TSR
Mark Ella (57)
I know it’s only a pre-season trial, so expectations need to be realistic, but I’m looking forward to this.
There aren’t many questions around the Brumbies squad. Last years winners, low turnover, some promising young guns primed to compete for the vacant spots & well established, proven coaching staff.
On the flip side, I think everyone will be interested in the Force this year. The emerging narrative, as I see it, is that the Force are positioning themselves to be the new power house of Australian rugby. The only club with independent financial backing and a lot of focus on their emerging pathways and player development. Plus, the potential ability to lure OS based Australian players back which are beyond the budget of the other Australian teams who are being forced to operate under austerity measures. I think the approach taken there has been sensible - bring in OS talent at this stage to top up the squad and make sure they are competitive, not just in Super AU, but hopefully in TT as well. At the same time have a large squad of emerging, home grown players, underneath with a view to bringing them through over the next 2-3 years.
From on outsiders perspective these are the main points of interests for me -
- the performance of the Brumbies locks. Can Neville back up last years form. Which young guys will get their name to the top of the pile?
- Who will grab the 7 jersey?
- Can Lonergan challenge White to be the starting 9?
- I’ll concede I was a bit of a doubter in Lolesio initially, but I’m going the other way this year. He was so good last year I’m going to predict 2nd season blues won’t be an issue for him at all. Likewise I think Simone is just starting to kick on. But what does this mean for the likes of Pasitoa & Kuenzle?
- Personally I am also looking forward to seeing more of Ikitau who I’ve heard lots about but seen little of. And can Mack Hansen push through to the top side. He looks too good to me to be warming the bench.
On the Force side the questions really have to be can the get cohesion quickly enough in such an abbreviated comp. - how will Robertson & Kuridrani perform at their new teams.
- keen to see more of Ralston. Wing has suddenly become a position of more depth in Australian rugby but he looked very promising last year.
- I think there must also be still some doubt around the coaching team. Not that I think they have been poor as such, but they remain unproven at this level. Keen to see how they mould the talent at their disposal.
The other question i always have this time of year is who will be the emerging talent that will shake things up. Every season there is always 1-2 young guns who aren’t well know outside the inner circle who emerge, often at the expense of someone you thought was a definite starter themselves. Which players do the teams fans see making a name for themselves this year?
There aren’t many questions around the Brumbies squad. Last years winners, low turnover, some promising young guns primed to compete for the vacant spots & well established, proven coaching staff.
On the flip side, I think everyone will be interested in the Force this year. The emerging narrative, as I see it, is that the Force are positioning themselves to be the new power house of Australian rugby. The only club with independent financial backing and a lot of focus on their emerging pathways and player development. Plus, the potential ability to lure OS based Australian players back which are beyond the budget of the other Australian teams who are being forced to operate under austerity measures. I think the approach taken there has been sensible - bring in OS talent at this stage to top up the squad and make sure they are competitive, not just in Super AU, but hopefully in TT as well. At the same time have a large squad of emerging, home grown players, underneath with a view to bringing them through over the next 2-3 years.
From on outsiders perspective these are the main points of interests for me -
- the performance of the Brumbies locks. Can Neville back up last years form. Which young guys will get their name to the top of the pile?
- Who will grab the 7 jersey?
- Can Lonergan challenge White to be the starting 9?
- I’ll concede I was a bit of a doubter in Lolesio initially, but I’m going the other way this year. He was so good last year I’m going to predict 2nd season blues won’t be an issue for him at all. Likewise I think Simone is just starting to kick on. But what does this mean for the likes of Pasitoa & Kuenzle?
- Personally I am also looking forward to seeing more of Ikitau who I’ve heard lots about but seen little of. And can Mack Hansen push through to the top side. He looks too good to me to be warming the bench.
On the Force side the questions really have to be can the get cohesion quickly enough in such an abbreviated comp. - how will Robertson & Kuridrani perform at their new teams.
- keen to see more of Ralston. Wing has suddenly become a position of more depth in Australian rugby but he looked very promising last year.
- I think there must also be still some doubt around the coaching team. Not that I think they have been poor as such, but they remain unproven at this level. Keen to see how they mould the talent at their disposal.
The other question i always have this time of year is who will be the emerging talent that will shake things up. Every season there is always 1-2 young guns who aren’t well know outside the inner circle who emerge, often at the expense of someone you thought was a definite starter themselves. Which players do the teams fans see making a name for themselves this year?
