PhilClinton
Tony Shaw (54)
Yeh I know. And considering lots of clubs have been back at pre-season now for 6 weeks minimum across all grades, you’d think the players will be fit as a fiddle come Round 1!
Most of the Rebels-aligned people (particularly school-leavers) being told they have to play at Wests. Apparently formal agreement signed with Wests. Some who were already at various Prem clubs being allowed to stay there but you will see some have jumped as well.It has been implied again that Wests have a strong Rebels connection. Their availability throughout the season is probably at the discretion of the Rebels though, rather than the players.
Well looks like I will be watching West’s again this year. Would prefer them to stay in Melbourne but I guess smarter men than me feel this is better for their developmentMost of the Rebels-aligned people (particularly school-leavers) being told they have to play at Wests. Apparently formal agreement signed with Wests. Some who were already at various Prem clubs being allowed to stay there but you will see some have jumped as well.
Don’t get that in terms of Wests putting their best 15 on the field. Super Rugby starting relatively early , QPR quite late. Might end up with a Wests team with Super Rugby players on the bench once all the non-Wallaby Super Rugby players are back.Most of the Rebels-aligned people (particularly school-leavers) being told they have to play at Wests. Apparently formal agreement signed with Wests. Some who were already at various Prem clubs being allowed to stay there but you will see some have jumped as well.
I think you will find that there will be Rebels squad / wider squad players popping up in NSW as well.I wouldn't be surprised if they were looking at finding a shute shield partner as well
I believe players like Maiva will be there as well ie their WTS / Academy boys who have come from Qld recently and have spent pre-season training with the squadAre there any others I’ve missed? Or we assuming the likes of Vidugo, Haylett-Petty, Hosea, etc will be back?
I'm sure there will be, I just mean they might look to a more formalised relationship with an individual club like they apparently have with Wests.I think you will find that there will be Rebels squad / wider squad players popping up in NSW as well.
Is that much like the Reds are evenly distributed among the QPR clubs ATMIf the Rebels are looking to ship their players off to interstate clubs, whether it be QPR or SS, it sends the wrong message to the Victorian clubs, in my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong, I have nothing to do with that competition nor do I support the Rebels so maybe they all agree it is the best step for their players.
But I would have thought having a bunch of Rebels around the clubs down there, adding a sense of professionalism, would only be beneficial to the long term success of that competition.
I know as a Reds and QPR supporter, I’d be annoyed if a bunch of our blokes went to SS once Super Rugby ended.
Is that much like the Reds are evenly distributed among the QPR clubs ATM
cough cough
I don’t disagree but the Melb scene is probably Reggie’s at best and 4 th grade at worst so I can see the point in shipping players out. I am sure it is the long term vision for the Rebels players to play locally.That's a different argument for a different day, my issue isn't that Wests have a formal arrangement, it's more the problems it causes to Victorian grassroots rugby.
The QPR is arguably the best club rugby competition in Australia. I don't doubt the Victorian comp is seen as fairly weak in comparison, but robbing them of professional players seems a bit shit.
If the Rebels keep sending their players interstate instead of keeping them in Victoria, they're essentially conceding that they're never going to grow their own grassroots comp. As I said, maybe Rebels supporters and club rugby fans down there don't mind this approach. But it seems strange to me.
I wonder if Wallis and Ripley will return to UQ and Van Nek to Easts after Super Rugby games. It’s spreading further than Wests. I might add I was happy to get Powell for the second half of the season last year.If the Rebels to Wests plan does come to fruition, no doubt Wests will be applying for a rule change with the QRU to have any Super Rugby registered players available for finals under the same rule currently governing Reds players.
Had Wests been able to keep all their Rebels last season for finals, I have no doubt they would have beaten GPS and probably given UQ a good run for their money in the final.
And I think that would be fair enough. If a player aligns themselves with a certain club from the outset of the season, and plays Super Rugby, I think they should receive dispensation regardless of what team they play for. The rules are obviously the rules for a reason, but I'm still holding onto the season probably 6 years ago now where Hergarty and Sean McMahon weren't able to play for GPS in the finals despite having been registered with the club for the season.