NSW AAGPS 2018

[Come on ref]

You can never judge a Scots age group on 15s as half the year group are at Glengarry.

EDIT: There is at least one boy from last years' New 15As playing 1sts at the moment (and probably only 1 I'd imagine)

who?

 

[rollin_maul]

Some highlights from the Scots v Waverley 1stXV game>

Waverly could consider themselves lucky the ref didn't spot the incident that ended the Scots #4 (blue head gear) afternoon. Cue video to around 17m20sec. Occurs after he has made the tackle and is trying to get up off the ground. He can be seen moments later flat on his back.

 

[Quick Hands]

who?

Mack Fell

 

[Rich_E]

My thoughts on a battle within the battle. The clash of the two #8 in Scots v Waves game

Having now watched the video too, Morretti was actually busier than I realised and played well. One of the best in a well beaten side.

Although live, during the actual match, I had thought he had a quiet game. Maybe that was because he had been talked up so much, anything less than a herculian performance was always going to look ordinary I suppose.

But at the game, you don't (well at least I didn't from up on 'The Balcony') notice the little things he does consistently, that you pick up on the replay.

There is no doubt Moretti is in a class above most and his performance on Saturday wouldn't have done his rep prospects any harm.

The head to head clash did, however, confirm what I, and many others, had always suspected. Harris is every bit as good as Morretti.

I would love to see the stats from the game. Both locked in a try assist. Both made frequent strong runs for their teams. I suspect both were also up there in terms of run metres and possibly tackles too. Harris also scored a try himself.

Both will be in NSW 1 fowards IMO, barring injury or brain snaps. Although i suspect one will be moved into the second row, with the other in the backrow along with Reimer and Freeman (and possibly Wellington, although I think his long term future is at hooker).

 

[Sydney Rugby Fan]

Did anyone catch the Scots 3rd XV vs High 1st XV game on Saturday at Scots? If so, can someone please provide a quick wrap-up? Many thanks...

 

[DragonMan]

I'm wondering how the dayboys (or even boarders) who are academic and play 1stXV and are sitting for HSC fit everything into their schedule. I would imagine by the time game is over, speeches are done etc, if any study is done at all it must be only a few hour on Saturday evening and at most all day Sunday. Yet there are still boys getting 99+ (and even 99.95) and playing first XV as well as School Captain and other duties etc. I'm also wondering whether some boys have entirely given up a 1st XV spot to opt only for one sport (ie summer) and concentrate just on studies. A boy from New who was the 100m and 200m GPS champion all the way from u13s to 17s and played for the As during the same time is not playing rugby this year (although I am not entirely sure of the circumstances why). In any event kudos to all year 12 boys for taking such a demanding load of full time HSC study and full time 1st XV.

 

[WLF]

My thoughts on a battle within the battle. The clash of the two #8 in Scots v Waves game

Having now watched the video too, Morretti was actually busier than I realised and played well. One of the best in a well beaten side.

Although live, during the actual match, I had thought he had a quiet game. Maybe that was because he had been talked up so much, anything less than a herculian performance was always going to look ordinary I suppose.

But at the game, you don't (well at least I didn't from up on 'The Balcony') notice the little things he does consistently, that you pick up on the replay.

There is no doubt Moretti is in a class above most and his performance on Saturday wouldn't have done his rep prospects any harm.

The head to head clash did, however, confirm what I, and many others, had always suspected. Harris is every bit as good as Morretti.

I would love to see the stats from the game. Both locked in a try assist. Both made frequent strong runs for their teams. I suspect both were also up there in terms of run metres and possibly tackles too. Harris also scored a try himself.

Both will be in NSW 1 fowards IMO, barring injury or brain snaps. Although i suspect one will be moved into the second row, with the other in the backrow along with Reimer and Freeman (and possibly Wellington, although I think his long term future is at hooker).

Rich_E,

You view is always very balanced but I think in this case, for once, I think you have jumped the gun,but time will tell.

Of interest is your comment about a head to head clash etc etc and how Harris is very bit as good as Moretti, BUT i think such a comment after just 1 game is very premature and not deserved as yet.
Not sure without a proven track how record anyone could have suspected the same.
I think the scots supporters should acknowledge, certainly at this stage, that Harris was playing behind a winning pack.

Moretti has been around in the 1s now for 3 years, and the winning 1s, for a long time. His work around the ruck, pack leadership, grunt, ball skills and pace our wide is exceptional, way beyond anyone in the current GPS or CAS current comp.
So after 1 game let's not call others equal until they have proven the same, I think that's a fair call.

There will be more to come rest assured.

 

[Show and go]

Rich_E,

You view is always very balanced but I think in this case, for once, I think you have jumped the gun,but time will tell.

Of interest is your comment about a head to head clash etc etc and how Harris is very bit as good as Moretti, BUT i think such a comment after just 1 game is very premature and not deserved as yet.
Not sure without a proven track how record anyone could have suspected the same.
I think the scots supporters should acknowledge, certainly at this stage, that Harris was playing behind a winning pack.

Moretti has been around in the 1s now for 3 years, and the winning 1s, for a long time. His work around the ruck, pack leadership, grunt, ball skills and pace our wide is exceptional, way beyond anyone in the current GPS or CAS current comp.
So after 1 game let's not call others equal until they have proven the same, I think that's a fair call.

There will be more to come rest assured.

Just for the record Harris has been playing 1s for the last 3 years in a winning 1s as well.
At least you have one player to harp on about this year not 3 as was last year.

 

[formerflanker]

I'm wondering how the dayboys (or even boarders) who are academic and play 1stXV and are sitting for HSC fit everything into their schedule. I would imagine by the time game is over, speeches are done etc, if any study is done at all it must be only a few hour on Saturday evening and at most all day Sunday.

Most academics in 1sts and 2nds will not study on Saturday night. They write the day off and also socialise at night. Some may strike a blow in the books early in the day but that's all.

 

[WLF]

Just for the record Harris has been playing 1s for the last 3 years in a winning 1s as well.
At least you have one player to harp on about this year not 3 as was last year.

I am sorry, my apologies, he is a tremendous player. Absolutely no question about that.

Clearly though you can't be happy with my answer and need to bring up last year.

I think last year was a passing comment but clearly it meant something to you.

Harris is a major player in 2018 what so in 2017 and 2016?

 

[Gregor]

Just for the record Harris has been playing 1s for the last 3 years in a winning 1s as well.
At least you have one player to harp on about this year not 3 as was last year.

I have watched maybe half a dozen Waverley and Scots games. Morretti is a class act no doubt. IMO Harris is definitely playing on par and has shown he is a serious contender for the NSW1 number 8. I would hate to be the selectors on this one.

 

[Wristman]

Rich_E,

You view is always very balanced but I think in this case, for once, I think you have jumped the gun,but time will tell.

Of interest is your comment about a head to head clash etc etc and how Harris is very bit as good as Moretti, BUT i think such a comment after just 1 game is very premature and not deserved as yet.
Not sure without a proven track how record anyone could have suspected the same.
I think the scots supporters should acknowledge, certainly at this stage, that Harris was playing behind a winning pack.

Moretti has been around in the 1s now for 3 years, and the winning 1s, for a long time. His work around the ruck, pack leadership, grunt, ball skills and pace our wide is exceptional, way beyond anyone in the current GPS or CAS current comp.
So after 1 game let's not call others equal until they have proven the same, I think that's a fair call.

There will be more to come rest assured.

Disagree WLF.
Rich e is as always being diplomatic.
Harris is a more complete player.
He is fitter, faster and just as strong.
Moretti is an impact player that has been made to look great by weaker opposition.
When faced with a sterner defence he becomes far less potent.
Waverley were beaten in the ruck and in the set pieces.
They found it hard to get across the gain line at times, Moretti included.
Morettis ball skills were no better than any of the Scots forwards or even his own pack.
And I didn't see any sign of 'pace out wide' last saturday.
We can agree to disagree WLF you are obviously a huge fan (or family perhaps?).......comments like 'way beyond anyone in the GPS and CAS' are deluded......he's good I'll grant you that but he is not the messiah. You need to tone it down a bit and return to reality.
And for the record Harris has also played in 2 previous GPS championship teams in 2016 and 2017.
This is his 3rd year in the first XV.
Let's leave it at that shall we WLF.

 

[WLF]

I have watched maybe half a dozen Waverley and Scots games. Morretti is a class act no doubt. IMO Harris is definitely playing on par and has shown he is a serious contender for the NSW1 number 8. I would hate to be the selectors on this one.

Gregor,

There is no doubt that Harris is a superb player, does he have the overall skills and experience and Rep proven track record that Moretti has, you would have to say not even close, at the moment.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
He is playing behind a great pack, so far, but at rep level when packs even up, Moretti will continue to shine in a big way.
So at the moment, one player is proven, but as yet, one isn't, but we hope he too is!

 

[Up the Guts]

Most academics in 1sts and 2nds will not study on Saturday night. They write the day off and also socialise at night. Some may strike a blow in the books early in the day but that's all.

Agreed, Saturday is what stops burnout in a hectic few months.

 

[WLF]

Disagree WLF.
Rich e is as always being diplomatic.
Harris is a more complete player.
He is fitter, faster and just as strong.
Moretti is an impact player that has been made to look great by weaker opposition.
When faced with a sterner defence he becomes far less potent.
Waverley were beaten in the ruck and in the set pieces.
They found it hard to get across the gain line at times, Moretti included.
Morettis ball skills were no better than any of the Scots forwards or even his own pack.
And I didn't see any sign of 'pace out wide' last saturday.
We can agree to disagree WLF you are obviously a huge fan (or family perhaps?)...comments like 'way beyond anyone in the GPS and CAS' are deluded..he's good I'll grant you that but he is not the messiah. You need to tone it down a bit and return to reality.
And for the record Harris has also played in 2 previous GPS championship teams in 2016 and 2017.
This is his 3rd year in the first XV.
Let's leave it at that shall we WLF.

Wristy, Great comeback, relax it's a footy game.

Have a look at my last post just a few minutes ago.
There is no denying that Harris is a superb player, in fact he went to Waverley left, wanted to come back, and the idiot at the helm at the time, a piano player, said no, our BIG LOSS, your win.

MATE, how many times have you seen Moretti play, a wild guess extremely few, and you are willing to say he looks good when facing weaker opposition, but far less potent with sterner opposition. How would you know!!!!!!
My taking of your expert öpinion is that you know better than the CAS,NSW and Australian selectors.

Happy to have reasonable discussions with you, and more than happy to acknowledge very good teams and players.
But take off the rose coloured, Scotts rule the world, glasses.

If Harris is a more complete player than Moretti, ie as you say fitter, faster, and just as strong.... given the last few years, this is now BIG news.
Because it wasn't before and fact is no one, including good judges agree.

But apparently after 1 game it is fact.

Think not.

 

[smithandwesson]

Rich_E,

I think the scots supporters should acknowledge, certainly at this stage, that Harris was playing behind a winning pack.

Moretti has been around in the 1s now for 3 years, and the winning 1s, for a long time. His work around the ruck, pack leadership, grunt, ball skills and pace our wide is exceptional, way beyond anyone in the current GPS or CAS current comp.
So after 1 game let's not call others equal until they have proven the same, I think that's a fair call.

There will be more to come rest assured.

Harris was not playing 'behind' a winning pack, Harris was in the thick of it and very much part of it. Maybe you should acknowledge that Moretti was in a well beaten pack. A 26 point demolishing of CAS's premier side is proof enough. Harris' line out is first class and his discipline and temperament are superior. Oh and check out 29:50 on the highlights tape where Moretti was guarding the blind side of the ruck and Strang runs UNTOUCHED inside him to score an easy try. [But of course, the head knock, the ref, the absent team-mates, the lack of $ coaching, the inferior facilities, yawn].

 

[Rich_E]

Haha. What fun I've missed. Teaches me for going to a footy dinner. Can you believe they held it on a Tuesday night. Didn't slow the bar service though, myself a stern participant. So I will try to be even more cautious I don't say anything I could regret being reproduced later in this forum.

So both are in 3rd year in 1sts. Both were in a team that jointly won a premiership in 2016. Both were in a team that won a premiership outright in 2017. One made Aust schools in 2017, the other NSW 2s [edit: see pic 2 posts below]. Hardly chalk and cheese.

The difference IMO is that a small group of people have been relentlessly telling this forum how good a player Morretti is. But just because people dont promote Will in the same way, doesn't mean he is any less of a player.

Morretti is real talent. A very, very good rugby player. I just think, though, that Harris deserves as much praise.

But it really doesn't matter what we all think or say. I know that there are people in very high places in rugby circles who rate Harris as being every bit as good as Morretti. That's what really matters.

 

[One eyed pirate]

Here are some shocking stats for Shore parents with rugby playing sons. Good results as the boys come out of club rugby then it gets steadily worse as the boys move towards opens (and are exposed to Shore coaching)

 

[Rich_E]

 

[sidelineview]

I have watched maybe half a dozen Waverley and Scots games. Morretti is a class act no doubt. IMO Harris is definitely playing on par and has shown he is a serious contender for the NSW1 number 8. I would hate to be the selectors on this one.

You mean you'd love to be a NSW selector on this one. Not a bad problem to have.
The CAS/GPS contest this season should be very interesting and it looks promising for the NSW teams.

I didnt notice Harris play last year at the Nationals but he's obviously a good'un.
Any player who can make a 1st XV team 3 years in a row from Year 10 has to be good, especially when the teams are quality.

Moretti competed well for NSW1s last year at the Nationals; good enough to be named an Aussie Schoolboy. He's proven at all levels. He's tough, a strong defender and has impressive ball skills. Both he and Harris may go all the way this year as teammates.

Waverley were the premier team last year and equal premiers the year before.
It remains to be seen what happens this season, but as it stands currently, Barker are favourites.