Waratahs 2017

[wamberal]

Except those looking for an easy target to mock?

You are right. I am honestly buggered if I can work out how he has survived for as long as he has.

 

[Scrubber2050]

You are right. I am honestly buggered if I can work out how he has survived for as long as he has.

The Reds had one that survived for longer

 

[RugbyReg]

He has taken up a spot that could have been filled better, judged by his lack of performance against Eastwood in the SS over the years.

which is how all elite players should be judged.

 

[Braveheart81]

He has taken up a spot that could have been filled better, judged by his lack of performance against Eastwood in the SS over the years.

Primarily as a reserve. For much of his time with the Tahs we had 22 player squads so there wasn't even a bench spot for him as the fourth or fifth prop in the squad.

We'd had a number of other props in the squad during his time with the Tahs and all the good ones have gone on to sign elsewhere because they were stuck behind Benn Robinson, Al Baxter, Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu.

For someone whose primary role has been opposed training and limited opportunities to get a few minutes off the bench he's been a great servant of the club.

He hasn't stalled better players getting ahead of him during that time such as Sekope Kepu, Paddy Ryan and Tom Robertson who have all pushed their way into the matchday team whilst Tilse has been in the squad.

For the props that have gone elsewhere, it was never because they were stuck behind Tilse in the pecking order. It was because they were stuck behind Wallabies.

 

[Lindommer]

Playing-wise Jeremy was so-so, but squad culturally-wise he was excellent. Every team needs someone who can provide the social glue. Tilse did.

 

[Forcefield]

You are right. I am honestly buggered if I can work out how he has survived for as long as he has.

He definitely makes the top 10 of rugby types who have inexplicably retained their position for a significant stretch. He'll never shade Richard Graham to top the list though.

 

[cyclopath]

Tilse's absence will not be noticed by anybody.

Did he run over your cat? Be bitter at the powers that be, not the man. If you can.

 

[Braveheart81]

He definitely makes the top 10 of rugby types who have inexplicably retained their position for a significant stretch.

How much attention does a side pay to their 4th or 5th best prop who happily re-signs on minimum salary or close to and is consistently an exemplary team man?

How much attention should they pay to that spot?

 

[Forcefield]

Yeah- no offense meant to the bloke- I just think his presence has blocked the pathway of players (Scott Sio or Cameron Orr maybe?) who could have developed into more than what he has.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yeah- no offense meant to the bloke- I just think his presence has blocked the pathway of players (Scott Sio or Cameron Orr maybe?) who could have developed into more than what he has.

Definitely worth asking why he wasn't offered an EPS contract with the Tahs in 2012 when that is what he got from the Brumbies and it got him to Canberra.

That could have happened regardless of whether or not they kept Tilse.

I don't think Orr was ready for Super Rugby this year. Hopefully he returns because I think he'll be a really good player.

 

[RugbyReg]

His departure is disappointing tonight considering Orr's decision. Although perhaps Cam always wanted to play for England?


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[Braveheart81]

His departure is disappointing tonight considering Orr's decision. Although perhaps Cam always wanted to play for England?

Hopefully Orr comes back to the Tahs and Australian rugby in a couple of years after getting some experience in the UK.

Pretty good age for a young prop to go and get some experience in an environment that really cares about the set piece.

I wonder if this is also the opportunity to move out of home for the first time?

 

[Doofus]

Cam is a Wallaby prospect through and through.
Cannot help to notice the link between Gloucester and the Brumbies (Coach of Gloucester).
So who knows what will happen - there are at least 22 Aviva Premiership games plus the LV Cup (? 8 games) to get game time in over there - so hope he gets the opportunity

 

[Doofus]

apologies just been corrected
potential 6 games in the Anglo Welsh Cup (LV=Cup)

 

[gowaratahs]

In our next installment of "The 2017 Tahs Squad" we'll take a quick look at this week's movements and the fine act of balancing the roster of 30 full-time contracts.

The latest is, of course the de-listing of Tilse and Carraro - no huge surprises there, but we've also had an UN confirmed signing of flanker Wells from the Brumbies, unconfirmed (SMH) re-signings of Robertson, Hanigan, Hegarty and Horwitz, and the strong word that Cam Clark will move in when he's back from Rio. That accounts for 26 of the ARU-enforced 30 full-time contract limit that seem to have been finalised.

This is where it gets tricky for Gibson and Hore, with just 4 full contracts remaining, how do they get best bang (balance) for their buck?

Of a matchday squad of 23, I still think the Tahs are short of both a starting and reserve lock, an inside centre, and either a starting hooker or a reserve LHP. I'd like to think the locks will be Mumm (for leadership and lineout calling) and Toleafoa, and the inside centre will be either QC (Quade Cooper) or the Hayne Plane. If Latu starts as hooker we're short a reserve LHP, but if Latu takes the latter role the new rake could be Fitzpatrick - as rumoured around these parts before. Add to that potentially fully contracted matchday 23 the already contracted Ta'Avao, Sandell, Wilkin, Wells, Horwitz, Stewart and Clark, and you've got a full time squad that covers most positions.

The remaining 10 contracts spread across EPS, supplementary and development (3+5+2 in 2016) will probably need to cover a third hooker (Finau?), a LHP (???), 3 locks (McCauley?, Philip?, ???), a No.8 (Killingworth?), scrum- and fly-halfs (currently Gordon and Deegan), wing (???) and fullback (Jones?). I suspect these positions will be partially filled during and immediately after the NRC, with a few spots remaining up for grabs through pre-season training.

I fear Harry Jones chances of promotion have been dealt a harsh blow by the rumoured signing of Wells from the Brumbies, as there's now little opportunity for an outside back to snare one of the remaining full contracts. I'm guessing that also kills off the chance to sign Killingworth unless he's used as a McMahon-sized No.8 on EPS, and it also makes it tough to sign McCauley to a full contract unless he is preferred to Toleafoa.

And all of this changes if TPN stays on...

Here's the 26 (apparent) signings to date.

Ryan(18)
Latu(18)
Roach(18)
Kepu(19)
Robertson(??)
Ta'avao(17)
Sandell(18)
Skelton(17)
Hanigan(??)
Dempsey(17)
Wells(??)
Hooper(18)
Wilkin(17)
Holloway(19)
Phipps(17)
Lucas(17)
Foley(18)
Hegarty(??)
Horwitz(??)
Folau(18)
Stewart(17)
Horne(17)
Robinson(17)
Naiyaravoro(18)
Clark(??)
Kellaway(18)

 

[Froggy]

We desparately need locks. Of that 26, Skelton is the only specialist lock, and he doesn't play 80 minutes! Being in the bush I know little of McCauley and Toleafoa, but I would suggest one of them needs to become a Super rigby player pretty quickly. I imagine they will be trying to re-sign Mumm, but at 33 next year he must become a question mark for 80 minutes, and Hanigan strikes me as more a 6 than a lock.

 

[Lindommer]

Hanigan's future is DEFINITELY at 6, he's a lineout whiz fer starters. But what do the Tahs do with Dempsey playing so well?

 

[Jagman]

I think it's best to look at the squad as 33. The Tahs only picked 3 EPS players last year, which means the allocated $200k gets split between 3 which is more like a full time salary anyway. I could be wrong but I assumed they picked fewer players so they could pay them more.

In any case the EPS always seems to complete what's missing from the main squad.

 

[fatprop]

Reasonably excited about that squad, it could grow into something positive.

I forgot about Hegarty, he adds that other ball playing\kicking option from 12.

Gibson appears to be trying to build ball in hand skills which seems to be the right direction

 

[Doofus]

In our next installment of "The 2017 Tahs Squad" we'll take a quick look at this week's movements and the fine act of balancing the roster of 30 full-time contracts.

Perhaps ARU should follow the lead and have more contracts. The English first and second division rugby seem to have around 42 players in their first squads - backed up with an academy. I readily acknowledge that they have a greater TV audience and much larger salary caps (now) - that helps pay for it all.

Personally I think there should be more full contracts made available which would dilute the payments to the so called marquee players. So be it.

The current set up of training requirements is attendance Monday to Friday pretty much limiting alternate work (or study) options (except shovelling horse poo in the wee hours - ask Ned Hanigan as he did it for a while).

That brings me to Tom Robertson - its pretty clear he has worked his butt off to get to where he is in his studies as well as his rugby. He must be facing a very difficult dilemma - Universities see their requirements must be met - end of story - and Waratah training and playing schedule is not a walk in the park. Something will have to give. He is to be congratulated for how far he has got.

Generally I understand most Super Rugby players find it too hard with full time studies and drop out or fall back to part time (even single subjects). Not sure you can do this with Medicine - particularly the practical aspects.

It would be very interesting to see who has deferred their studies in this current squad.

This makes me wonder after attending an ARU function a few years ago that implored aspiring representative players to get an education and not rely on earning money through playing.