Aussie Player Exodus

[The Ghost of Raelene]

That's a big loss. A 23 year old with those natural abilities sucks to lose. Hopefully he's one we see back at 27-28. Schmidt obviously saw something there.

Talataina is one of the best 8 prospects iv'e seen for a while. Hopefully he can be fully fit and be blooded over the year. He's only 20 so plenty of development in front of him. Lemoto would be a good get. He wouldn't be short offers having been apart of the Panthers Harold Matthews squad as well.

 

[Wilson]

With Gleeson off the books, could it mean throwing some money and opportunity to lure Heinz Lemoto? Longshot I know.

Possibly, though there's a mess of young talent they'll need to sort out and I'm not sure how much money you can realistically redirect from top squad players to the talent coming through but still a few years off. Talataina is probably the big winner in all of this.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Talataina and then Eamon Doyle in a pecking order of young 6/8s. He was very good through the U19s.

Lemoto is relaistically 2-3 years away from professional footy at least. It's a big gap with a lot to happen. Schoolboy teammate of Lemoto, Toby Brial is another that should be on the radar.

 

[Dctarget]

Classic issue with Aus Rugby, Gleeson was a Lemoto, Talataina. We've been developing him nicely, now we revert back to someone of currently inferior skill. Just when he is hitting his straps in his mid-late twenties he'll probably be qualified for someone else or on too much to come home a la Kemeny, Dempsey, Heewat, McMahon.

 

[Wilson]

Classic issue with Aus Rugby, Gleeson was a Lemoto, Talataina. We've been developing him nicely, now we revert back to someone of currently inferior skill. Just when he is hitting his straps in his mid-late twenties he'll probably be qualified for someone else or on too much to come home a la Kemeny, Dempsey, Heewat, McMahon.

He at least can't qualify for someone else that he wasn't already qualified for, so I don't think we have to worry about France or one of the home nations trying to poach him at test level. Heritage is a different story, I assume he qualifies for at least one pacific nation, but I don't know for sure.

 

[Dctarget]

He at least can't qualify for someone else that he wasn't already qualified for, so I don't think we have to worry about France or one of the home nations trying to poach him at test level. Heritage is a different story, I assume he qualifies for at least one pacific nation, but I don't know for sure.

can't he go play in France for 5 years and qualify then? Speaking of, I'd imagine Reece Hewat should be qualified for France by now.

 

[Dctarget]

Fuck I'd be grumpy if I were a Kiwi with Fergus Burke set to play for Scotland in this 6N.

 

[Wilson]

can't he go play in France for 5 years and qualify then? Speaking of, I'd imagine Reece Hewat should be qualified for France by now.

No, you can't pursue the residence path once you've been capped. You can only change to a nation you were eligible for when originally capped -i.e. by birth/parentage.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yeah I wouldn't be worried about that aspect. He's probably been offered a contract that is too good not to take. Good luck to any player who can make life changing cash at such an age. He's an attractive prospect for any Club. A 23 year old international with plenty of room for growth. He enjoys the physical part of the contest and that's big in the French comp.

We'll always lose players unfortunately but with good management I hope we can see them back in Gold if up to it one day. He has a decade of footy in front of him.

 

[WoodysRFC]

Fuck I'd be grumpy if I were a Kiwi with Fergus Burke set to play for Scotland in this 6N.

Yeah considering the age profile, he's about to enter his prime, so in that sense sure, but he was a bit of a journeyman and likely to be leapfrogged by the next crop of young 10s, probably a sensible move on his part.

 

[Dctarget]

Yeah considering the age profile, he's about to enter his prime, so in that sense sure, but he was a bit of a journeyman and likely to be leapfrogged by the next crop of young 10s, probably a sensible move on his part.

Would've been the starting 10 for the Crusaders in 2024 if not injured, their season would've gone a lot different with him there.

 

[WoodysRFC]

Would've been the starting 10 for the Crusaders in 2024 if not injured, their season would've gone a lot different with him there.

Yeah tend to agree, most of our super ready 10s are either at the Chiefs or Blues.

 

[Strewthcobber]

He at least can't qualify for someone else that he wasn't already qualified for, so I don't think we have to worry about France or one of the home nations trying to poach him at test level. Heritage is a different story, I assume he qualifies for at least one pacific nation, but I don't know for sure.

Fijian mum

 

[TSR]

Gleeson unfortunately has a body that doesn't fit a hole we have at the Wallabies.

The closest player to Lang's play style is Bobby V. In the event Rob goes down, Gleeson probably wouldn't be the first choice at 6/8 to replace him with who Joe has currently picked.

I'd imagine we would have Wright, Wilson, Uru, Williams and Cale who would be given a crack at that starting position over him?

I dunno. Based on selections this year and the way he was used I assume Schmidt would’ve seen him as definitely next on line if Valetini went down.

 

[Adam84]

Tolu Latu about to get yet another lengthy stint on the sidelines

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/s/jyZsOTMTO3

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He must show some extraordinary things at training at times because you are knowingly signing a fucking hazard.

 

[TSR]

He’s like the reserve grade player playing pros. No discipline. Doesn’t appear to give a rats.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Take out the rogue things in play and he's even been done for drink driving when found asleep at an intersection while on a suspended license.

 

[stoff]

And yeah, money is almost certainly a massive part of it, but I imagine it was for Hanigan too. That's part of the issue with promoting some of these guys too high too early, there's an element of wage inflation and expectation to it that's hard to walk back from and makes those stints overseas look even more appealing.

There's also the issue that RA still don't know their budget post 2025 as they haven't got the broadcast rights finalised. It's not only about high expectations, it's also about deal length.

 

[Dctarget]

Latu's actually been really disciplined of late and the starting La Rochelle hooker, he got three weeks for that tackle. I wouldn't have him in Gold but he's resurrected his career nicely.