2024 Squad - Speculation Thread

[tjs10]

Wonder which country Jackson will represent ?? Another talented young player lost ….

As he's already represented Australia A (in the 2023 Pacific Nations Cup), he is committed to Australia, unless he serves a 36-month stand down period & qualifies for his "new" country through parents/grandparents, as the residency qualification criteria only applies for your first representative nation.

[Tazzmania]

Good to see that Brandon Paenga-Amosa has started at hooker for the last three games for Montpelliar. The last game he got in 56 minutes his most this season.

The French Top 14 season only finishes end of June, so unlikely we will see him in Force colours until 2025, but hopefully he puts his hand up for a Wallaby squad place in the Rugby Championship especially with a test in Perth this year.

Either way he will be good in for us in 2025.

[chiraag]

Damn it! Looks like Wells is our captain again. I really do not understand it at all. At 6, Anstee and Williams are better options and should be in the 15 above him. At 8, Harris, Anstee and Williams are better options and should be in the 15 above him.
I don't think what he brings as a leader or captain is worthy of him being elevated to the 15 above those candidates either.
Williams seemed to me like the obvious choice for captain, as he's a definite starter, will generally play the full 80 and has shown he can communicate well with refs as well as provide on field team leadership.

https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/...ally-launched/

Really hoping that the captaincy decision hasn't actually been made in favour of Wells yet, and come the first game, we'll see the (c) next to Williams.

[Tazzmania]

Force captain will only be anounced on Friday.

At last nights members zoom meeting Simon mentioned the captain will be someone who will be here for the next four to five years, however it is intended to build a proper leadership group around him so that his personal rugby skill growth will not be hampered by the captaincy but rather supported and built with assistance around him.

[WFDom]

the captain will be someone who will be here for the next four to five years,

Hopefully that means it WONT be Wells.
He should only be considered for a bench spot
If Cron appoints Wells Captain he will be really painting himself in to a corner with team selection

[Kernow]

Bugger, looks like Felix is out for a fair stint.

[Burgs]

I don't think what he brings as a leader or captain is worthy of him being elevated to the 15 above those candidates either.

On my observation of him as a "leader or captain", it doesn't warrant his being in the 23.

Force captain will only be anounced on Friday.

At last nights members zoom meeting Simon mentioned the captain will be someone who will be here for the next four to five years

As Wells is 31 in May, surely they aren't talking about him???

Hopefully that means it WONT be Wells.
He should only be considered for a bench spot
If Cron appoints Wells Captain he will be really painting himself in to a corner with team selection

100%

[GIGS20]

I got definite impressions of it being somebody like Jeremy Williams or Sam Spink.

[Kernow]

I got definite impressions of it being somebody like Jeremy Williams or Sam Spink.

It’d certainly be one way of putting some golden handcuffs on Sam - he’s off contract and presumably homeward bound at the end of the season isn’t he?

[Burgs]

It’d certainly be one way of putting some golden handcuffs on Sam - he’s off contract and presumably homeward bound at the end of the season isn’t he?

On the flip side, he would be two years towards Wallaby eligibility...
I'm not sure Captaincy would be a good fit for him.
He's a great player and definite XV, but is pretty highly strung and emotive in the interactions with Officials that I have seen.
For mine, I think best left as an unofficial leader and "hype up man" for the lads.
Williams is generally far more calm and gives the appearance of listening rather than debating when called by the Ref.

[wholetruth]

For what it's worth Wells was at the season launch in Auckland.

[wholetruth]

That's done it for me.
Bears gain unlikely ally as RA sweat on Rebels future
A plan to relocate the North Sydney Bears to Western Australia has won the unlikely support of the NRL’s most bitter cross code rival, with Western Force captain Michael Wells backing the move.

[Burgs]

That's done it for me.
Bears gain unlikely ally as RA sweat on Rebels future
A plan to relocate the North Sydney Bears to Western Australia has won the unlikely support of the NRL’s most bitter cross code rival, with Western Force captain Michael Wells backing the move.

Aside from the political optics not being great, I would like to see the context his response was framed against (damn you paywalls...).
The rest probably deserves a separate thread, but I can see upside if a mutual "no poaching" agreement between Force and Bears.
To expand the pro squad at fitness sessions, touch warm ups etc and competition in the gym would surely be a positive. Plus another tenant at the ground and training facilities should also be a good thing.

[shasta]

Norths relocating to Perth is about as likely Russel Coight solving the mysteries of the universe.

[WFDom]

I got definite impressions of it being somebody like Jeremy Williams or Sam Spink.

Williams can follow in Hodgo's footsteps!