I reckon if we could see your IP it’d be in either WA or ACT 😛

I respectfully disagree on a couple of things:
The Force have also done nothing and in the last couple of years have had rosters resembling the United Nations and a turnstile of player changes every year. They exist simply because a Billionaire wants them too (which comes in handy). Their stadium is also no longer packed out like the earlier years…

And speaking of crowds. “The Brumbies should not be touched…” Well I tell you what doesn’t get touched – many seats in their tiny stadium. Their crowds are woeful for the best Aussie team in the comp. NRL has won the war in the town sadly.

This is the death blow for the Rebels. Often it’s not the bullet that kills; but the complications from the wound.
And as a long suffering Rebels supporter this is gutting knowing that the organization under the guidance of Nick Stiles in the last year or so has assembled easily their best quality roster ever. We – were – on the precipice of a very exciting season where excellent results weren’t just to be hoped for; but really should’ve been expected with that team and the commensurate recent boost of quality coaching staff to mentor and guide.
All now for naught.
Any Rebels player with an agent will currently be feverishly exploring all and any options elsewhere in AU and overseas for ’25. My guess is that within a few months the only players remaining will be a few Melbourne born-and-bred academy players. Such a shame. This coulda been the year… I would imagine blokes heading elsewhere won’t go into tackles quite so heavily or commit in D with so much gusto. Their body is their job and career and their current employer has gone bust.
Eddie got about 1000 things wrong in his woeful tenure. But one thing he got right was the over-arching negativity of the majority of the Australian rugby media. Some MUCH worse than others! A rugby publication entitled ‘Schadenfreude’ would be pretty apt for someone in particular I can think of.
And despite what many say about the merits of cutting a team leading to greater stock of high quality players for other AU teams. It’s more likely that the agents for the best players will go fishing in overseas ponds well before having to keep their players in leaner Australian rugby waters.
This is a sad day for the long suffering…

Thank you 🏉

Fair enough Geoff. Just to be clear though my greatest preference by far is for the Rebels to survive as a Going Concern. A blended solution would be a last resort and preferable to being scrapped.

That said I do have to disagree with your disagreement 😊 I’m actually a Brand Manager and sure Canberra Carparks wouldn’t sponsor a team in this way but any sponsor with a National footprint wouldn’t care about where they play. Sponsor’s want exposure and association with a successful team. Dat’s my day job. So I can assure you that wouldn’t be an issue.

Thx for this article Geoff, super interesting read. As a long suffering rugby fan who lives in Melbourne I’d like to stress two points.

Firstly, it’s so utterly disappointing that for the first time EVER the Rebels have assembled a truly excellent squad, experienced suite of quality support staffers and have a coach that is growing nicely into his role, coaching an attractive brand of rugby and establishing a genuine culture and identity in Melbourne. But all this planning, commitment, hard work and design over the last 18 months or so has been allowed to breathe for about 6 minutes before being seemingly extinguished by RA leaks and certain journos seeking Clickbait headlines.

Even if said journos were to stop their ‘schadenfreude’ headlines now it’s too late. The damage is done. As you say Geoff. Families, girlfriends, kids and wallets weigh more heavily on the minds of rugby players than committing to a ‘vision’. And how can you blame them. Kellaway will only be the first of many to leave in the coming months. Why? Because of the uncertainty caused by those above.

Which leads me to my second point. Begrudgingly I have believed for about a year now that the Brumbies and Rebels should merge. I’ll give a few reasons.

1 – The Rebels crowds have dwindled over the years, true. That’s because they lose more than they win. But over the same time the Brumbies have cemented themselves as by far the best SR team in AU and their crowds have plummeted. The NRL seems to have won the crowd war in Canberra. Some of their crowds in what is a tiny stadium anyway are truly woeful.
2 – So if the Melbourne Brumbies or whatever they are called won more the crowds overall would improve because more people in Melbourne would go and support a team that wins.
3 – This option would keep high level rugby coming to Melbourne albeit for 3 home SR games rather than 6. And that would probably keep the Vic Govt onside re: big investment $$$
4 – Even though the Brumbies are already a good team blending the two sides would still make them better too. Of course the greatest improvement would come more on the Rebels side; but this 2024 Rebels squad is a really good one.
5 – A better team, winning more would attract more sponsors and better sponsorship rates which will in turn help with the financial position of the new team
6 – and last but not least; merging would release some talented Australian players into the other AU SR teams. The Force would probably benefit the most from this and might become less of a United Nations patchwork with a turnstile roster.

I am interested to see what happens in the next few weeks… #watchthisspace

But where they were meeting had to be leaked to him first! 😂

Haha – you nailed it 😂

Wow his agent’s first tease campaign out to the media at the start of his contract negotiations is about as subtle as a hurricane 😂 Tbh I think Petaia would better suit league. He has the frame for it and it’s a more basic game. However for such a big bloke he gets injured way too much which may hurt his chances.

Petaia has been the player that has shown promise and potential for so many years but really delivered nothing on the highest stage alongside some serious brain fades and costly errors at crucial times. He is the architype for the difference between a players best and worst being vast. I’d let him go… although it seems the NFL are banging his door down too?? 😛

I’m not really sure why, because there is so much money in Japanese rugby, but Japan is a shadow of the team it was at the RWC 2019. Now that Eddie is charge I see their team going from a slow leak to full Titanic implosion.

Let’s stop talking about him now though please Roar. He is the Trump of rugby and column-inches are his oxygen. Much like his coaching ability he is now past history in terms of relevance to Australia. Time to snuff the EJ stories and look forward > > >

Let’s just move on from this washed-up, passed-the-used-by-date coach. He’s the Trump of rugby and column-inches are his oxygen. If Japan want him; expect them to fall even further than they have from their 2019 highs.

Well at least I don’t have to try to pronounce his surname any more…

Did it? I can’t really remember under Rennie/ McKellar. Front of mind for me is how Jones’ pack could literally not maul at all. It was hard to fathom. Like under 12s would maul better. Btw I’m not a maul nerd. Find them pretty boring. But realise you’re not going to beat many teams without a good one…

I can’t quite decide if Eddie is a charlatan or just inept? I truly don’t believe he wanted this disaster to happen as it has. So that means he is just past-it rather than arriving with sinister intent. If this was an office we would be gathered around the old guy, politely clapping as he is given his gold watch (does that still happen?) and sent off after 35 years at the same cubicle. I think many – and I’m one – just think rugby has moved on and passed Eddie. Similar to a player. Father time happens for coaches as well as players.

That leaves us in a big hole doesn’t it. Be nice if McClennan had the pistachios to resign. His Captain’s Call led us here. But he doesn’t seem to be the type. You know, decent, reasonable…

Of all the candidates I see, please get McKellar. He is abrasive, successful & respected. Oh and imagine if the Wallabies actually learned how to maul again? The Wallabies were not only clueless under Jones but meek. I just couldn’t see that happening under McKellar.

Last but not least is there any way we can Gregan in some way involved with the WBs? I know he has like 200 coffee shops but I just feel he could add so much value in some way. He’s a winner through and through. I really miss his salient insights on Stan. Anyway… just a thought.

Ok so Eddie stays – of his own choosing. I have belted him on these boards as much as anyone. But ok I can cop that. He says he wants to stay… Let’s see if RA want him to?

My fear however is that rugby has moved on and past him. A huge problem for us at the RWC (among many!!) was that there were some very good players out there but collectively they looked clueless. Bereft of ideas and any cohesion. And that folks is coaching.

It’s completely different from a single player breaking structure, having a brain-snap or bolting out of the line. That’s on the player. No the WBs collectively looked lost.

Does anyone remember when The Rebels found Rod McQueen in a dusty old box somewhere and had him coach their first season? It was a season of cricket scores.

I guess like players there is a use-by date on coaches. Sadly I think Eddies has just come up. And now that appears to be our problem…

I see why I’m getting the dollars here 😛

Why? (Btw in your scenario I get paid AGAIN haha)

The Force with unwanted older players scraped from around the world to field a team each year and the best team – Brumbs – playing to no-one at home is SR flying high in AU? Nah – it’s broken and our results are a testament to that…

Yeah nah. Being the ONLY flyhalf in the WBs squad (WTF??) at the RWC with zero mentorship and a pack that couldn’t provide any quick pill was kinda the reason. Oh that and having the guy that thrust you in there just as quickly selling you out.

Good points here. Petaia has always been potential and has never delivered at the highest level… The only thing I disagree with is we DO have a fullback. Kellaway is a lock there for me. He’s quality. But I think it unlikely he would stay in AU if EJ survives. In fact say that for a lot of the players actually. That’s something we haven’t considered from EJ’s dismantling of the WB’s reputation. If he stays we may see a rather large exodus to Japan or Europe.

For me: start ’24 with no positions with a WB incumbent and make all earn their way in on form here and O/S…

Ok then. I’m leading the review into AU rugby. Didn’t you hear? haha. I slip on the head gear for the whacks I’ll get from Perth and chuck a couple of dot points below…

1 – McClennan goes. He just goes. His Captain’s Call led to this EJ disaster.
2 – EJ goes too. He, just, he just, he just… goes (Channeling Kylie Mole there). 2 /9 is it? In pro sport that’s a simple cut. Let alone mentioning the toxic environment he seems to have created based more anxiety than comradery. The best teams in the world beam togetherness. The WBs just look lost, inept and devoid of any unity now. It wasn’t that way under Rennie. Discipline yes; but no team spirit? – not so. Has he ruined Gordon’s career? Possibly/ Probably? There’s more but it’s been said. Pay him out; get rid of him… Who replaces him? Don’t know. But he’s not the guy.
3 – No WB has a name in the 2024 team. Every spot is up for grabs based on form both at home and O/S in 24. NOW start for ’27…
4 – 2025 merge Rebels and Brumbies. Split the home games. Rebels fans get more wins and Brumbies get bigger crowds. Canberra folks, for whatever reason?, don’t attend Brumbs games any more in any kind of viable numbers. And yes – sorry WA – cut The Force. They have to scrape a team together every year from far-and-wide.
5 – 3 teams with stiff competition for spots and more experience of winning games should flow upwards to National level in those players.

Ok where do I send my invoice?

For mine McClennan and Jones just have to go. Sure it may be seen as shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic but I’ll give you my reasons.
1 – McClennan unquestionably made the Captain’s Call to bring in Jones. And what a disaster that has been. Rennie was clearly building something to this RWC and would’ve taken that rugby cliche of a ‘Learning’ after his team-selection misstep against Italy. His team and results against France & Ireland last year simply seem surreal now. We all know these days the RWC is everything for National unions and he was clearly on the last leg of a 4 year pathway. Knifed by McClennan before he could finish-the-job.
2 – Jones. Well the easy question to ask is: which professional coach, in any sport, keeps their job after a 2 – 9 (or whatever it is) loss/ win record. (And we must note who the wins were against too). On that alone he gets cut.
But to me the greater crime is to take an experiment to a RWC – which this team was due to his lack of time in the saddle (McClennan) – and cause nothing but anguish and embarrassment for 10,000s of Wallabies fans on the ground in France. When one-eyed ABs and English fans and commentators are saying “I feel sorry for the Wallabies” and “How can we help them” does anyone need any more reasons to jettison the cause?
EJ has always been a walking headline – he loves it and it’s his raison d’etre – but this time he’s brought a proud rugby nation down with him as collateral damage.
YES – take some untested future players with promise, your Gordons, your Tom Hoopers et al but as Mentees. But you TAKE THEIR MENTORS AS WELL. (Sorry for caps) Quade goes, Hooper goes, Samu goes for that purpose. To not do so is not so much as madness; but is just pure ‘Eddie’.
Under Cheik we were around 4,5 in the world.
Rennie – 6, 7
And with lightning speed under Jones 10, 11
For me in 2024 the team needs a complete overall. Start the ’24 season with no names yet in the WBs team and watch players compete for the privilege both here and O/S. And this job shouldn’t be entrusted to the main causes of our current woes.

I actually like the proposal of a Brumbies/ Rebels merger. And I’m a Rebels fan. There can be no way that the Force/ Rebels (or any other team) can combine with another team based on distance.

Melbourne should keep access to a Super team as the pathways in the last 3 or so years have brought through some local quality. It would be good for Melburnians to get a team that wins more and I think would actually do better in terms of support/ attendances. Also if the home games were split the attendances overall would be up. As the Brumbs have the best team but no crowds any more. Yes keep the Brumbies name for it’s heritage.

You could either keep The Force who should get some better players with one less team – or you could go the much less popular route in WA and go to 3 teams as many are calling for. But if you kept 4 in Oz + 5 in NZ and Fiji there’s a good number 10. Anyway… just a thought

Well done. I think this is the probably the most patently negative comment I’ve ever read on Roar. And that’s saying something! I would give you a gold star but you’d probably prefer a black one? Enjoy your evening… #wow

Apart from White on the bench and Rory ‘Penalty Machine’ Arnold starting over Phillips I actually like this team. Soooo much pressure on Kellaway though coming in cold to this tournament. The reason the pressure is amplified is due to our centres being unable to pass and thus our excellent wingers never getting the pill. There are few better than running angles and running off shoulders than Kellaway but due to Eddie he’s been in French cafes rather than playing rugby so I worry he won’t be sharp.

All that said I think this team can beat Wales. Real pity the human box kick will come on with 20 rather than the whippet Fines though. That may be the difference? #hopenot

Yup – as some others have said. Ikitau please. He is quality. I’d start with Tate at 9 and Donno at 10 but have Kellaway at 15. Then on the bench Fines, CG and Ikitau. Having Kellaway in your team enables you to play specialist backs.