John I Dent Cup - Canberra Competition -

[HappyHC]

The Ozboks had a lot of players from Sydney and Africa, it would be very surprising to see them all turn out for Uni-Norths in 2011. In fact I would imagine it will be more like 2 or 3 of them tops.

Vikings dissapointing as were Queanbeyan, but both clearly had a 15's focus.

The Wolves (Wests) were good, a specialist 7's team who have played a lot of tournaments over the summer - so they had every right to take it out and did so well.

Royals were good, they had pace and some very experienced 7's players - a lot of representative 7's experience in there and it showed at key times.

Strong rumours that some of the Wests team won't be with them for the full season.

Also - Ben Johnston from Royals - to play for Sydney Uni in 2011?

It will be very interesting to see how the Wests Wolves go at Kiama - they should be a genuine threat in the tournament.

 

[Empire]

Big loss for royals if that turns out to be the case..

 

[HappyHC]

Sure would be - a shame for Ben as well as he would only be filling a gap until big names came back in. Could find himself playing 3rd grade later in the year.

 

[Canon76]

The majority of the Ozboks are Uni-Norths players. One was from Easts ( but played for Uni-Norths last year) and a couple of new guys that have come into canberra, who most probably will be playing for Uni-Norths.

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

Yeah OZboks as I thought, was mostly Uni Norths players...few handy pick ups from Brisbane in a few Fijian boys. See how they go although I would think as usual, Uni Norths have good players on paper but never seem to get it right on the field...I still think it will be Whites, Royals, Vikings and EASTS or Gungahlin. U just dont think Wests or Uni Norths have the firepower to match Whites or Royals.

 

[Empire]

Looks like wests have lost some of that firepower to us. Uelese seems to have brought over 2-3 other guys from wests. Live scrums yesterday were great - huge packs for 1st and 2nds, a luxury we haven't had for a long time.

Interesting reading in the herald and Canberra times regarding Brumbies today. Sounds like 2004 all over again. . .

 

[Brumbies Whiteman]

Who are they wests players believed to have gone to easts? i think its unfair to say wests dont have the firepower its just whether they know how to use it? with there backline this year youd wanna hope they could pull something together. vikings are also another club i think will have firepower heard that there are riffs between players and coach there be interesting to see what he can do with the player roster there. quenbeyan have lost heavily. villi liongi?? only real potential this year in the whites backline. lewis holland picked up by aus sevens probably wont see much of him.

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

Yeah, I hear a few Wests players have gone to Easts...But for me, Wests just lack the punch...if they gonna rely on McInness and the most times drunk Budworth, then they gonna struggle. I think one of the Ex Wests props might be heading to Royals also to join his mates there. Queanbeyan, lots of stories going around saying we have lost players...but all we have lost is Coleman and Stephens..we still have Iongi, The Holland Brothers, Goodall, Josh Hastings back....so I think we still have the cattle to Rattle...but I have my eye on Royals also, there NPC centre has arrived and looks like he packs a punch as does there new No8...rumor has it he is an Ex Auckland Blues player...Tamihere...can anyone confirm?

 

[Empire]

Don't know names - just noticed the wests training gear. One is a very solid No8 and another is an inside back.

Word on the grapevine from one of our senior players is that we might be getting some Royals boys. See what happens. Apparently not all is rosy over that side of town with a few guys that have been there a while. All hearsay, interesting nevertheless.

Yea, talking to Goody on the weekend, queanbeyan will still be pretty solid. Great to see a good bunch of players stick together.

 

[Brumbies Whiteman]

Royals again will disappoint as they always do with there recruiting ie American no8 last year as was there npc centre last year. If there so good they'd still be in nz playing. Be interesting to see what Wests players have gone from what I've seen there same backs and backdown are still there. Eagles are definitely underdogs. Solid retainment of players plus new Lindsay crook and a centre to add could be dangerous. Wonder how owen finegan is going there?

 

[Empire]

Depends on who is bringing the guys across. Mike Legge has a reputation for talking up players incessantly, as well as promising the world to them once they arrive here. That's based purely on how he operated at Easts - sure he brought over some good players (junior sticks out, the Daz Wihapi was good too), but alot were rubbish. Time will tell. Legge might not even be making those calls?

As for the Wests players, I don't think they were 1sts players, one is colts age. Both have been training well, and are trying to aim for 1sts.

I'm going to say the Eagles will be strong - again. I hope it Easts who are the surprise package this year
Usual suspects to be in the hunt as per usual in my opinion - Vikings, Queanbeyan, Gungahlin and Royals... With Easties challenging the status quo. Wests and Uni aren't known at the moment - hopefully no team is struggling this year, and we have a good, tight competition.

 

[Empire]

And yes, Ben Johnson is confirmed as leaving - big loss for Royals. Good bloke, and great player.

Interesting actually talking to mates at Royals - not everyone is happy with how the club is currently operating, and specifically, how they picked players for 1sts last year. See what eventuates. Anyone else have any information?

Hoping they can sort out their culture, from recent experience, when there is angst and disunity amongst the club things go incredibly downhill. I would not wish a season like what happened at Easts in 2009 on anyone. Even Royals.

East's have a trial match against Victoria as the curtain raiser for Brumbies and Reds. It'll be interesting to see who manages to win positions in the pack. Victoria are pretty handy, should be a good gauge as to player selection and fitness (!).

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

Depends on who is bringing the guys across. Mike Legge has a reputation for talking up players incessantly, as well as promising the world to them once they arrive here. That's based purely on how he operated at Easts - sure he brought over some good players (junior sticks out, the Daz Wihapi was good too), but alot were rubbish. Time will tell. Legge might not even be making those calls?

As for the Wests players, I don't think they were 1sts players, one is colts age. Both have been training well, and are trying to aim for 1sts.

I'm going to say the Eagles will be strong - again. I hope it Easts who are the surprise package this year
Usual suspects to be in the hunt as per usual in my opinion - Vikings, Queanbeyan, Gungahlin and Royals... With Easties challenging the status quo. Wests and Uni aren't known at the moment - hopefully no team is struggling this year, and we have a good, tight competition.

I guess there is a bit of history with Legge at Easts but from all reports, all the players he has bought over have been quality. I have done a bit of digging on the bloke after you mentioned him and most talk highly of him with the players he has bought into the Canberra Competition. Lafaele, Henry Stowers, Paul Bithell, Karl Williams, Wihapi Brothers, Scott Patterson, Joe Kolo Sean Morrell and Navi Bolatagici (all who have gone on to represent their country since). I heard he left Easts in protest to the way the old coach was dumped. From what i have heard, he hasnt bought a "rubbish" player into the competition. He was also the bloke who got Jack Lam a start in NZ so he must be doing something right and he does have the respect of most if not all the Island Players in the Competition. He must be delivering on what he does promise, otherwise all the players who were at Easts wouldnt have followed him to Royals in 09. And the same players who left last year to go to Brisbane (Lafaele and Stowers) wouldnt be returning this season to Royals to link back up with him. But I guess everyone has their opinion, Im just happy someone is there helping and finding pathways for Island Players in the this competition. Also with Royals, who was their NPC centre they had last year? And wasnt that USA No 8 the biggest Flop....he was one who was talked up but was average. Just one more thing on this Mike Legge, I understand you have a lot of the Island boys returning to Easts this season, i think you might was to ask them whose opinion they sort before returning? I hear Mike Legge has been pushing for a lot of those boys to return to Easts, along with a few others. You might be singing his praises at the end of the season....

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

I guess there is a bit of history with Legge at Easts but from all reports, all the players he has bought over have been quality. I have done a bit of digging on the bloke after you mentioned him and most talk highly of him with the players he has bought into the Canberra Competition. Lafaele, Henry Stowers, Paul Bithell, Karl Williams, Wihapi Brothers, Scott Patterson, Joe Kolo Sean Morrell and Navi Bolatagici (all who have gone on to represent their country since). I heard he left Easts in protest to the way the old coach was dumped. From what i have heard, he hasnt bought a "rubbish" player into the competition. He was also the bloke who got Jack Lam a start in NZ so he must be doing something right and he does have the respect of most if not all the Island Players in the Competition. He must be delivering on what he does promise, otherwise all the players who were at Easts wouldnt have followed him to Royals in 09. And the same players who left last year to go to Brisbane (Lafaele and Stowers) wouldnt be returning this season to Royals to link back up with him. But I guess everyone has their opinion, Im just happy someone is there helping and finding pathways for Island Players in the this competition. Also with Royals, who was their NPC centre they had last year? And wasnt that USA No 8 the biggest Flop....he was one who was talked up but was average. Just one more thing on this Mike Legge, I understand you have a lot of the Island boys returning to Easts this season, i think you might was to ask them whose opinion they sort before returning? I hear Mike Legge has been pushing for a lot of those boys to return to Easts, along with a few others. You might be singing his praises at the end of the season....

Sean Morrell (Gungahlin, Ponsonby, Auckland and Fiji), Joe Kolo (Ponsonby, Auckland, Gungahlin, Royals and TOnga) and Navi Bolatagici (Gungahlin, Brumbies Runners, Easts, Ponsonby and Auckland, Fiji) are the players who have gone on to represent their country.

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

Ok to the best of my Knowledge....GAINS and LOSSES for Canberra Clubs...(Please add if you have information)

Queanbeyan - GAINS - LEWIS HOLLAND, LESLIE MAKIN others to be confirmed LOSSES - Robbie Coleman, Tyler Stevens
Tuggies - GAINS - Kelemedi Vosuga others to be confirmed LOSSES - Dan Yakapo, Sam Yakapo, Tom Maitaka, Kyron Pita, Tim Curran, Sione Taula, Mike Noble and more.
EASTS - GAINS - Ulz Uelese, Robbie Avery (UNI NORTHS) and others returning LOSSES - Jack Vanderglas, and more.
WESTS - Gains - Pama Fou - Losses - UNKNOWN
Gungahlin - GAINS - Unknown Losses - Nua Alone, Jimmy Campbell (Retired)
Uni Norths - GAINS - Unknown LOSSES - Leslie Makin (Qbyn), Robbie Avery (Easts)
ROYALS - GAINS - Kyron Pita (Tuggies), Tyson Tamihere (Akld), Leo Taliu (Akld) Tom Pelo (Syd Roosters) LOSSES - Bronson Shepard (Parramatta), Melbourne Lesa (Rebels) and more

Can anyone confirm all clubs?

 

[Empire]

Don't worry, there's more to it than that, and it's got nothing to do with Ozzie (the 'dumped coach').
In any case - it was not intended to be an attack on any of the players you mentioned, put simply, things didn't work out 100%. I apologise if I've offended you.

Not sure how Uelese fits in with the Legge mob, if at all, but he certainly went to school with a lot of the guys at Easts who also went to St Eddies - might've helped him decide to play with us? I think Joe Shirley specifically had a fair bit to do with it.

Signings; Thomas Toailoa (re-signed), Jerome Harimate (NZ), Tim Tapara (Vikings), Jono Noaupu (NZ), Kepu Vakasiuola (NZ), Robbie Lavery (Uni), Joseph Shirley (USA), Uelese Faumuina, Tau Taholo, Chris Cocca (SA) + others.

Losses; Roland Soniula (US 7's), Jack Vanderglas (retired*)

Question marks around Henry Vanderglas and Sammy Wara. Head coach (Friendy) is trying to get them back after academy commitments finish.

*may cameo, but far too busy with work and personal commitments down the coast.

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

Don't worry, there's more to it than that, and it's got nothing to do with Ozzie (the 'dumped coach').
In any case - it was not intended to be an attack on any of the players you mentioned, put simply, things didn't work out 100%. I apologise if I've offended you.

Not sure how Uelese fits in with the Legge mob, if at all, but he certainly went to school with a lot of the guys at Easts who also went to St Eddies - might've helped him decide to play with us? I think Joe Shirley specifically had a fair bit to do with it.

Signings; Thomas Toailoa (re-signed), Jerome Harimate (NZ), Tim Tapara (Vikings), Jono Noaupu (NZ), Kepu Vakasiuola (NZ), Robbie Lavery (Uni), Joseph Shirley (USA), Uelese Faumuina, Tau Taholo, Chris Cocca (SA) + others.

Losses; Roland Soniula (US 7's), Jack Vanderglas (retired*)

Question marks around Henry Vanderglas and Sammy Wara. Head coach (Friendy) is trying to get them back after academy commitments finish.

*may cameo, but far too busy with work and personal commitments down the coast.

No its alright mate, everyone has an opinion.
I heard Jack Vanderglas has joined Jeremy Osbourne and is playing League for Bungendore?
Sounds like a lot of Signings coming in, thats a fair number which means their must have been a fair turn over of players. Any retention of last years players?

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

No its alright mate, everyone has an opinion.
I heard Jack Vanderglas has joined Jeremy Osbourne and is playing League for Bungendore?
Sounds like a lot of Signings coming in, thats a fair number which means their must have been a fair turn over of players. Any retention of last years players?

Henry Vanderglas going back to Randwick also, Sam Wara looking more likely to go to Sydney to learn his trade.

 

[Empire]

Retention of all but Sammy Wara and Roland, who wanted to come back if he doesn't make the US squad for the RWC.

Friendy - who has a bit to with them at the Brumbies has just said nothing is set in stone one way or another. But you're right, they will most likely be picked up by a Sydney club.

Tommy Toailoa went back to NZ to visit family, bit enjoyed Canberra and Easts so much, he asked to come back!

What Jack has said is from the horses mouth, He pops in to training every now and again. League might be an option, socially, but he is ridiculously busy with work. His business is going really well.

 

[BrumbiesPolynesian]

It would be sad to see Jack Vanderglas not playing...he is the best no 7 in the competition....even when he is not fully committed....he is so under rated. But brumbies organisation in my mind needs a complete over haul.