The Melbourne Rebels have put aside their off-field woes to post a 38-12 victory over the NSW Waratahs in their first hit-out of the year.
The Rebels entered voluntary administration this week but the side gave their fans at local club Moorabbin something to cheer about on Saturday, stretching their 12-5 halftime lead into a convincing Super Rugby Pacific preseason win.
Former Queensland and Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto formed a dangerous first-half combination with youngster Josh Canham, who scored a try and set up another.
Youngster Daniel Maiava, who came on in the second row in the second half, posted a double.
Rebels general manager of rugby Nick Stiles said it was a solid performance at the end of a tough week.
“It’s fantastic. It’s the first trial game we’ve won in the last three years,” he said.
“With everything else that’s been going on we wanted to come out and make a statement around that.
“We’ve been so confident around the work we’ve been putting into the program for the last few years and I thought today was a reflection of how hard they’ve trained through the preseason and the depth we’ve got in the group.
“It’s only a trial game, but it’s a great starting point.”
Filipo Daugunu and Matt Proctor react during the Rebels’ big win over the Waratahs at Harold Caterson Reserve on February 03, 2024 in Melbourne. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
Stiles said Salakaia-Loto, 27, was in great condition and showing great attributes after returning from English club Northampton.
“Our new head of strength and conditioning Luke Bellow has got him into career-best shape,” he said.
“It’s the fittest he’s ever been, it’s the leanest and he’s got more muscle and he’s just been an absolute leader.
“We’re really stoked with how he’s started.”
Another star recruit, Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou, played the opening 30 minutes in hot conditions and most importantly given his injury history came through unscathed.
The Waratahs, who were missing skipper Jake Gordon, also left intact with Wallabies backrower Langi Gleeson among their tryscorers.
(with AAP)
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Hope he can make a splash like Joe Mcarthy has for Ireland
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Thats why an overhaul is needed down there. They should get Demetriou as ceo.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Agree, however you need to at least aspire to stand on you own feet…not get yourself in trouble and then run to the adults to bail you out.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
But RA also withheld funding to the teams which hurt each of them, this after they took out the loan of 80 mill? or so. If RA want a strong national footprint they must ensure their house is in order to keep Melbourne and Perth functioning so kids in those cities can see a pathway
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
It is the everything that I struggle with. Everything must have a limit.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Agree that the management seem totally incompetent and there needs a cleanout down there to set things right, but pet project or not RA should do everything it can to ensure a future in Melbourne , and also Perth.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Jimmy jones, there is a limit of what Australian rugby can afford to bail out the Rebels. What I struggle to understand is why every Rebel administration have no regard to financial discipline or why a Melbourne based team is so much more costly than any other franchise. Maybe the pet project status cultivated a spoiled teenager syndrome where the management expects that Dad will always bail him/her out. We need a franchise that provides a Superugby presence in Melbourne but it cannot be operating by spoiled teenagers.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
$10-$20 million….whatever number you pick TWAS it is a lot. RA wrote off a similar number in 2017 - just 6 years ago! How did they manage to rack up so much debt without any disclosure to RA in so few years? How do you continue to spend and then expect that someone else will bail you out? The Rebels will fail if RA doesn’t bail them out, something that both ex-chairman Paul Docherty and Moorabbin president refuse to contemplate. NZRU will be delighted to see one less SR team from Australia and to renegotiate their deals with RA when RA is in breach of their contracts. Surely you cannot defend such an irresponsible mindset. If the Rebels fails, those that followed this line of reasoning should give themselves an uppercut. We need a franchise in Melbourne but not at any cost. I think the pet project status is not conducive to financial discipline.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Debt will come and go but Melbourne actually does need a team for the good of the wallabies IMO.. Just check the Harlequins vic website, now I'm no fan of them but they have around 10 Aussie reps from that club alone, plus other nationalities too. Its a huge city and kids love the game, the grassroots is there despite the oversaturation of Afl and a representational presence is needed.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Also a reported debt of $15M. Or $10M. Every number reported just makes a mockery of previously numbers reported. Somebody in the media is printing stories without knowing facts. But still, the Moorabbin president’s comments (though I replied to what you said about Rebels management but anyway) doesn’t say anything about being owed. Speaks more to the need to maintain a footprint and teams.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Moorabbin president Arvind David and Moorabbin clubman William Smith was quoted this weekend in the SMH. Smith: "Australian rugby won’t survive without a Rebels team...Australian rugby needs it and I don’t even want to talk about the notion that it will fall over. It can’t fail." and David: "..is Australia going to take rugby seriously but not have a team in the top sporting city in the nation. It’s the biggest sporting market and, to me, it’s a strategic decision on how you want to appeal to the masses." It appears they both think that Melbourne is owed a team. With a reported debt of $20 million, Rugby Australia out of pocket and Rebel fans not turning up to support their team, it will fail. I hope it doesn't but why would Australia back a team in Melbourne if Melbournians do not want to own it? It could be a good crisis to galvanize support and to turn things around.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
I believe it is RA who believe they are owed $1.5m by the French.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Surely this comes down to coaching. If the coach who is selecting him isn’t asking him to play like this, why do they keep selecting him?
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Haha.. Yep always needed to be prepared for that against Endeavour H. or Northcote
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why just talk about rugby when we can bring off field stuff into it, even when not related to it, every change we get. Classic Aussie rugby fan. Don’t actually like rugby. Just off field drama.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don’t think the mindset is that melbourne is owed a team. It’s that RA has contractual obligations to fill which requires Melbourne.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah. It was Moorabbin, not Endeavour Hills :laughing:
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
was it a legal hit TWAS?
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Seems like a good day out ATW, I’ll have to pop down this season and check out a game
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Agree. As long as there is nothing happening media will find stuff or make up stuff, neither which is good.