Aussie Pro Rugby

@African-Monkey said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Any reason why so many Aussies go to Exeter? Is there a link between them and Aussie rugby?

This article goes a bit more into it:

There doesn't seem to be anything formalized between RA and Exeter Chiefs, just a lot of positive feedback from former Australian Exeter players, like Nic White and Greg Holmes.

Might be a bit misleading given their current financial insecurities and poor sporting performances, but, to be fair to Exeter Chiefs, they were always a very well-run rugby club until the economic effects of the pandemic hit them hard. (see for example: https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/exeter-blame-covid-hangover-as-pre-tax-losses-nearly-double-mrgb6mmkc)

In a major boost for Australian rugby, the country’s best Super Rugby player of the past two years, Fraser McReight, has re-signed with the Queensland Reds.

A week after The Roar revealed that McReight was strongly weighing up a move to the land of the rising sun, the 26-year-old turned down a $1.3 million deal in Japan to sign a new three-year deal with the Reds that will keep the openside flanker in the country beyond the 2027 home World Cup.

An announcement is expected in the coming days.

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Waratahs are the biggest underachievers in Super Rugby. Failure is.baked in to the walls of that organisation.

@mariner4life said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Waratahs are the biggest underachievers in Super Rugby. Failure is.baked in to the walls of that organisation.

If there is a team to dislike it's the Waratahs

He'll be eligible to play against the Lions - both for Tahs and Wallabies

@Tim said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

View embedded content

It's interesting because I've been watching the NFL IPP series on YouTube and they've only just got around to putting him on camera.

His vertical was insane as a side point

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

I think Tahs fans are pretty realistic about our chances this year. A lot of turnover on our list, and that's going to take time to come together. Finals this year would be fantastic considering we won the wooden spoon last year, but not the end of the world if we miss out.

The second half meltdown was concerning though. Went out in a Rolls Royce and came home in an ambulance. The talent is there, just need to put together a full 80 minutes.

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

Looking at their run to finish the year I’ve actually got them battling for the spoon with the Drua, starting with a loss to the Chiefs this week.

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

Atrocious is harsh - they looked good in the home wins vs Force and Brumbies.

I think they really struggle at 9 and 10 if Gordon isn't at 9.

He is a pragmatic coach is Mckellar - The Brumbies were hardly the Harlem Globetrotters under his stewardship but they had good results.

@Canes4life said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

Looking at their run to finish the year I’ve actually got them battling for the spoon with the Drua, starting with a loss to the Chiefs this week.

Too much credit in the bank to get the spoon I reckon

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

Atrocious is harsh - they looked good in the home wins vs Force and Brumbies.

I think they really struggle at 9 and 10 if Gordon isn't at 9.

He is a pragmatic coach is Mckellar - The Brumbies were hardly the Harlem Globetrotters under his stewardship but they had good results.

Even before Gordon got injured they were disappointing…

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

Atrocious is harsh - they looked good in the home wins vs Force and Brumbies.

I think they really struggle at 9 and 10 if Gordon isn't at 9.

He is a pragmatic coach is Mckellar - The Brumbies were hardly the Harlem Globetrotters under his stewardship but they had good results.

Even before Gordon got injured they were disappointing…

Disagree. Year 1 of a new coach I wouldn't call them disappointing

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

Atrocious is harsh - they looked good in the home wins vs Force and Brumbies.

I think they really struggle at 9 and 10 if Gordon isn't at 9.

He is a pragmatic coach is Mckellar - The Brumbies were hardly the Harlem Globetrotters under his stewardship but they had good results.

Even before Gordon got injured they were disappointing…

Disagree. Year 1 of a new coach I wouldn't call them disappointing

Scott Robertson, Dave Rennie, Vern Cotter all won in their first years in charge. Scott Laidlaw and Clayton McMillan have both come close in recent times. Don't think there's any reason why a team with a fairly stacked line-up (and not just a thrown together Highlanders-style one) and a good coach should be making excuses just because it's 'year one'.

@Mr-Fish said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

There is no Waratahs thread on here, but at what point do people start to question if maybe Dan McKellar isn't actually as good a coach as is always claimed?

The Tahs went 2 wins 12 losses last season and got the wooden spoon

The Tahs are 4 wins 3 losses at the moment

What were people expecting? I think Mckellar is doing just fine in year 1

Results have been decent, but the performances have been atrocious accounting for the talent in the squad.

Atrocious is harsh - they looked good in the home wins vs Force and Brumbies.

I think they really struggle at 9 and 10 if Gordon isn't at 9.

He is a pragmatic coach is Mckellar - The Brumbies were hardly the Harlem Globetrotters under his stewardship but they had good results.

Even before Gordon got injured they were disappointing…

Disagree. Year 1 of a new coach I wouldn't call them disappointing

Scott Robertson, Dave Rennie, Vern Cotter all won in their first years in charge. Scott Laidlaw and Clayton McMillan have both come close in recent times. Don't think there's any reason why a team with a fairly stacked line-up (and not just a thrown together Highlanders-style one) and a good coach should be making excuses just because it's 'year one'.

I would disagree with the idea that the Waratahs are 'fairly stacked'. They have some big names but across the board stacked is not the word I would use. The Brumbies and Reds have better squads in Australia alone.

Of the Tahs big names - Tongan Thor is arguably the most overhyped rugby player on the planet, Jake Gordon is currently injured, Suaalii has missed most games due to a toe issue and Jorgensen is now out for months injured. Angus Bell has stayed fit this year which helps but there's not much left when you look at the rest of the players.

The Blues had the best squad in the comp last year and Dave Rennie had Aaron Cruden at 10 whilst Razor had Mo'unga at 10. They get credit for helping those young 10s flourish but it's night and day compared to Edmed and Creighton at 10.

@KiwiMurph My point was more that good coaches can take a good squad and see instant results - often teams outperform in their first year with a new coach, if anything.

Pleased for RA if they happy with that. Though seems a shame the one FTA game a week is gone, and would be very interesting to see what the performances that Wallabies and Super teams need to get full amount!

Loss of FTA will be decried as killing the game by all the nuffies who happily paid Foxtel a pound of flesh each month.

RA have made what looks like a gain here, but really it is starting from a low base so is probably about what the game is worth to any broadcaster at ~$40M per annum. Stan (the streaming platform) actually showed decent uptake for sport last time I looked.

Waugh is hoping that the Lions tour will help wipe out the debts and give him a platform to capitalise on the 2 x RWC we're hosting in 27 and 29.

There are so many variables though. New coach is one thing but a lot of player turnover too, as has been said.

I don't think this is a stacked team at all. Our depth is thin in key spots, and we don't have any locks. It's a good side on paper, sure, but missing finals won't be the end of the world considering.

Happy to stay with Stan. They put the effort in and the quality of the broadcast is way higher that it ever was with Fox/Kayo.

No FTA is a blow. I can understand why they made the trade-off, but it's annoying they had to make it. Stan Sport is pretty niche and not especially cheap, so you're losing a lot of casual eyeballs. Now they will still be there for the Wallabies so maybe it's no big loss.

the problem with Stan is its commercial option. By all accounts its super expensive, meaning there are very few pubs around who can put the rugby on.

@NTA said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Loss of FTA will be decried as killing the game by all the nuffies who happily paid Foxtel a pound of flesh each month.

No doubt Nine are expecting some of them to migrate to Stan. Interesting if this was shared with RA.

RA have made what looks like a gain here, but really it is starting from a low base so is probably about what the game is worth to any broadcaster at ~$40M per annum. Stan (the streaming platform) actually showed decent uptake for sport last time I looked.

Waugh is hoping that the Lions tour will help wipe out the debts and give him a platform to capitalise on the 2 x RWC we're hosting in 27 and 29.

Assuming the same inflation applies from 2020-2024 through to 2030, the last year will be basically what $30million bought in 2020...

Depending on the amount WR hover up, the addition of a WRWC should be well supported here. Especially if the Wallaroos can be more competitive against everyone but England who will probably romp home.

Looks like it's going to be Les Kiss as the Wallabies coach

The Roar can reveal RA chief executive Phil Waugh and director of high performance Peter Horne flew to Brisbane to speak with Reds CEO David Hanham and general manager Sam Cordingley on Tuesday morning to discuss Kiss.

It’s understood that Kiss, who is contracted to coach the Queensland Reds through to the end of the 2026 Super Rugby season, wasn’t present in the meeting.

What was discussed remains closely guarded, but it’s believed the basis of the meeting was around how the 60-year-old can take over at the Wallabies later this year while also serving out the rest of his three-year deal with the Reds.

@KiwiMurph don't mind that. He'll have done a couple of years with the Reds as head coach as well as a range of supporting roles around the globe.

He's given the Reds a bit of steel, working on the foundation Thorn left of ejecting the dickheads.

Fuck me these Premier Rugby dickheads are delusional.

This was posted on their Facebook page.

"Key partner"?

I was impressed with Will Harrison when he played for the Waratahs but had rotten luck with injury.

If he was still at the Tahs I would've have had him as the starting 10.

Joe Schmidt will be staying a little longer before the transition to Les Kiss.

He's easily swayed to coach haha after many 'no more's and retirements! Great news for Oz and the Reds

Harry Wilson leaving Dragons in Wales and coming back to Aussie, could be a pick up for any team in 2026

@Trig said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Harry Wilson leaving Dragons in Wales and coming back to Aussie, could be a pick up for any team in 2026

The current Reds captain?

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@Trig said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Harry Wilson leaving Dragons in Wales and coming back to Aussie, could be a pick up for any team in 2026

The current Reds captain?

Nah the other one - ex-Tahs Centre and brother of current Tahs halfback Teddy Wilson.

@NTA said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@Trig said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Harry Wilson leaving Dragons in Wales and coming back to Aussie, could be a pick up for any team in 2026

The current Reds captain?

Nah the other one - ex-Tahs Centre and brother of current Tahs halfback Teddy Wilson.

Ahh, David Wilson's kid?

@antipodean bingo.

Looks just like his brother, and both look just like the old man.