NSW Country - - - NRC Official Team Thread

[Iluvmyfooty]

Is first grade the standard? So if a player is playing 1st grade somehwere irrespective of how his club is performing then he is considered a better bet than a player playing at a strong club in 2nd grade? Take players at Syd Uni, manly and Eastwood for example. Their 1st grade is very strong as is their 2nd grade (in some instances these 2nd grade teams would probably beat some other 1st grade teams). Should players currently performing well in these sides be overlooked for a player simply because he is playing 1st grade elsewhere - Phil Kearnes anyone)?

 

[Braveheart81]

No, of course they shouldn't be overlooked but realistically only the cream of the crop from the Shute Shield are going to be selected. A few of those players might not be regular first grade players but are young up and comers such as Sam Croke (who has played some first grade).

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules in terms of who can and can't be selected. It will purely be what the coaches etc. decide.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

183 players have played more than 8 Shute Shield Games in the Run On Squad.

That is they have started in at least 1/2 the games so far.

 

[Train Without a Station]

So really reasonably close to what I was saying. What I was getting at anyway, was Braveheart's point that there are really more spots, than players who are knocking down the door for them.

 

[Train Without a Station]

On another note, why do people keep bringing up the Phil Kearns example?

Yes in 1990-ish when there were two provincial teams, only an Australian Schoolboys team, less frequent test fixtures, an undefined provincial competition and less media exposure, yes it could happen.

In 2014, with 5 franchises contracting 35 players each, regular 'A' Fixtures by these franchises, Junior Gold Pathway, Australian Schoolboys, Australian Schoolboys II, Southern States Schoolboys, ACT Schoolboys, WA Schoolboys, QLD & NSW Schoolboys I & II, other school rep teams, State under 20 teams, Under 20 World Cup, mass media, televised and at least recorded club games by almost all teams, youtube, facebook, etc. if you haven't seen a Phil Kearns running around in all of that, it's because he doesn't exist.

 

[Braveheart81]

It's the same flawed logic that people use when they say that we've won two RWCs with the Shute Shield and Premier Rugby as the feeder comps.

The game has moved on. Our major competitors have greatly improved their pathways and we are playing catchup.

Club Rugby is still a vitally important part of the overall picture, but it's no longer adequate as the next rung down from Super Rugby.

 

[Train Without a Station]

At least there's 2 of us sane people BH!

 

[MACCA]

See Melbourne Rising have advised that they will be announcing their squad this Friday. That must be a better way of doing things than the Country Eagles piecemeal approach with 2 or 3 players names floated out at a time. So far we have had the Cam Treloar announcement, the Horwitz, Kellaway & Croke tweet as well as James Grant anointing Hayden Tidswell in the Western daily.
I am sure they will be better at running the team than they have been at setting the thing up!!

 

[Braveheart81]

All the teams have announced some players. There have been various previews on Rugby HQ, the Roar etc.

It's more of a necessity for the teams that aren't linked directly with a Super Rugby team because they need some players to promote themselves whereas the others have their Super Rugby players already aligned.

 

[rugby roo]

Just noticed the country eagles forum is bristling with views.Not enough names announced yet to gauge whether they will be competitive or not. I think they would be a 30 man squad and James Grant and co are not entirely useless when it comes to spotting talent. Young colts , veterans and whomever else they can recruit .I am going to support them as we all know they will be the underdog in this competition.

 

[Braveheart81]

It's hard to tell in advance how the sides will fare overall but there will certainly be plenty of good players in this side.

I'm looking forward to seeing Chapman, Gray, McKibbin, Horwitz, Lance, Carraro and Kellaway combining. All should be part of this side.

 

[p.Tah]

An article from the Central West Daily on the Eagles playing in Orange

http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/2437162/wade-park-makes-the-grade-for-rugby-game/?cs=103

 

[RugbyReg]

Guys and Gals, if anyone is interested in covering these games for Green and Gold Rugby (match reviews and/or photos) please let us know. We obviously want to cover the comp pretty extensively but will need more hands on deck. We can provide a template for match reviews if needed. If you are interested leave a comment here or send a personal message. Cheers

 

[rugby roo]

Have heard the Eagles squad will be announced officially tomorrow and a snippet on Rugby HQ tonight.Whatever the mix as with all other franchises, the task now is to gel those players in very short timeframe.Massive challenge.

 

[Braveheart81]

Forwards
Michael Ala'alatoa (Prop), Mitch Chapman (Lock), Duncan Chubb (Prop), Sam Croke (Backrow), Ryan Danziel (Hooker), Kane Douglas (Lock), Tala Gray (Backrow), Steven Hoiles (Backrow), Max Lahiff (Prop), Josh Mann-Rea (Hooker), Ben Matwijow (Lock), Tim Metcher (Prop), Will Miller (Backrow), Ben Suisala (Prop), Pauli Tuala (Backrow), Cam Treloar (Lock), Ita Vaea (Backrow), Will Weekes (Hooker)

Backs
Matt Carraro (Centre), Patrick Dellit (Outside Back), Darcy Etrich (Halfback), Ethan Ford (Outside Back), John Grant (Outside Back), David Horwitz (Flyhalf), Andrew Kellaway (Outside Back), Apakuki Ma’afu (Centre), Brendan McKibbin (Halfback), Misieli Sinoti (Outside Back), Mick Snowden (Halfback), Ed Stubbs (Centre), Chris Tuatara-Morrison (Centre), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Outside Back), Sam Windsor (Fly Half).

 

[MarkJ]

Interesting to see that Ita Vaea will be turning out for Country, hopefully he can get back to where he was before his health issues

 

[eastman]

So basically the majority of the Easts/ Randwick players didn't actually play the majority of the season and most are just parachuted0 in Super rugby players eg Tuatara- Morrison, Stubbs, Dellit

 

[Braveheart81]

So basically the majority of the Easts/ Randwick players didn't actually play the majority of the season and most are just parachuted0 in Super rugby players eg Tuatara- Morrison, Stubbs, Dellit

What did you expect?

Super Rugby players were always going to be part of the NRC. That's half the point.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Better result than picking inferior players.

On the basis that there are 16 Super Rugby contracted players per team, and 35 players per squad that leaves 171 spots for uncontracted players.

If you are not in the top 171 uncontracted players in Australia, you probably are not good enough for this competition.

 

[Braveheart81]

The Western Force, Rebels and Brumbies all had more than 16 Super Rugby players left to play in the NRC so some of their players were always going to be sent elsewhere.