Waratahs 2025
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Agent
Ted Thorn (20)
I also like the idea of what the Brums did with McPherson where they had him signed up but let him go and play in Japan for a season or 2 to get experience and to develop physically. MLR could be another option if they can form a partnership with a like minded club.
Amatosero is getting better, he is a baby and needs to be nurtured
Agent
Ted Thorn (20)
Agree.... if the Tahs got rid of him at the ripe old age of 22 it would be crazy. I would hate the see him forced out of the Tahs and then be tearing it up somewhere else at the age of 24-25.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Is he up for a new contract in 2026?
Tahs now have Phillip pencilled in at 5 until 2027 along with Ben Grant
These guys who haven't nailed a starting spot around age 22/23 are tough to deal with. He won't be getting a starting Super Rugby level contract offer, but that may not be enough to match the other offers he will get from elsewhere.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Tahs did have some partnership with San Diego a season or two ago. No idea what came of it or if it still exists. Right now he's 19 and playing 1st Grade is a good place to be. If Uni look out of finals or the opportunity arises I'd try and get him over to the ITM Cup before the Super Rugby trials start next year and see how he's going.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
He re-signed in January, so he's probably still signed on for 2026 at least. I can't find anything official that's clear on the length of that deal, but All Rugby has it as 2026
Homer
Billy Sheehan (19)
Doesn't look close to 198 (i hope he is). The weight will come but that height puts him at 6,6 and just a bit lighter than Ryan smith.
Good weight for a 6 not a 2nd row.
Champagne Rugby
Peter Burge (5)
He needs another year probably to add some weight on if he wants to play in the row, the tahs for too long have had second rowers that are under 2m tall weigh 115kg and are really more a backrower then lock eg holloway, swinton, sinclair, all good players but more 6's then 4 or 5
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Very likely he's a 6 or 8 like he was for the NSW U19s. At the U20s he can play in the 2nd Row but I'd rather fill that with big fellas and let guys like this ball carry more.
Homer
Billy Sheehan (19)
The tahs will have three tall 2nd row next year. Plus Taliaina, FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner), Sinclair, Gamble, Samu and Doyle for the backrow. Doyle wont get any pressure to play tight five for a while i'd say. Not a lot of young tall timber coming through though, which is a concern.
BobbyD
Herbert Moran (7)
Seen him in person only twice and he is a pretty bloody big human athletic enough to play any back row or second row (hell, we’ve had Tom Hooper at 7 before!). At the end of the day he’s only 19 and clearly still growing but probably won’t be in the 200cm+ club. As long as he isn’t wasted holding tackle bags and only being released to play 10 Shute Shield games a year for the next 3-5 years like happens so often to forwards coming out of U20s and deemed not yet big enough.
How tall is Mangelsdorf?
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Not entirely relevant to the Tahs thread but there are some parallels between Doyle and Lachlan Shaw at the Brumbies. Shaw played his first Super game at age 20 in 2014 after being with the Junior Wallabies in 2013. He turns 22 on Thursday (this week) and now has maybe 8 - 12 Super games under the belt. He is 2m tall and weighs 112 kg or thereabouts. He finished the 2014 season with a stint in the ITM cup, apparently playing every game.
He is a better than average lineout operator and already plays with a fair bit of aggression. Doyle looks to have the capacity to do all that for the Tahs maybe in next year's Super comp. Best of luck to both and may their development continue to blossom.
wamberal99
Ron Walden (29)
I have pointed out previously that Etsebeth and Retallick both debuted for their country at the age of 20. Good enough, old enough.
Lol. Just casually 2 of the best to ever do it. You're kinda pointing out that you need to be that good to be able to do it at that age.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
That's fine and good on them but everyone develops are a different pace which can be limited due to factors outside your control as well when it comes to your body. Toutai Kefu was 23 and Nathan Sharpe 24...
Tazzmania
Jim Clark (26)
They both are collosal humans and not many can measure up to them, however you also need to factor in they both made their debuts 13 years ago, and much has changed in the phyical attributes of the older players now playing making it very difficult for the young ones to make a splash so early in their careers. Also it is now a designated work place and different saftey protocols prevail.