Players for Perth?

[David Votoupal]

OK, now that Perth has been awarded the Super 14 franchise, do they have any idea of who will make up the innaugural roster of the Perth side? How many players are NSW, QLD and ACT expected to lose to the new team, and will there be a sprinkling of homegrown talent as well?

 

[Borry]

I heard that Wendell Sailor will be westbound come 2006.

 

[Kapow!!!]

Latham, Sailor, Sharpe, Flatley are all out of contract at the end of next season from the Reds and is likely 1-2 of them will be going to Perth is what I heard.

 

[Snickers]

Rathbone is out of contract aswell i think i read somewhere

 

[YOTC]

I read in the West Australian like 2 weeks ago, that Perth was pushing for Rathbone, and wanted him to be the captain.......memory is a bit hazy, can anyone confirm that story?

 

[Borry]

I read in the West Australian like 2 weeks ago, that Perth was pushing for Rathbone, and wanted him to be the captain.......memory is a bit hazy, can anyone confirm that story?

I definitelyremember a news headline suggesting Rathbone becomming the captain of the Perth team. Cant remember the article itself.

 

[Farrand]

Doubt we'd ever get Rathbone. I reckon Sailor is a certainty, I don't think we'd get Flatley, Sharpe or Latham. The latter will either stay in Queensland or head off to Japan. I reckon Cannon is on the cards.
Apart from there isn't a whole lot of names coming up, apart from Harrison and Young. I reckon if the money was right Harrison would come over. Only problem with this guy is he is to sporadic.
I'd like to see Perth score some young players like Henjak and Gerrard. A couple of players that struggle to get games at the Brumbies, but definitely are the goods.

 

[Snickers]

perth will definitly get sailor, and you have an outside chance of getting sharpe and i think rathbone

 

[Monocle]

Perth have a good chance of getting Rathbone . His family is moving to Australia next year to live , they have dont decided where to live yet, ( obviously where their son is playing his rugby) according to an article that I read last month.

If the Perth operation can entice the family to Perth then Rathbone would be a hugh pick up. Sure Perth will not get all the big names touted but you can expect some big signings.

Seems that quite a lot of South Africans and Zims find Perth's lifestyle and weather very appealing, so dont count Rathbone out just yet.

 

[Cro_Pavo]

Yeah I would like to see Matt Henjak in a Perth Super 14 Shirt!

 

[littleduck]

Oi u Western mongrels, stay away from our Reds. Look elsewhere.

 

[Snickers]

drew mitchell will be a future wallabies winger, just watch!

 

[Farrand]

Oi u Western mongrels, stay away from our Reds. Look elsewhere.

Probably a good idea. We wouldn't want a repeat of your success.

 

[clucas91]

How does having this new team help Australian rugby when all it is doing is pulling players out of the already existing teams?

 

[littleduck]

Probably a good idea. We wouldn't want a repeat of your success.

Hey! we are far more succesful at this level than NSW!!! Thats all that matters.

 

[The Passenger]

I think they wanna look at the guys who are on the outskirts of the current three teams alongside with about 4-6 who are cemented and experienced super 12 players.

Obviousbly Wendall Sailor and Clyde Rathbone hae been thrown around. I don't know who is coming off contract, but there main focus should be forwards.

It also depends how much funding they get.....

 

[Farrand]

As much as I love play from the backs, I think Perth has to focus on the forwards, and build a team around that. I know there isn't as much emphasise on the scrum in Super 12, but if one team has a powerful scrum, it definitely will have an advantage over the opposition.

 

[year of the roo]

How does having this new team help Australian rugby when all it is doing is pulling players out of the already existing teams?

By giving players not getting much of a go starting roles in the new Perth side allowing them to develop their game further.

Having said that, hands off Henjak Perth! He will be the Brumbies' starting scrumhalf in 2006, if not sooner.

 

[LittleSchneider]

i hope NSW do poorly this year! they deserve it after the way they treated Burkey! he is a legend and look how they ended his career!
By the way - eddie jones is one of the worst coaches the wallabies have had in the last 20 years!

 

[year of the roo]

Perth will probably not be able to attract too many big names in their first few years. All of you who said Sailor was a certainty should start wiping the egg off your faces as he is going to play out his days for the Reds. I'd expect Rathbone to re-sign with ACT very soon as well.

You will have to settle for some fringe players and look to turn them into big name players. From the Brumbies, a few you could look at include Joel Wilson, David Fitter, Digby Beaumont and Tamaiti Horua. Maybe even George Gregan for a year or 2.

Nathan Gray is one who has apparently attracted a lot of interest as well.