Melbourne Rising 2014

[swingpass]

interesting that ben meehan isn't in either of the queensland NRC squads.

hasn't been mentioned as far as i am aware in relation to any of the other NRC teams. does anyone have an inkling (or more) where he is likely to end up ?

 

[en_force_er]

Sakaria Woa is a good Southern Districts product, shame to see him named in the Rams squad today.

Were interstate based Melbourne-developed players eligible? It's logical if they're not, still a shame.

http://ramsrugby.com.au/profiles/

 

[en_force_er]

Add St.Kevens and Harlequins product Jack de Guingand to the list for Qld Country and Junior Laloifi from Norths (I think) for Qld City. What a shame!

You can't fault them, we rave about opportunities being here now (and rightfully so) but the chance to take some extra cash and more consistently competitive rugby interstate must be hard to pass up.

 

[Train Without a Station]

eligible? THERE'S NO FUCKING SELECTION CONTRAINTS AND ELIGIBILITY! And just perhaps he doesn't want to come back to Melbourne and find accommodation for 3 months to earn a couple of hundred a game.

 

[en_force_er]

eligible? THERE'S NO FUCKING SELECTION CONTRAINTS AND ELIGIBILITY! And just perhaps he doesn't want to come back to Melbourne and find accommodation for 3 months to earn a couple of hundred a game.

I'm not an idiot mate, I'm aware of that.

If the program didn't invite any players that weren't either in their Super Rugby program (for 2014 or 15) or participated in their extensive preseason, isn't that not being ineligible? Seeing as you've mentioned the financials of relocating players temporarily, which would OBVIOUSLY be a factor is a comp best described as semi-pro, could this not be called 'ineligibility' for the Rising program?

Is there really anything wrong with discussing locally developed talent in a thread about a team designed to develop local talent? Really?

 

[en_force_er]

I wonder why Tom Cox isn't in the Rising squad, I thought that was the whole logic behind his time with Powerhouse.

 

[Highlander35]

And Benny Meehan is the final player. Gives us 17 Soup players (winning!) and shores up that area.

http://melbournerebels.com.au/news/article/ben-meehan-completes-rising-squad

 

[swingpass]

thats great, i really rate Meehan, i think he will surpass Stirzaker as the rebels number one half in a couple of years

 

[Highlander35]

Meehan v Stirzaker is 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

From what I've seen, Ben gives you a very pacey game, and is probably the better outright Box kick. Whereas Nic's general kicking and technical game is better, while also being the slightly better defender.

Both of them need to be retained long term if possible, Burgo won't be around forever.

 

[en_force_er]

Wonder what the deal with this was? Were they shopping Ben around (trying to get both developing 9s a starting berth) and it failed? Or what?

I mean they deliberately left spots open, so they obviously planned for a contingency, but it's still odd.

 

[Wilson]

Wonder what the deal with this was? Were they shopping Ben around (trying to get both developing 9s a starting berth) and it failed? Or what?

I mean they deliberately left spots open, so they obviously planned for a contingency, but it's still odd.

Wasn't there meant to be a cap of 16 super rugby players per squad? Maybe they had to wait to see if another side wanted him first?

 

[kiap]

Wasn't there meant to be a cap of 16 super rugby players per squad? Maybe they had to wait to see if another side wanted him first?

I reckon teams are trying it on, as in "What are you going to do about it, ARU?"

Either that or it's based on last year's Super squads, or there is an exemption for EPS players, or something.....

A bit like the Perth Spirit re-poaching Pek back from the Rays.

 

[daz]

Well, no matter what the reason, a Rising squad with Bip in it is better than one without.

 

[Wilson]

I reckon teams are trying it on, as in "What are you going to do about it, ARU?"

Either that or it's based on last year's Super squads, or there is an exemption for EPS players, or something...

A bit like the Perth Spirit re-poaching Pek back from the Rays.

I didn't mean to suggest there was anything untoward about it, just that there may have been a bit of a process that meant they had to wait before they locked it in.

As a side note, has Burgess been named in an NRC side?

 

[en_force_er]

Wasn't there meant to be a cap of 16 super rugby players per squad? Maybe they had to wait to see if another side wanted him first?

I think we only have 16, Placid isn't a Super Rugby player technically. He's just a player who played Super Rugby, know what I'm saying?

 

[Highlander35]

Leafa
Sexton
Smith
Ah-Nau
Alo-Emile
Neville
Jeffries
Jones
Higgers
Timani
McMahon
Stirzaker
Meehan
Debreczeni
Inman
English
Veaniu

I count 17, plus Placid.

 

[en_force_er]

Leafa
Sexton
Smith
Ah-Nau
Alo-Emile
Neville
Jeffries
Jones
Higgers
Timani
McMahon
Stirzaker
Meehan
Debreczeni
Inman
English
Veaniu

I count 17, plus Placid.

True. I suppose it's hard to get other teams to foot relocation bills.

Lucky we didn't keep Weeksy, hey?

 

[pablo]

True. I suppose it's hard to get other teams to foot relocation bills.

Lucky we didn't keep Weeksy, hey?

Do the Wallabies count in the Super Rugby Player allocation?

"Qantas Wallabies players will be playing Tests while the NRC is on, but each member of the Wallabies squad will be allocated across the nine teams and will play if they become available."

If not, that's only 15.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Yeah the Wallabies aren't included in the 16.

Whilst I don't know the facts, sounds like Meehan was shopped/offered around and only when not taken by another team was made available to the Rebels. Fair ruling.

 

[Highlander35]

With no links to any Sydney side, Perth and Canberra only selecting locals and Queensland setting up one way gates, it's not overly surprising he ended up back down here.

On the Allocation, I thought Wallabies were included, there was an article about the rays implying they'd get 4 Wallabies and 12 other Soup players, making that magic 16.