Melbourne Rebels 2024

[Rebel man]

From what I understand, one or two of them loaned money, as a business transaction to the club. Hence why they’re now a listed creditor seeking to recoup their money.

In either case this doesn’t excuse the performance of the board, nor does good intentions negate gross negligence when comes to impacting livelihoods.

It also doesn’t excuse RA. You under fund clubs and act shocked when they go under. The current administration has to go

 

[Rebel man]

Funny how RA has a stadium deal with AAMI park and have been dragging their heals for ever to get the deal done for the rebels so nobody can buy seats. When there is a shit crowd they will point to it as another reason to cut the club

 

[Rebelsfan]

And why did they need to put their own money in?

Because they let their ceo get away with not going his job - he needed to bring in more revenue streams instead of whining about RA - that’s what the ceo does

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Why because RA under funds the teams.

You have NFI you think lads in Victoria will opt to move to Sydney to try and play Shute Shield over being in the Storms pathway. It says it all really.

I played juniors pre the rebels and so many kids gave up the game for opportunities in the TAC cup. That was pre the Storm trying to develop locals and having an academy system down here. So now you will have the AFL and NRL picking the eyes out of the talent. No kid is going to pick the Shute Shield

I actually never suggested these guys moving to Sydney to play Shute Shield. What I suggested was looking to maintain the academy systems in place and operate a academy team that would compete as a stand alone in the Hospitals Cup as a pathway to professional Rugby. It is as good as having the Rebels. No. Not even pretending that it is but it's still a pathway.

Is this Storm academy competing in a RL comp as a standalone. Either NSW or Qld Cup or will the best talent be flown to Sydney or Brisbane to play in a Storm feeder club?

I want to see the Rebels gone as much as I wanted to see the Force. I don't. But I don't run RA nor do I have any influence over the decisions. I'm just hoping something can be salvaged. Even if that's a means to professionalism.

Regarding funding. Yes, RA provides funding but the finances of the franchises are on the franchises themselves. Because the level of funding provided to each is no where near the amount needed to run the operations.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Increased Australian content?

Each of the Super Rugby clubs would have 9 home games as opposed to their current 7.

 

[KOB1987]

yep & we’ll go back to having 1 Victorian a decade making the wallabies with not a proper pathway.

how are all those kids going out in Penrith? They filtering in through other Super Rugby sides?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The solution here is for Victoria to be incorporated into the Brumbies pathways system. It makes 100% sense from a geographical perspective and also to increase the number of players coming through their own system. Some vocal Brumbies supporters don’t seem to like the idea because it would mean having to spread their commercial wings into Melbourne. It’s a far more lucrative proposition than Dubbo though.

 

[Rebel man]

I actually never suggested these guys moving to Sydney to play Shute Shield. What I suggested was looking to maintain the academy systems in place and operate a academy team that would compete as a stand alone in the Hospitals Cup as a pathway to professional Rugby. It is as good as having the Rebels. No. Not even pretending that it is but it's still a pathway.

Is this Storm academy competing in a Rugby League comp as a standalone. Either NSW or Qld Cup or will the best talent be flown to Sydney or Brisbane to play in a Storm feeder club?

I want to see the Rebels gone as much as I wanted to see the Force. I don't. But I don't run RA nor do I have any influence over the decisions. I'm just hoping something can be salvaged. Even if that's a means to professionalism.

Regarding funding. Yes, RA provides funding but the finances of the franchises are on the franchises themselves. Because the level of funding provided to each is no where near the amount needed to run the operations.

Storm will have their own Jersey Flegg team and teams at lower age groups. That is far more attractive to players than playing in an amateur club comp. It gives them a real opportunity to go pro and play in Melbourne.

Put it this one I always dreamed of one day when I had a son coaching them seeing them play rugby. If the rebels fold I would never sign my kid up to play rugby as there is no future in it

 

[Rebel man]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The solution here is for Victoria to be incorporated into the Brumbies pathways system. It makes 100% sense from a geographical perspective and also to increase the number of players coming through their own system. Some vocal Brumbies supporters don’t seem to like the idea because it would mean having to spread their commercial wings into Melbourne. It’s a far more lucrative proposition than Dubbo though.

lol nice joke. Just because the Brumbies can never develop their own juniors

 

[Steve_Grey]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The solution here is for Victoria to be incorporated into the Brumbies pathways system. It makes 100% sense from a geographical perspective and also to increase the number of players coming through their own system. Some vocal Brumbies supporters don’t seem to like the idea because it would mean having to spread their commercial wings into Melbourne. It’s a far more lucrative proposition than Dubbo though.

Agreed - and the Brumbies have a talent [no pun intended] for spotting ability (especially ability that NSW refuses to acknowledge); they showed that skill recently when their U19s beat NSW U19s twice with NSW recruits.

They will need more funding to achieve your suggestion, but those boys in the academies get paid peanuts - I have said this before also - Australia needs more players in their academies - the success ratio of academy player to Super Rugby to Wallaby must be quite low [I have no proof of this, just a feeling].

 

[KOB1987]

lol nice joke. Just because the Brumbies can never develop their own juniors

Well no, they are quite capable of developing their own juniors. There just aren’t enough of them coming through the system. Similar in Victoria.

 

[Rebel man]

Well no, they are quite capable of developing their own juniors. There just aren’t enough of them coming through the system. Similar in Victoria.

They would have the worst record of bringing players from their state through

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Storm will have their own Jersey Flegg team and teams at lower age groups. That is far more attractive to players than playing in an amateur club comp. It gives them a real opportunity to go pro and play in Melbourne.

Put it this one I always dreamed of one day when I had a son coaching them seeing them play rugby. If the rebels fold I would never sign my kid up to play rugby as there is no future in it

The Storm already have a Jersey Flegg side. From the looks of it they had one from as far back as 2015. They seem to be committing the SG Ball (which they have run sides in previously) and Harold Matthews. Which sit at around the same ages as the JNRC which is also why I said that they should be maintained.

I do get your point of playing at home but at the same time not everyone of these Storm kids are going to play for the Storm. It's professional sport. You go where the opportunity is. Not having the Rebels means that there will be a break in the chain but it's still better than not having anything.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Well no, they are quite capable of developing their own juniors. There just aren’t enough of them coming through the system. Similar in Victoria.

Umm...to be fair to Victoria they've produced more pros in recent times than the Brumbies.

 

[KOB1987]

Umm...to be fair to Victoria they've produced more pros in recent times than the Brumbies.

I’m not criticising Victoria here. The point is their players will need a new pathway to a professional team as their own one likely will not exist anymore. I’m merely offering up a solution, and I’d be surprised if the same one isn’t also tossed around the RA boardroom. Anyway, I have no influence so will leave it there.

 

[Rebel man]

The Storm already have a Jersey Flegg side. From the looks of it they had one from as far back as 2015. They seem to be committing the SG Ball (which they have run sides in previously) and Harold Matthews. Which sit at around the same ages as the JNRC which is also why I said that they should be maintained.

I do get your point of playing at home but at the same time not everyone of these Storm kids are going to play for the Storm. It's professional sport. You go where the opportunity is. Not having the Rebels means that there will be a break in the chain but it's still better than not having anything.

Mate they have had 20s before but it was just blokes they signed.

They have an academy now with an aim to get locals to play in these sides.

I have been to the new centre of excellence they have spent millions on to house their academies and bring Victorians through. The aim is now to get locals to play for the Storm. The club has put it on record the one area they haven’t been successful is only having 4 Victorians represent the club in 25 years.

While they have been in the Jersey Flegg cup since 2015. They now have a side in all 4 age group competitions that they have never done before

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I’m not criticising Victoria here. The point is their players will need a new pathway to a professional team as their own one likely will not exist anymore. I’m merely offering up a solution, and I’d be surprised if the same one isn’t also tossed around the RA boardroom. Anyway, I have no influence so will leave it there.

Was kind of having a dig at the Brumbies more than thinking you were criticising Victoria.

 

[Rebel man]

I’m not criticising Victoria here. The point is their players will need a new pathway to a professional team as their own one likely will not exist anymore. I’m merely offering up a solution, and I’d be surprised if the same one isn’t also tossed around the RA boardroom. Anyway, I have no influence so will leave it there.

You aren’t offering up a solution. The solution is having a team in Melbourne

 

[Adam84]

Ultimately the solution required is someone with $20million to pay off outstanding debt and who also has another $3million per annum to cover the average operating loss of the Rebels over the past 5-7 years. Let’s say it’s a 5 year timeline, it’s a $35million package that’s required for a debt free Rebels.

Option B is it doesnt have to be someone to pay off the debt, could just be someone who can afford to service the debt and future liabilities, but again that looks to be another $3-5million in funding each year that needs to be found to remain solvent, but still carrying the same debt.

 

[Rebel man]

Ultimately the solution required is someone with $20million to pay off outstanding debt and who also has another $3million per annum to cover the average operating loss of the Rebels over the past 5-7 years. Let’s say it’s a 5 year timeline, it’s a $35million package that’s required for a debt free Rebels.

Option B is it doesnt have to be someone to pay off the debt, could just be someone who can afford to service the debt and future liabilities, but again that looks to be another $3-5million in funding each year that needs to be found to remain solvent, but still carrying the same debt.

This is all down to RA the level of underfunding is pathetic. I would not trust Rugby Australia to organise a root in a brothel.

When have they ever proven to be competent since the game went professional?

 

[Adam84]

This is all down to RA the level of underfunding is pathetic. I would not trust Rugby Australia to organise a root in a brothel.

When have they ever proven to be competent since the game went professional?

Not all down to RA, Rebels Board have more than their fair share of blame in racking up a $20milion debt, including in an areas like unpaid staff superannuation. There‘s a few fingers in the pie here.