Super Rugby Official Melbourne Rebels thread

[Swans120]

http://www.super14.com/news/viewarticle.asp?id=25511

Big signing for the Rebels, securing Greg Somerville. A quality player of great substance and experience. Also picked up Kiwi lock/backrower Hoani MacDonald who will be of value as well.

Good signings for the Rebels, especially Somerville, who will go with Freier and Weeks in a strong front row.

 

[forthaloveofit]

Laurie weeks played a good game last night before going off injured with a bent foot, it's all starting to come together good forward pack.
Not getting to cocky but might come mid table or higher in 2011.

On another note are they playing these zone areas next year hows that going to work?

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Laurie weeks played a good game last night before going off injured with a bent foot, it's all starting to come together good forward pack.
Not getting to cocky but might come mid table or higher in 2011.

On another note are they playing these zone areas next year hows that going to work?

Not sure what you are referring to.

 

[forthaloveofit]

Just a rumour i heard

South Africa 5 teams Aus 5 teams NZ 5 teams

say Melbourne plays other Aus teams twice 8 games Home and away play other teams once 10 games 18 game home and away season

 

[Swans120]

They will be conferences. An Australian, NZ and SA conference with the 5 teams in each.

You play your conference rivals twice each at home and away and play everyone else once i think. Pretty sure that is how it will work.

 

[forthaloveofit]

It sounds like it will start up some good rivalries,
especially after force took our spot 5 years ago

 

[Ice-Wolf]

WA have a pretty good rivally with Vic so that could work quite well, plus the NSW vs Vic should work as well.

Do you think the ARU will have a trophy for the Conference winner?

 

[forthaloveofit]

That is a great idea like the cook cup etc.
that should be a new thread ice wolf what to name it.
you smart b*stard.

 

[Ice-Wolf]

That is a great idea like the cook cup etc.
that should be a new thread ice wolf what to name it.
you smart b*stard.

It would probably have to be a name that would capture that it is a effectively a nation title so it would probably have to recognise prominent wallabies from each state if possible.

Would have to probably be a well known name too.

 

[oaksy]

Apparently the Rebels are offering Billy Slater and Isy Falou $1m a year.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...for-billy-slater/story-e6frep5x-1225858127543

Please make this happen!!!

 

[Sunday Red]

Apparently the Rebels are offering Billy Slater and Isy Falou $1m a year.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...for-billy-slater/story-e6frep5x-1225858127543

Please make this happen!!!

That's a lot of money for unproven union players, but wow... talk about high risk, high reward!

 

[_shifty_]

McQueene said that there is no offer to Slater or any other storm player ( no mention of Izzy though) and that they are close to signing Gasnier

 

[aRT8t]

Hello everyone noobee here some interesting things on the rebel front.

Just need a decent jersey to go with the players, oh and a better logo.

 

[jimmy_clement#8]

Falou is as good as done, the ARU are gonna top him up.

Gasnier, interesting, it would be a coup to get him as well.

 

[Swans120]

WOW, getting Izzy Folau is a huge signing for Melbourne. Must say i was not confident he'd play rugby, thought he'd just stick with league, but well done Rebels...if it becomes official.

 

[aRT8t]

<H3 class=h3_videoArticleHeading>

<H3 id=articleHeadline class=h3_videoArticleHeading>Folau considering AFL switch: report

</H3>
Friday, April 30, 2010 - 5:30 AM
Source: BigPond Sport
The AFL could offer big money to rugby league star Israel Folau in a bold bid to recruit him for their Greater Western Sydney expansion team.
Folau is expected to tell the Brisbane Broncos on Friday that he will activate a clause in his contract and leave the club at the end of this season.
There is also widespread speculation he will join the new Melbourne Rebels Super 15 rugby team.
But Channel Nine's Footy Show is reporting that Folau's management approached the AFL several weeks ago.
Last year, league star Karmichael Hunt sensationally announced a switch to the Gold Coast team, which will join the AFL next year.
The Footy Show is saying that the AFL have tested Folau and are considering an offer to him of up to $3 million over three years.
Much of the money would be for promoting the Greater Western Sydney team, scheduled to join the AFL in 2012.
The AFL were unavailable for comment on Thursday night.

holy crap does AFL need him?
i know the rebels want him but why AFL?

seriously Hunt won't make it and izzy would find it hard different pace, u get tackled from every angle and what's the go with hunt playing union overseas and not with GCFC in the VFL? good to see there getting there moneys worth

</H3>

 

[Swans120]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...evin-oneill-joining-rebels-20100528-wjo3.html

Kevin O'Neill signs on for Melbourne. Their roster is really starting to take shape.

So far the roster is:

Props: Laurie Weeks, Greg Somerville, Nic Henderson
Hookers: Heath Tessman, Adam Freier
Locks: Adam Byrnes, Al Campbell, Kevin O'Neill, Hoani McDonald, Luke Jones
Backrowers: Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Gareth Delve, Tim Davidson
Halfbacks: Sam Cordingley, Richard Kingi
Fly Halves/Centres: James Hilgendorf, Stirling Mortlock, Lachie Mitchell
Outside Backs: Mark Gerrard, Julian Huxley, Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Peter Betham

Not a bad list at all. Needs a few more really quality players. They have the makings of a competitive side but need a few more really class players through the backrow and inside backs (if they use Danny Cipriani at 15).

ATM i'd say a starting XV would look like:

1. Somerville
2. Freier
3. Weeks
4. O'Neill
5. Byrnes
6. Delve
7. Lipman
8. Davidson
9. Kingi
10. Huxley
11. Vuna
12. Hilgendorf
13. Mortlock
14. Gerrard
15. Cipriani

I'd much rather see Cipriani running the show at 10, then Huxley could slot into 15. Makes more sense to me, but MacQueen seems to want Cipriani playing at the back.

 

[Sunday Red]

Israel Folau turns down rugby union offer

THE race for Israel Folau's signature has become a battle between two football codes after the NRL superstar today turned down a massive offer to turn to rugby union.

http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/israel-folau-turns-down-rugby-union-offer-20100529-wmc0.html

Not the worst news to be honest. We can now go and throw this cash at a proven union player or two. Folau is awesome, but he was never a "must sign" in my opinion.

 

[gezz]

Great news. Don't need to be dumping massive amounts of money on a winger. If we had to throw down cash on a back, I'd rather go for someone like Luke Rooney.

 

[aRT8t]

Rugby league rejects, Luke Rooney has done nothing this season again.

Rebels are going pretty good with their list so far.

 

[Swans120]

I've been hearing some good things about how Luke Rooney has been going in Europe. Was in the England squad at some point a few months ago which is a pretty solid achievement for a "league reject".

He'd be a pretty good man to target i reckon, they would have spoken with him i imagine.

 

[Gazza_11]

Yeah, not terrible news. Would have been good to get some youth into our mostly 30+ squad though...

 

[kronic]

Anyone interested in building the Rebel Army? http://www.rebel-army.com/archives/130

Register your interest. Nothing like a bunch of passionate Rugby tragics singing, chanting, together as one.

 

[Gazza_11]

Yeah I'm part of it. I have so few rugby supporting friends it'll be awesome to stand behind the goals and sing, chant, etc with people who actually know the sport.

 

[aRT8t]

I'm a part too but i live in Central Queensland i'll be there for the first home game though.