Harvey Fresh for the Force

[Darren]

Emirates Western Force coach Richard Graham has brought Australian Sevens representative and leading New South Wales 1st grade playmaker David Harvey into his squad on a short term contract.

Harvey has recently returned after a stint in France with Narbonne and is coming off a 2011 season where he became just the fourth player in Shute Shield history to win the Ken Catchpole Medal, as the best player in the competition, for a second time.

Harvey impressed during a trial in Perth last week and capped off his efforts on the training field with a strong display for the Emirates Western Force A side in a curtain raiser match last Friday night. His steadying influence at first receiver helped the West Australian’s to an impressive 61-5 win against NSW 1st Grade outfit West Harbour.

The opportunity to showcase his talent at FxPro Super Rugby level comes after a decade of persistence and hard work and Harvey is determined to make the most of the chance and secure a longer term deal in the west.

“There was an option to stay in France but when I was contacted by the Force and there was a possibility of being able to play Super Rugby, it was on offer too good to pass up,” Harvey said.

“There were never any guarantees but I have always worked to get the best from myself and held onto the hope that eventually an opportunity would come. I couldn’t be more delighted.

“I know there is a lot more work to do but getting a foot in the door is fantastic and now it is up to me to show I belong here.”

It would be the culmination of a long road for the affable Harvey if he was to make his FxPro Super Rugby debut this weekend at the Sydney Football Stadium, a ground he has sat watching and wondering ‘what if’ from the stands on so many occasions.

“It would be absolutely amazing to represent the Force and take part in a match at the SFS. You can wait a long time for good things to come your way and the chance to live it out in front of family and friends would be incredible,” said Harvey.

“It might take one year, it might take five, but if you remain committed to achieving your goals then anything is possible.”

The short term contract will initially cover a four match period.

Name: David Harvey
Position: Flyhalf
DOB: 20/5/1982 (Brisbane)
Height: 176cm
Weight: 89kg
Awards: 2008 & 2011 Ken Catchpole Medal (best player in NSW 1st Grade competition)
Playing History: 2012 Narbonne (France), 2011 - Australian Barbarians and Captain of Sydney Rugby, 2005 - 2011 - Gordon (NSW 1st Grade), 2009 Australian Barbarians, 2007 - 2008 Australian Sevens, 2007 Central Coast Rays (Australian Rugby Championships), 2006 Coventry (UK), 2005 Harlequins (UK), Newbury (UK)

[Tazzmania]

Great news, welcome on board Dave.

While a short term contract this man is going to be hungry to prove himself, also he has the skill set needed by a flyhalf, Chucky has done well to date but a fresh hard worker like we had with Dave Hill can only be good moving forward from where we are.

I feel better now affter last weeks lows!

[GIGS20]

Let's wait and see him on the field Tazz......he might be the duck's guts in the shield, but that doesn't always transfer!

and there's no guarantee he'll get game time either!

[theforceguy]

I just hope that management takes the chance and give him lots of game time

[jono]

unfortunately it cant get a whole lot worse.
let's see what this does to shake things up.

[WARHORSE]

Mr "Quick Fix"

That'll do me

a 29 year old that can't tackle to save himself

Another masterstroke by super coach Graham

[theforceguy]

Hold your Horses let us give him a fair chance At least he can kick there is another 14 in the team that can help tackle but only one can kick

[WARHORSE]

Super coach bought a massive Fijian who was the leading try scorer in the worlds toughest club competition in France.

The try scoring freak stands on the wing holding his todger despite his pack dominating field position and 65% of possession.

Just what we need..........another bloke who can kick and can't tackle

dead set

[Tazzmania]

Super coach bought a massive Fijian who was the leading try scorer in the worlds toughest club competition in France.

The try scoring freak stands on the wing holding his todger despite his pack dominating field position and 65% of possession.

Just what we need..........another bloke who can kick and can't tackle

dead set

Hindsight is wonderful, I as well as many others were very excited to see his name when he signed and were awed by his size, he has not yet turned out to be what he was expected, but rememeber after a slow start David Smith became a sensation for us last year. I think the best is still to come from NN yet.

In regards Harvey, he is one of the better fly halves out their at the moment, that is not contracted elsewhere. RG did not much have choice, but a player who has played at least at club level and fairly well by all accounts is better than nothing at all.

[WARHORSE]

Nalanga could be a sensation if he was involved in the play

My point which was cryptic was that the players we have are quite adequate if their strenghts were used. If nalanga was charging into the midfield and Chucky had runners inside and out and had the option of hitting nalanga or using him as a decoy by passing behind him to another runner..........we'd probably be making holes and scoring tries.

Buying players is pointless if you don't utilise their strengths.

Chuck filled the SOS 10 role last season with aplomb and we had some upset wins.

Nothing has changed with his ability. If anything, he now has more experience

There is nothing "on" in the backs because it hasn't been coached, isn't in the game plan and nobody in the backline has a clue what their role is or how they should work together to manifest some line breaks or points...........sh1thouse coaching

Nalanga knows his way to the line. I wasn't being critical of him. There is no plan to involve his massive carcase or his speed. Imagine the task as a defending 12 if you had to decide whether to tackle Nalanga, a back rower, the player looming on the inside of the 10, the 10 taking the ball to the line or the 13.

Nuffink.

Good luck to Harvey

He isn't going to solve the problems we have. Chuck isn't the problem

[GIGS20]

Super coach bought a massive Fijian who was the leading try scorer in the worlds toughest club competition in France.

The try scoring freak stands on the wing holding his todger despite his pack dominating field position and 65% of possession.

Just what we need..........another bloke who can kick and can't tackle

dead set

If you're not going to bother changing your tone or even the idioms you use, why not just sign on as Rex?

Is it a safety in numbers thing?

As for the point you make.......(Including the longer post which I didn't quote for space reasons) I think a good ten would have the ability to generate structure on the field, regardless of the coaching. If Harvey's a good attacking 10 (which by all accounts he is, given that he's the starting fly for Sydney Uni and they're no mugs) then he'll see the deficiencies in coaching and play accordingly......even to the point of completely ignoring the gameplan and making up his own (PDV Boks spring to mind?)

To answer the question about his defense......Quade doesn't defend at all and he seems to do OK, plus we have a massive group of outside backs and a couple of scrumhalves who are pretty good in the channel as well.....I guess you're probably thinking along the lines of getting Dan Carter in (god wouldn't that be cool!) but the facts are, he's just not available.....anybody you could name, from anywhere in the world who is available is exactly what he is...a club player who has some skills, but isn't necessarily the complete package. Believe me, anybody who's the complete package already has a contract with somebody and won't be talking to us until next year....

[Ecky]

...... it's Nalaga

You might pronounce it Nalanga, but you don't spell it that way

Dead set

[palitu]

!! oh, i get it!

Harvey Fresh!

[travelling_gerry]

Thats apt!! Imported product.

[WF1964]

!! oh, i get it!

Harvey Fresh!

Just hope he's given FREE RANGE

Thats apt!! Imported product.

The juice is, but not the milk, surely?