Rebels 2016

[KevinO]

They though that would be the case with O'Connor and Beale - just the headlines weren't what they wanted.

I think QC (Quade Cooper) is a better fit than Beale and JOC (James O'Connor). Also not as young anymore so his grown up a bit.

Agree that I think it's Cox pushing for QC (Quade Cooper), his the one investing the money and seems a bright enough businessman that he would not risk signing QC (Quade Cooper) if he could not see the potential gains to be had.

A 58 Cap Wallaby is not something the Rebels can say no to at the moment, more caps than out other 5 Wallabies combined.

I would also be taking a stab at getting Higgers back if I was Cox/TT.

 

[neilc]

What has happened to Jack D? He seemed to have great potential - has something gone wrong or has he just plateaued? Is Hodge a better option at 10 now?

 

[Highlander35]

Personally I think that mentally he needs the insurance of Harris at the back, at this level, he's not got the confidence to go it alone. On top of that, there's got to be something wrong with his leg, he was clearly carrying a niggle going into the first Bye, and reports came out saying that he was under a cloud, but has continued to play since.

Regardless he's not as good of a player as he was 12 months ago, and with no guarantees that he'll return to that or continue improving, bringing on a proper 10 is a good idea IMO.

 

[daz]

Daz, I think you're looking at any potential signing of Quade in a small minded manner.

From an on-field perspective, I think he definitely doesn't fit. Dumper seems to have a preference for more of a low risk, bashing, conservative style of play and Quade doesn't really add to that.

Off-field I wouldn't be surprised if Cox is the one pushing the race for his signature. Not because the stories about the Rebels would be about Quade. Because Quade would bring more stories about the Rebels. Currently they're lucky to get a single story in the Herald Sun 3 days a week. If you can't see the benefit of increasing that exposure then I don't know what to say.

Success brings exposure more than a single player, as the Rebels know all too well.

As you said, QC (Quade Cooper) wouldn't fit. Therefore, the team wouldn't benefit.

Rinse and repeat.




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[Train Without a Station]

Rubbish.

The Melbourne Storm still get very similar (F-All) coverage despite their success.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Rubbish.

The Melbourne Storm still get very similar (F-All) coverage despite their success.

Well, no, the AFL Mafia wouldn't allow it.

 

[TOCC]

Brumbies and Waratahs are only two teams who can afford to overlook a player like Quade, the Reds, Rebels and Force are all craving a mature, experienced and skilful 5/8 and he fits the bill perfectly.

I don't think you could sign him expecting more of his 2011 heroics or form, but he does offer a playmaker with a pretty good kicking game and brilliant passing game.

 

[daz]

Rubbish.

The Melbourne Storm still get very similar (F-All) coverage despite their success.

So you think QC (Quade Cooper) coming to the Rebels will give us more media bites than an NRL team with multiple trophies; one of the more successful teams in the modern era? With Slater, Smith, Cronk, who are all households names in NSW and QLD?

QC (Quade Cooper) will do that, in a team that you yourself have said he won't add too much value to? Mate, 99% of Victoria have no idea who QC (Quade Cooper) is.

He will get good press in the North, and sweet FA here.

So he doesn't fit, and is relatively unknown here. What value does he add, exactly?

Delusional to suggest otherwise.




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[Hugh Jarse]

What has happened to Jack D? He seemed to have great potential - has something gone wrong or has he just plateaued? Is Hodge a better option at 10 now?

Haven't the Rebels signed up Jack McGregor as a 10?

Probably a year or two away from being really Super Rugby ready, considering he has only played about 15 minutes of any Senior Rugby. IIRC his knee (ACL) went on him in his first post school game of footy which was an internal NSW U20 trial game. All his previous footy has been played under the Under 19 Law Variation.

 

[swingpass]

Haven't the Rebels signed up Jack McGregor as a 10?

yes they have.

on the QC (Quade Cooper) debate, if they can secure him at reasonable rates i think he would be a good asset. i doubt that he will generate much more publicity unless its bad, but i think that is unlikely. my reading, is that he has matured substantially since his days with the rat pack, dare i say perhaps SBW calming influence and the late onset of maturity. my major misgiving is that he is certainly NOT in the TT mould of players.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Returned to NZ, apparently.

not much of a stint....

i'm not sure we have the centres for Cooper. ellison would have been great alongside him but he's gone after this season correct. i think you need a slightly more creative centre than inman for cooper to unleash.
a shame we are losing harris as he would have been great to pressure JD.

i'm still not entirely sure why we let go of hegarty - i thought he was on the up.

 

[Highlander35]

Don't know about not having the centers. The outside backs that were in the Reds final are Ioane - Tapuai - Fainga’a - Davies - Lance.

Something like Koroibete - Hodge - Inman - Sefa - Jack D would be rather similar to that, maybe without the superstar quality of 2011 Digby, but with bigger, and with the exception of Rocket Rod, man for man faster boys.

 

[swingpass]

watching yesterdays training (from the car sitting in traffic) saw the Rebels half backs practising box kicks, not certain how i feel about that. not sure whether thats good (practice makes perfect) or bad (box kicks without any chase just turns over possession). what was good, was seeing the forwards practising pop passes in the tackle and quick short passing amongst each other.

 

[AFL_Converted]

watching yesterdays training (from the car sitting in traffic) saw the Rebels half backs practising box kicks, not certain how i feel about that. not sure whether thats good (practice makes perfect) or bad (box kicks without any chase just turns over possession). what was good, was seeing the forwards practising pop passes in the tackle and quick short passing amongst each other.

Don't mind the halves practicing box kicks. It's part of the game and we are rubbish at them. Would have loved to hear that the rest were practicing chasing kicks. We must have the slowest kick chase in the sup.

What we need is practice receiving box kicks, especially the shirt ones. All our blokes do is stare at each other and give the opportunity 10 meters and access to a broken defensive line.

Love to see how those pop passes pan out. If used correctly they can really break down a defense.

 

[lou75]

While most Rebels fans will pay the $10.

Sure, $10 bucks is not the point. It seems that die hard Rebels supporters would be happy to see them play, but if it's billed as an exhibition match I would have thought the aim was to attract new audiences of rugby supporters, to make the pie bigger, not just milk the current support base. I haven't seen any advertising for this exhibition match on anything that isn't already linked with my Rebels membership, has anyone else?

 

[Scooter]

Another injury to our outside backs Kotaro Matsushima only lasted 15 minutes for Japan. He chased from behind to lay a tackle on a Scot who had made a break. A try saving tackle. Matsushima was injured in the tackle although it was difficult to see what the exact nature of the injury was.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Melbourne Rebels Squad for exhibition match against Hurricanes:
Cruze Ah Nau, Alofa Alofa*, Paul Asquith, Steve Cummins, Jack Debreczeni, Tom English, Colby Fainga’a, Harley Fox*, Jamie Hagan, Reece Hodge, Mitch Inman, Sam Jeffries, Luke Jones, Pat Leafa, Ben Meehan, Tom Moloney, Sefa Naivalu, Jonah Placid, Jordy Reid, CulumRetallick, Fereti Sa’aga*, Siliva Siliva, Mick Snowden, NicStirzaker, Adam Thomson, Lopeti Timani
*Uncapped Rebels

https://melbournerebels.com/2016/06/22/rebels-name-extended-squad-for-hurricanes-trial/

Alofa Alofa signed as backs cover.

 

[swingpass]

i was just about to post that "bread" was back.

 

[KevinO]

Was hoping Hodge would get a start for the Wallabies this weekend, series over and pride battered it would have been a good chance to take a risk on a young up and coming player.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Was hoping Hodge would get a start for the Wallabies this weekend, series over and pride battered it would have been a good chance to take a risk on a young up and coming player.

I must admit, I was slightly disappointed to see his name on the list.

No doubt TGC wants to try and win back some credibility this weekend and isn't in the mood to experiment.

Notice that Chibba isn't named though.