on pundits’ radars after executing a scrumhalf snipe against the Waratahs in the dying minutes of the game. While the option may seem like a step backwards in Powell’s career, with the COVID-19 circumstances creating increased uncertainty, it surely isn’t off the table as a viable alternative.
Option two: A Rebels rebirth
If Powell’s aspirations involve remaining in Australia, it seems the Rebels would be in the best position to offer him an opportunity. However, the move heavily relies on the Rebels’ involvement in Rugby Australia’s plans for the future of the competition. Assuming they fall on the right side of these competition plans, a Powell signing would be almost guaranteed with two of their premier scrumhalves, Ryan Louwrens and Frank Lomani, linked to clubs overseas and open to negotiations about their playing futures. Despite a Rebels move being clouded with uncertainty, until we know the way forward for Australian rugby and the Rebels’ fate, it’s not off the table.
Option three: Follow in White’s footsteps
Perhaps the most likely of all options for Joe Powell is to sign with an international club that is willing to offer him a starting position and a chance to hone his skills. With Nic White returning to training at the Brumbies’ camp, there is no doubt Powell will be picking his brain and potentially wanting to follow in White’s footsteps. White’s career was in a very similar situation to Powell’s when he left for Montpellier in 2015. On the verge of an international opportunity with the Wallabies, White decided to focus on the style of rugby he wanted to play and moved to a club that offered that opportunity. No doubt Powell has noticed that White’s decision is paying dividends now, as he is the front-runner to don the Wallabies’ number nine jersey. Nic White may be an instrumental figure in Powell’s career-defining decision regarding his playing career beyond 2020.
While the options I have listed above are pure speculation, they are born out of admiration and respect. Regardless of where Joe Powell decides to go, there is no doubt in my mind that he will flourish and develop into a world-class scrumhalf. He would be a valuable inclusion to any squad and I wish to see him do well with his future playing endeavours.
I’m interested in what you think Powell’s future holds?
MW7
Roar Rookie
One advantage of Rennie will be that he knows how he wants to play the game, and what players will likely fit that. I look forward to seeing what they looks like
Armchair Halfback
Roar Rookie
Sounds good MZ. Ulster have picked up Alby Mathewson to share the load with John Cooney. Also there may not be a desire to have two NIQ scrum halves around. Keep an eye out for Lewis Finlay from this year's Ireland U20's and Ulster Academy...
Armchair Halfback
Roar Rookie
Nice work Jarod! The Brumbies will have an abundance of quality scrum halves once White returns. After Joe there's Ryan Lonergan and Isaac Fines who were the best scrum halves in last years NRC and both could be good enough to be 1st choice SR scrum halves in their own right...
Double Agent
Guest
Great story Peter! I can just imagine it. Me and my mate on the booze and poor Joe Powell as our victim. Drilling a hard middle aged digit into his sternum to emphasise a point. Downing pints at a rate no man in his 20s can keep up with and holding up our empty glasses and looking meaningfully at the bar and back at Joe. My mate putting him in a playful headlock and rubbing his knuckles over his skull. Stirring him relentlessly about his old lady hairstyle. Joe spending most of the time looking around desperately for an escape. Telling him a long involved and mostly incoherent story who's ending bears no relation to the beginning because I forgot what I was talking about halfway through. Then standing at the bar of the next pub completely bewildered by Joe's failure to show up.
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Great point about man management. During some successful years my club had a coach who we on-the-one-hand hated because you could go from starting to bench to B side several times in a season, but on-the-other loved because if you were playing well you’d get a shot to run on no matter who you were
Jarrod Murray
Roar Rookie
jc, with the plethora of great ideas on the Roar, I don't doubt that Rennie trawls through it every now and then :laughing:
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Fair enough mate and as neither of us are picking the team I guess what we think doesn’t matter lol. I guess we’ll find out later this year
moondoggie
Roar Rookie
We have 2 overseas capped 9s this year in super squads getting regular game time (at Reds and Rebels), so it would be great to see those spots taken by Wallabies eligible players. Rebels should take him on for a 2 year deal. Gives him one last crack at a sustained wallabies run but if he doesn't make it, he'd leave at 28 and still have a solid 5 years+ years overseas to cash in. These are the sort players we need to work really hard to keep in super rugby to build depth. The 3rd-5th nationally ranked player in a position, potential for further international caps, and can really lifts clubs.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
I rate Powell however I think is is in a really bad spot here, stay with the Brumbies and fight for second spot with Lonergan, who before getting injured looked like he would overtake Powell, in part because he is a really good kicking option. I don't think he will be able to stay here. Move to the Rebels or Waratahs and keep his run on spot, but Wallabies spots are going to be few and far between with White, McDermott and Lonergan in the mix. Going overseas and earning heaps of coin which sets him up for life post rugby seems to be the only real option left. As a Brumbies fan I would love him to stay but I don't see that as a great choice for him. Repaying the faith when the club and country aren't going to see you as a number one option isn't worth it.
Jarrod Murray
Roar Rookie
Hey Ferret. In my opinion, White would start, although that may come from my bias towards his style of rugby. To be honest, if Rennie believes Powell to be the better choice, go for it. I just hope they are both offered opportunities to prove themselves, which seems more and more likely in the Rennie-led-Wallabies. Also, it's nice to see competition around the scrum-half position (not such a bad problem for Rennie to have!). Cheers for your input!
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Who says White will be the starter? He still has to fight for a starting spot with a player who is playing some good footy. Personally I would play Powell over White any day.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Pete: Having a halfback like Chris Whittaker (splinters) rarely getting a run made Greagan lazy and did the Wallabies no great favours. He also outplayed Gregan a couple of times v Brumbies. It is a tricky thing to support good players but also keeping them looking over their shoulder. Nobody should assume they have a guaranteed spot in the Wallabies.
Jarrod Murray
Roar Rookie
I'd have to disagree jc. IMO White's experience positions him as the best choice. I'm thinking he will be in the starting line-up. Although, in the Rennie era especially, it would come down to performance. There is nothing wrong with healthy competition.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I don’t understand why so many are thinking White is an automatic selection for either the Brumbies or Wallabies. I thought he was pretty average last year and when put under pressure showed why Genia and Phipps were selected ahead of him. I thought his passing was ok but slow to get the ball away at times and not sure he’s actually ever demonstrated anything to show why he wound t be a backup to Powell
Jaybird
Guest
I rate Whie highly, but wish he had signed with someone else. Wherever possible the Brumbies should favour local talent and this was a perfect opportunity to have Lonergan deputise for Powell for a few seasons before taking over so Joe could ride off into a European or Japanese sunset.
Jarrod Murray
Roar Rookie
Cheers Tooly. Will be interesting to see how Rennie may influence Powell's decision.
gatesy
Roar Guru
I've been watching him since First XV at school. Would love to see him have a crack at 7's
Tooly
Roar Rookie
1 White is only here because of a Cheika deal. 2White is our best half by far. 3 But how will Rennie think and will White stay ? 4 Joe is our next best , but not far ahead of Fines, McDermott or Lonergan. 5 The Brumbies don’t need four. NSW have none. 6 Joe tends to lose concentration. 7 Best to stay at the Brumbies and improve. 8 Next best go to Britain and learn.
peterj
Roar Rookie
Always rated him highly and felt he was ripped off by Cheika. Had the fortune of meeting him after a wallabies test match in Cardiff a few years ago and he was such a great bloke. Asked what we were doing in the UK and had a proper conversation! My mate and I may have had a few too many amber ales and we asked him to come and celebrate with us at the pub nearby. He then asked what the name of it was and said he might come after the official match function. Not sure if he made it or not as my memory was a bit hazy after that as I was very “tired” after the long train journey from London. :silly:
Tony Hodges
Roar Rookie
The timing is not too bad (virus aside) for Powell to spend a few seasons picking up some overseas experience before coming back in time to challenge for the jersey ahead of the World Cup. As a Brumbies fan I’ll miss him, but as a Brumbies fan I’m pretty happy to see White come home, too.