Wallabies 2025

[Beattie]

I would say HMP would be that development flyhalf to take along. He was in the Anzac squad over Meredith.
I hope we wouldn’t need to play him though.

You’re kidding! Go and watch his club game yesterday.

 

[Beattie]

James Martens has a big future. Wouldn't mind seeing him on the EOYT even at the expense of either Wilson or Thomas. The other prospect who never gets a mention here, but who performs whenever he gets an opportunity is Klayton Thorn. Pretty much same age bracket as Thomas and Wilson and imo equally on par as far as talent is concerned.

Have Brumbies picked up James Martens. A big oversight by the Reds if that has happened.

 

[Dctarget]

is this stuff about Skelton not getting paid by La Rochelle whilst playing for Wallabies true?

It sounds a little iffy to me. Sure not getting his game bonus for T14 but I can't imagine much of his salary is tied up in game appearances. And surely there can't be punitive clauses built in his contract for missing training weeks etc. That wouldn't be very regulation 9 of them.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Has there been any announcement for Skelton? I thought TRC was an approved international window so the French can't recall him back?

I can't remember the last time we had two excellent back to back games. It makes winning back the Bledisloe possible if we can get two good games.

I might be mistaken Ignoto, but my understanding is that the international window doesn't cover periods when there is a break, eg, the two weeks between Lions and SA, again between SA and Argentina here, and finally between Argentina and NZ. If this is correct I would think neither Skelton nor RA would be interested in the amount of travel required to have him available during TRC.

Hopefully I'm wrong and he can stay for the duration.

 

[Major Tom]

You’re kidding! Go and watch his club game yesterday.

Was he shithouse? Playing for wests now right.
Well we’re talking between meridith and HMP. There isn’t anyone else really. And they’ve both played basically the same number of super games

 

[Strewthcobber]

I might be mistaken Ignoto, but my understanding is that the international window doesn't cover periods when there is a break, eg, the two weeks between Lions and SA, again between SA and Argentina here, and finally between Argentina and NZ. If this is correct I would think neither Skelton nor RA would be interested in the amount of travel required to have him available during TRC.

Hopefully I'm wrong and he can stay for the duration.

Regulation 9

Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 during the Southern Hemisphere Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for six weeks out of the nine week period.

 

[Tomthumb]

Which is why the idea of just picking players from anywhere isn’t really a great one.

 

[Strewthcobber]

is this stuff about Skelton not getting paid by La Rochelle whilst playing for Wallabies true?

It sounds a little iffy to me. Sure not getting his game bonus for T14 but I can't imagine much of his salary is tied up in game appearances. And surely there can't be punitive clauses built in his contract for missing training weeks etc. That wouldn't be very regulation 9 of them.

I can't remember where I saw the reporting on Skelton specifically, but they have form.

"The situation is pretty clear from [Toulon's] end, if [Giteau] is not there he is not getting paid," Cheika said last week.

It cost Giteau hundreds of thousands of dollars to play in the WC in 2015 and for Wallabies through 2016

 

[Adam84]

In terms of the next halfback in line now that Gordon and potentially White are out, it might annoy some but there’s always the new Force recruit; Nathan Hastie as an option. He played pretty well in 2025, and in terms of experience and game time through 2025 he is ahead of the other options, which are reserve players.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Of course we should pick him, he's a Perth boy!

 

[rugbyAU]

is this stuff about Skelton not getting paid by La Rochelle whilst playing for Wallabies true?

It sounds a little iffy to me. Sure not getting his game bonus for T14 but I can't imagine much of his salary is tied up in game appearances. And surely there can't be punitive clauses built in his contract for missing training weeks etc. That wouldn't be very regulation 9 of them.

Not sure but know he only gets half when playing for Aus

 

[BDA]

So what's the deal with Tupou? Buggering off is he? Does he remain in the 4N squad? Seems to have got himself off the couch. TH prop is a real problem. Nongorr was not much better than Robinson.

Id say most of the top tier countries would struggle without their top 1 or 2 THPs available. We've never had any depth at TH but id say we're not too badly placed for the world cup. AAA is pretty world class when fit, as is Tupou. Both are young enough to be in contention in 2027. Nongorr is developing ok. Robertson is servicable and i thought was hardly done by last week. De Luttis looks like a great prospect... that said we could struggle in that position during the RC this year without AAA.

Re tupou. Hopefully the sea change benefits him

 

[rugbyAU]

SA squad set to be announced on Wednesday

Hooper, Gleeson and Tupou set to be available for TRC

 

[BDA]

Btw, TH might not be overly deep but the LHP options may be our best ever.. Slipper and Bell and now Ross joining the ranks. Hodgman and schoupp when fit

 

[Major Tom]

Btw, TH might not be overly deep but the LHP options may be our best ever.. Slipper and Bell and now Ross joining the ranks. Hodgman and schoupp when fit

I don’t reckon we’ll be going to Hodgman anytime soon. Ross coming on board is very handy.
Personally, I like the look of Leli.