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Waratahs 2022

Kenny Powers

Ron Walden (29)
Angus Bell
Lachlan Swinton
Harry Johnson Holmes
Jake Gordon
Jack Dempsey

have all debuted for the Wallabies since Hanigan
Working thru the list
Angus Bell a big miss on my behalf but very fortunate for the Waratahs that his father is an ex Wallaby hooker and rugby coach to help with his development.
Lachlan Swinton Wallabies career being held back by on field discipline and technique issues that needed to or should have been dealt with already by the Tahs.
Harry Johnson Holmes 1 test for the Wallabies.
Jake Gordon from what I can find came thru Shute Shield and didn’t train with the Tahs until 2016 in his early 20’s so I don’t think the Tahs pathways can take any credit there.
Jack Dempsey his debut was a week or two after Hanigan’s at a time when the 6 position was the hardest to fill like 2 and 15 is for the Wallabies currently.
In my view that is poor for the team with access to the biggest rugby base in Australia.
Also there is not a back on the list probably because they give too many backs development spots to dual Union and League schoolboys and they all end up going to league. Some drift back but they lose key Union skills and they lose agility due to bulk whilst playing league.
Unless there is a clean out and culture change at the Waratahs don’t expect anything different.
 
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KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Working thru the list
Angus Bell a big miss on my behalf but very fortunate for the Waratahs that his father is an ex Wallaby hooker and rugby coach to help with his development.
Lachlan Swinton Wallabies career being held back by on field discipline and technique issues that needed to or should have been dealt with already by the Tahs.
Harry Johnson Holmes 1 test for the Wallabies.
Jake Gordon from what I can find came thru Shute Shield and didn’t train with the Tahs until 2016 in his early 20’s so I don’t think the Tahs pathways can take any credit there.
Jack Dempsey his debut was a week or two before Hanigan’s at a time when the 6 position was the hardest to fill like 2 and 15 is for the Wallabies currently.
In my view that is poor for the team with access to the biggest rugby base in Australia.
Also there is not a back on the list probably because they give too many backs development spots to dual Union and League schoolboys and they all end up going to league. Some drift back but they lose key Union skills and they lose agility due to bulk whilst playing league.
Unless there is a clean out and culture change at the Waratahs don’t expect anything different.
Bell is a miss? He was capped for Australia as a 19 year old in arguably the most technically and physically demanding position on the field (by that I mean it requires high levels of both), and the position that the vast majority of players don't reach their prime until they are in their mid to late 20's. Aside from that he's fucking enormous, he's got 100 cap Wallaby written all over him, and will probably be captain one day too, his discipline is top notch.

However, no, not good enough from NSW Rugby overall.
 

hifflepiff

Charlie Fox (21)
Bell is a miss? He was capped for Australia as a 19 year old in arguably the most technically and physically demanding position on the field (by that I mean it requires high levels of both), and the position that the vast majority of players don't reach their prime until they are in their mid to late 20's. Aside from that he's fucking enormous, he's got 100 cap Wallaby written all over him, and will probably be captain one day too, his discipline is top notch.

However, no, not good enough from NSW Rugby overall.

Yeah Angus Bell is excellent, and Swinton has a lot going for him as well (just in a very competitive position). I also think, Harrison and a few others could also really be something.

But looking at that list, NSW is massively underperforming considering their size and resources.

I don't know why, but players seem to stagnate at the Tahs, and it's only once they leave that they start hitting their potential. It's a shame, because I would love NSW Rugby to be successful (so that they can finally get a WS team going for fucks sake).
 

Kenny Powers

Ron Walden (29)
Bell is a miss?
Bell is a miss? He was capped for Australia as a 19 year old in arguably the most technically and physically demanding position on the field (by that I mean it requires high levels of both), and the position that the vast majority of players don't reach their prime until they are in their mid to late 20's. Aside from that he's fucking enormous, he's got 100 cap Wallaby written all over him, and will probably be captain one day too, his discipline is top notch.

However, no, not good enough from NSW Rugby overall.
As in a miss on my behalf is the full and correct quote. As in my thinking there weren’t any Waratahs developed thru to the Wallabies post Hanigan that have started more than a few tests. Obviously he is a good player and no doubt greatly assisted by his father so the Waratahs were given a bit of help in that one.
 

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
As in a miss on my behalf is the full and correct quote. As in my thinking there weren’t any Waratahs developed thru to the Wallabies post Hanigan that have started more than a few tests. Obviously he is a good player and no doubt greatly assisted by his father so the Waratahs were given a bit of help in that one.
Ah I see, fair enough. However, I think the criteria is that they came totally through the NSW system and then played for the Wallabies, I don't think it should matter who his dad is.
 

Kenny Powers

Ron Walden (29)
Ah I see, fair enough. However, I think the criteria is that they came totally through the NSW system and then played for the Wallabies, I don't think it should matter who his dad is.
All good and with his dad I don’t mean to imply there was some sort of favouritism, just his dad being a professional rugby coach would have assisted his personal development as a player and very strong scrummager for his age.
 

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
All good and with his dad I don’t mean to imply there was some sort of favouritism, just his dad being a professional rugby coach would have assisted his personal development as a player and very strong scrummager for his age.
Yes but at least he was a coach in the Waratahs system!
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Tolu Latu is another one who could be on that list.

If you look at the last 20 players to debut for the Wallabies, less than half of them went through their entire development from schoolboys to Wallabies within the same state system.
 

Lindommer

Steve Williams (59)
Staff member
More pre-season action.

5th of November February (International Nutella Day) sees the Waratahs play 25-minute thirds against West Harbour, Hunter Wildfires, and then the Two Blues. This will be followed by 3 25-minute matches between the 3 Shute Shield teams. First game at 4pm, final game ending around 7pm. All happening at the brand new Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville and will be the first ever event held there before the Two Blues go on to call it their home grounds.

corrected
 

Kenny Powers

Ron Walden (29)
Tolu Latu is another one who could be on that list.

If you look at the last 20 players to debut for the Wallabies, less than half of them went through their entire development from schoolboys to Wallabies within the same state system.
Would be interesting to know how that compares to the NZ Super Teams.
 

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Would be interesting to know how that compares to the NZ Super Teams.
I think because they have a centralised system the majority stick wth their roots. The movements probably mostly come about if there is inequity in a particular position e.g there are 3 test quality hookers at one franchise and none at any of the other ones ;)
 

7137

Alex Ross (28)
He definitely got a leg up there. Also helped having his girlfriends dad in the commentary box
Yeah ok. The most exciting LH prop Australia has seen in a long time. One courted by NRL clubs from an early age, wouldn’t be where he is without his dad being the coach or his girlfriends dad pulling strings…….
 
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Drew

Bob Davidson (42)
Yeah ok. The most exciting LH prop Australia has seen in a long time. One courted by NRL clubs from an early age, wouldn’t be where he is without his dad being the coach or kids girlfriends dad pulling strings…….
It didn’t hurt
 

Drew

Bob Davidson (42)
it’s my opinion. We don’t sign a TH and move two good LHs on pretty much to accomodate him. Robbo said he moved to the Force because of the conflict of interest with his dad being the forwards coach. Is Bell better than Robbo now? Probably. Was he then? Not so sure. Yes he’s a good ball runner, thus the NRL interest. Sure he’s a good player, sure he’s got a long career in the game. But everyone else has to serve some sort of apprenticeship to fine tune their game, no matter how much talent and potential they may have. As far as the commentary, every time the scrum collapsed on his side, it was somehow someone else’s fault; TH, hooker, locks, turf. Replacement comes on, no scrum issues. Like I say, my opinion. Not saying he’s not good, just that he had a bit of a rails ride to get to where he probably would have gotten to anyways. Weather that was Tahs mismanagement or nepotism is up to the individuals perception.
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Whether he is the best prop of his age or not, having his dad as the forwards coach definitely bloody helps, whether intentional or just a familiarity factor….just like McKellar and all his kids in the Wallabies.
 
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