Rebels 2022

[Scooter]

8 x 18 year olds into the full time squad? That’s a risky move I reckon.

24 players currently signed plus this 8. That will do it right?

I am happy we have extra Victorians in the squad. Although, Reg I tend to agree with you 8 x 18 year olds is a big risk. Not a lot of star power added to the squad either. Particularly as we have lost Koroibete and Naisarani.

 

[KevinO]

8 x 18 year olds into the full time squad? That’s a risky move I reckon.

24 players currently signed plus this 8. That will do it right?

very, all for giving local players a go, but 8x18 year olds is a very risky tactic.

 

[Rebel man]

I am happy we have extra Victorians in the squad. Although, Reg I tend to agree with you 8 x 18 year olds is a big risk. Not a lot of star power added to the squad either. Particularly as we have lost Koroibete and Naisarani.

If you are good enough you are old enough.

 

[RebelYell]

If we take players from QLD, others aren't happy. This is great news. Gives them a chance to have a red hot go. There's always been a little ambiguity around squad sizes etc, so let's judge it on face value come Rd 1, 2021, when we see what the full squad looks like. Remember, this year Ili and a couple others weren't announced until the season kicked off.

 

[swingpass]

hopefully they are adjuncts to the squad and not the replacements, losing 3 test players and recruiting a bunch of talented kids (looking at the photo i use the term advisably) is not the way to go imo.

 

[Wilson]

If you are good enough you are old enough.

If there are 8 Victorian 18 year olds good enough for super rugby next year Australian rugby will be unstoppable for the next decade plus.

 

[RugbyReg]

Tough to find information on these guys. Anyone know what position these three are?

Antonio Masina
Patrick Lavemai
Labron Naea

 

[TheNorth]

I would say it will be a lot like when they signed up Rob Leota at 18. They will be signed and will train with the squad but realistically they are filling the roles of the old EPS contracts.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

So the Rebels have just announced 8 academy members have been signed into the 2022 Super rugby squad.

Joeli Niubalavu, Patrick Lavemai, Eyda Haisila, Lebron Naea, Antonio Masina, Divad Palu, Sebastian Sialau and Daniel Maiava

Strong PI background

 

[Members Section]

Strong PI background

if you ever get to see a Dewar Shied game in your life you'll understand the strong PI numbers among all age levels of RV rep teams/Rebels academies.

 

[Members Section]

Prob not the right page for it but Lomani & Sorovi both left out of the Fiji side for sat v the AB, bit strange

 

[Adam84]

I’d say they both got caught out by the travel bubble requirements towards Queensland, it changed after the Fiji team had already arrived in NZ for quarantine and was expected to open up again which it didn’t. It was too late for them to quarantine in time.

 

[RugbyReg]

Sorovi named for Wests. I think you're right Adam

 

[upthereds#!]

If you are good enough you are old enough.

And cheap enough.

We are assuming they are good enough for Super Rugby, when it could be more realistic that they are the best available, developing, affordable youths and want to secure them.

 

[Rebel man]

And cheap enough.

We are assuming they are good enough for Super Rugby, when it could be more realistic that they are the best available, developing, affordable youths and want to secure them.

I don’t know why all of you from other states have a need to knock these blokes. Look at how many Vics have come through and done well if the club believes these blokes are ready that’s good enough for me. It also helps build a culture at the Rebels that relying on blow ins will never give us

 

[Rebel man]

if you ever get to see a Dewar Shied game in your life you'll understand the strong PI numbers among all age levels of RV rep teams/Rebels academies.

Let’s face it, not many white boys play rugby here and if they do a lot get lost to Aussie Rules. The islander communities in Melbourne are the backbone of rugby here and it’s good to see the investment into the development of these boys so they have an opportunity to go pro

 

[Rugbynutter39]

if you ever get to see a Dewar Shied game in your life you'll understand the strong PI numbers among all age levels of RV rep teams/Rebels academies.

Yep get it - but as nsw resident now days I don’t get to see it. I think this is fantastic tapped into Pi community (read nswru/ RA screwed this up with no western Sydney strategy) but whilst big tick solving the Pi talent dilemma appears failed on the broader rugby talent acquisition. In fairness also calling our nswru abysmal failure on tapping into Pi talent in Sydney here.

 

[RebelYell]

I don’t know why all of you from other states have a need to knock these blokes. Look at how many Vics have come through and done well if the club believes these blokes are ready that’s good enough for me. It also helps build a culture at the Rebels that relying on blow ins will never give us

Well said, damned if we do (produce our own), damned if we don't ('pillage' other states). Interesting to see two Vics in Hunter & Rob starting for the Wallabies on Wednesday. No reason these lads can't do the same with a FT opportunity

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yep get it - but as nsw resident now days I don’t get to see it. I think this is fantastic tapped into Pi community (read nswru/ RA screwed this up with no western Sydney strategy) but whilst big tick solving the Pi talent dilemma appears failed on the broader rugby talent acquisition. In fairness also calling our nswru abysmal failure on tapping into Pi talent in Sydney here.

Ps I think Nswru really screwed up on not tapping into PI talent for extra brand value they bring as humble, talented, athletic and god loving people they ‘generally’ are. The PI values they bring to rugby is huge and not often enough commented on.

 

[Rebel man]

Well said, damned if we do (produce our own), damned if we don't ('pillage' other states). Interesting to see two Vics in Hunter & Rob starting for the Wallabies on Wednesday. No reason these lads can't do the same with a FT opportunity

Exactly Jordy, Trev and Rob all on the fringes no reason we couldn’t see the day were a third of the side is Victorian