Canberra Vikings - Offical NRC Team Thread

[Hugh Jarse]

Will it be the University of Canberra Kookaburras in 2017?

 

[Brumby Jack]

Unsure what the exact name is but Canberra Kookaburras is the intention.

For this season Wayne Southwell from Royals will be the head coach with Adam Fahey from Queanbeyan and Tim Sampson from Tuggeranong named assistants.

Dan Palmer stays as scrum coach with Dan McKellar as coaching director.

All home games will be at Viking Park

 

[mst]

Will it be the University of Canberra Kookaburras in 2017?

Unless they can land a major sponsor, which I think is unlikely, I doubt we will see the change until at least 2018 if they are very lucky, or until this all goes through the wash again with a dose of reality and comes out as another concept.

The question is now, with the recent layer of fertilizer spread liberally and so publicly across the Canberra Rugby Landscape, will the punters be interested in another old boys club ego and politically driven concept like the re-branding to the Kookaburras because its "what they want" rather than whats in the best interests of Canberra Rugby, particularly financially?

 

[Slim 293]

The Vikings are going to remain being the Vikings this year.........

The Canberra Vikings will also name a training squad as expectations start to build ahead of the third National Rugby Championship season.

It was expected the Canberra Vikings would cease to exist this year and be replaced by the Canberra Kookaburras, but plans for a change have been put on hold until 2017.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...family-olympic-tradition-20160604-gpbjea.html

 

[MonkeyBoy]

UC Vikings Preliminary Training Squad
NAME POSITION CLUB
Nick Dobson Prop Gungahlin Eagles
Mitch Douch Scrumhalf Queanbeyan Whites
Luke Duffey Centre Gungahlin Eagles
Carl Elliot Hooker Queanbeyan Whites
Seth Going Wing Canberra Royals
Brent Hamlin Scrumhalf Canberra Royals
Cuan Hublutzel Hooker Uni-Norths Owls
Nick Jones Flanker/No.8 Uni-Norths Owls
Jake Knight Wing Tuggeranong Vikings
Jamie Kotz Wing Gungahlin Eagles
Brodie Leber Flanker Western Districts Lions
Harry Lloyd Prop Western Districts Lions
Connal McInerney Hooker Canberra Royals
Keith Morgan Centre Queanbeyan Whites
Neori Nadruku Prop Queanbeyan Whites
OJ Noa Flanker/No.8 Queanbeyan Whites
Dean Oakman-Hunt Flanker/No.8 Tuggeranong Vikings
Dan Penca Flanker Queanbeyan Whites
Jake Rakic Centre Tuggeranong Vikings
Andrew Robinson Centre Tuggeranong Vikings
Nick Saunders Flanker Eastern Suburbs
Eli Sinoti Wing Western Districts Lions
Faalelei Sione Prop Canberra Royals
Steve Sione Flanker/No.8 Canberra Royals
Brendan Spears Wing Queanbeyan Whites
Ernest Suavai Centre Tuggeranong Vikings
Sione Taula Prop Tuggeranong Vikings
Isaac Thompson Flyhalf/Fullback Tuggeranong Vikings
Iosua Tonga Flanker/No.8 Tuggeranong Vikings
Pat Tuidraki Centre Gungahlin Eagles
Harry Tyson Fullback Canberra Royals
Mitch Ward Scrumhalf Gungahlin Eagles
Toby Wilson Lock Queanbeyan Whites
Brendon Woodward Flanker Canberra Royals

 

[Slim 293]

So, who will make the cut out of that group this year?

Keeping in mind the following Brumbies players (incl. wider training squad) will most likely to play NRC this year include..........

Ben Alexander (I'd loan him to the Rams)
Ruan Smith
Les Makin
Tyrel Lomax

Josh Mann-Rea
Robbie Abel
Albert Anae (?)

Tom Staniforth
Blake Enever
Ben Hyne

Jordan Smiler
Jarrad Butler
Michael Wells
Robert Valetini (?)

Joe Powell
Michael Dowsett (contract unlikely to be renewed - could be sent off to a Sydney team?)
Ryan Longeran (?)

Nick Jooste
Jordan Jackson-Hope
Robbie Coleman

Andrew Smith
Nigel Ah-Wong

James Dargaville
Lausii Taliauli
Aidan Toua

 

[Brumby Runner]

Why would F Sione be named but the other three in the U20s are missing? Is Sione still with the U20s?

 

[FTS]

Why would F Sione be named but the other three in the U20s are missing? Is Sione still with the U20s?

Yeah he is still with the u20s, but the other 3 are all contracted with the Brumbies in some capacity whereas Sione is not.

 

[neilc]

Tim Sampson, one of the assistant coaches, used to coach Jarrad Butler, Aidan Toua and Blake Enever at Easts in Brisbane before being lured to Canberra, so good connection there with a few players. Well regarded coach.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Updating some of the likely inclusions/exclusions from Slim's post No 646.

Expect the following now to be exclusions as they've signed on or moved elsewhere - Lomax, Wells, Dowsett, Anae.

Added to the side as they were omitted from the Wallabies' train-on squad - Carter, Lealiifano. Also, possible inclusions might be Alcock and Godwin as signings for next year.

Are there any current injuries that might put anyone in doubt? Smiler?

Looks like the Vikings will be a bit light on for LHPs. I'd like to see Benny A move back to see how he would go. Good cover at THP with both Makin and Smith.

 

[Trevor Hancock]

I heard through Twitter that Ruan Smith has returned to Japan to play, so assume he won't be in the NRC sqaud.

 

[Brumby Runner]

That just might put an end to my wish to see BA return to LHP then.

 

[Slim 293]

That just might put an end to my wish to see BA return to LHP then.

Why would you wish that for?

 

[Brumby Runner]

With the thought that THP was adequately covered by Smith and Makin, and that we are a bit sparse for LHPs then BA just might have been a good option to change over. Remembering that he was always a lot more effective at LH than at TH where the extra strength required at set piece seemed to deprive him of his open field impact.

 

[mst]

I heard through Twitter that Ruan Smith has returned to Japan to play, so assume he won't be in the NRC sqaud.

IIRC,he will be playing in Japan the next few season.

 

[mst]

Will Lomax (to Rebels) and Wells (to Tahs) be staying in in Canberra for the NRC?

Anae and R Smith are out as they are in Japan so can be cut from the above list.

Can Ryan Lonergan play or is he still age restricted?

How long is Hyne and Smiler out for?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Wells at least has already left the ACT and is now playing for Northern Suburbs in the Shute Shield. Can't see him returning for the NRC.

 

[RugbyReg]

Apparently Alex Horan will be heading to Canberra for the NRC ala Mitch Third last year

 

[Jagman]

For the purposes of NRC selection It's the previous year's Wallabies squad that counts. Carter will count as a Wallaby and therefore the Vikings will not be able to nominate him, he can go where likes and last year he chose the Eagles.

 

[No.8]

Considering how the Whites have been playing they need/should have at least 5,6 guys in the starting 23 - the forward pack has just crushed everyother pack this year with ease - the likes of Barbaro, Elliot, Makin, Penca, Sok, Noa - lets just name the whole forward pack need to be in the squad - they are the form forwards of the comp and by a fair margin at the moment. . . . will be VERY interested to see what the final squad looks like.