2024 Melbourne Rebels Squad Dispersal

[GIGS20]

Leota confirmed with the Thas https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ex-re...join-waratahs/

Which is why I asked the question. It's possible that the list was deliberately leaving out known signatures and Leota was announced a couple of days ago?

[Burgs]

Yes Gigs and others, the latest list as stated is just the remaining players for dispersal and hypothetical discussion making.
I am still updating the original list in the first post

[Burgs]

Speaking of Mungo's. Carter Gordon had a good debut for Tweed Heads last week in the centres. A try, two line breaks, a try assist and ran 136 metres from the bench.

Bloody Mungos...

[bootsetal06]

Yep HBF a sellout….. a bit sad really. We can probably congratulate our f….cked RA administration….

[Tazzmania]

According to Christie Doran on The Roar today:

"Isaac Kailea will join the Waratahs too, with the rising loose-head prop putting pen to paper on a one-year deal.

Fellow Rebels players Ethan Dobbins, Angelo Smith and Daniel Maiava are expected to follow suit...."

[Tazzmania]

And the Reds are set to officially announce LSL tomorrow

[Burgs]

Updated: Australian Rugby's worst kept secret, LSL to the Reds.

[shasta]

Yep HBF a sellout….. a bit sad really. We can probably congratulate our f….cked RA administration….

There were a few empty seats. But you have to remember that we used to get 20,000+ at Subiaco and the Reds got 25,000 at their WACA debut. Whether a sustainable membership + regulars will keep coming is another story. Judging by the continuous flow of pissed beer porters throughout the match a good number of them would have been better off watching at a pub. I don't see the point; and wonder whether they'd turn into regular bums on seats.

[Burgs]

The uncapped Zac Hough might be worth a sniff, now we are clearly not getting any of the frontline options.
In 2020 Rugby Pass selected a "NextGenXV" with Hough one of three Australians making the cut.
The other two being
11) Joseph Suaalii (Kings Parramatta/Australia)
13) Jack Howarth (Brisbane Boys/Australia) (Lost to NRL Storm)

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/this-...020-nextgenxv/

6) Zac Hough (Brisbane Boys/Australia)

Anyone that has watched Zac Hough play will tell you that this is a player that wears his heart on his sleeve, a player that plays every match with a frightening intensity and was a key part of Brisbane Boys’ first-ever outright GPS title win.

Hough may not be the biggest loose forward you will see at this level but don’t let that for a second fool you, the youngster is willing to take on all comers and size is of little importance to him. Watch his footage and you will see a player that relishes the physical confrontation and will fight for every inch. His ability to break the line is way beyond his years and to give you some perspective about the youngster’s talent and how much we rate him, he still has another year of schooling left and is the only Grade 11 player on this list.

[oxleymoron]

Divad Palu signed with Force - u20s centre

[Burgs]

Delighted to have Divad, he's a great young prospect and I hope will be around for years, but does have a little taste of "Don't say you didn't get any..."

[Kernow]

Delighted to have Divad, he's a great young prospect and I hope will be around for years, but does have a little taste of "Don't say you didn't get any..."

I am certain that the Force would have loved to have landed a couple of the Rebels still contracted for '25 - but it appears that the two clubs are pursuing different paths. Thas look to be going for the "shock n awe" plan to stack the roster with as many big guns as possible to deliver a stellar SR25 season at no expense spared (because RA was up for their salaries, regardless). The Force, on the other hand, appears to be playing a longer game - live within your means and build for the future.

I'd be a bit surprised if Matt Proctor wasn't signed back in NZ, if not he is an option to bolster the backline on a 1 yr deal. Likewise Angelo Smith might be handy in the second row if the Dura don't sign him. There is plenty more talent in the off-contract Rebels that I am sure Cron is looking at.

[oxleymoron]

Out of the remaining players unsigned from the Rebels - I would be looking at the following players:
- Brad Wilkin (always need cover in the backrow)
- Nick Jooste (bring him back) - more as another outside back option
- Joe Pincus (really depends on his injury status after smashing his leg in Aug 2023) - maybe a cheap option.
- Either Pone Fa'amausili or Sam Talakai - need at least one more prop coverage. This is assuming that Eloff is unavailable and that the 2 overseas player spots have already been filled by Franklin and Prinseep.

[shasta]

Wouldn't Eloff be resident qualified by now? He should be unless he's gone back to ZA at some stage for more than a visit.

[GIGS20]

Out of the remaining players unsigned from the Rebels - I would be looking at the following players:
- Brad Wilkin (always need cover in the backrow)
- Nick Jooste (bring him back) - more as another outside back option
- Joe Pincus (really depends on his injury status after smashing his leg in Aug 2023) - maybe a cheap option.
- Either Pone Fa'amausili or Sam Talakai - need at least one more prop coverage. This is assuming that Eloff is unavailable and that the 2 overseas player spots have already been filled by Franklin and Prinseep.

Eloff surely qualifies through residency by now. THe rule doesn't have to say selected, just available.