2025 Squad - Speculation Thread

[Burgs]

I am sure plenty others are already done deals just not announced. Koteka is not on your list, I believe he is still contracted before and is the reason Callan has been let go.

Yes, but is assumption to post as such.
Re Koteka, be delighted to update his status if can be officially confirmed,
Recent developments have proven, just because a contract was previously signed doesn't mean it is the current situation.
I suspect we won't get official public confirmation until the full Squad is announced.

Add: Also a word of caution, as good as Koteka has been, by Round 1 next season he will be a 31 year old that won't have played professionally in two months under three years. He has an enormous motor and a significant "pre-season" to get back to 100%, but I don't think we should be setting a high bar for him from Day 1 Koteka Mk II.
In 2022 he was the undisputed Force #7. In 2025 he will be up against Tizzano. Fantastic (we assume still) injury cover, but not really Backrow bench cover (ie 6-7-8).

[GIGS20]

Yes, but is assumption to post as such.
Re Koteka, be delighted to update his status if can be officially confirmed,
Recent developments have proven, just because a contract was previously signed doesn't mean it is the current situation.
I suspect we won't get official public confirmation until the full Squad is announced.

Add: Also a word of caution, as good as Koteka has been, by Round 1 next season he will be a 31 year old that won't have played professionally in two months under three years. He has an enormous motor and a significant "pre-season" to get back to 100%, but I don't think we should be setting a high bar for him from Day 1 Koteka Mk II.
In 2022 he was the undisputed Force #7. In 2025 he will be up against Tizzano. Fantastic (we assume still) injury cover, but not really Backrow bench cover (ie 6-7-8).

Glad you mentioned Tizzano, the state of play has changed significantly since the last time Kane took the field. That's also one of the reasons why I'm not completely devastated at the loss of Ollie Callan, yes he's locally developed and yes he's a pretty good player, but he's about to be eclipsed by two (wel Maybe Kane is a question mark, but definitely 1) local product, so hard to call it a disaster.

[WFDom]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

[GIGS20]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

Colour me not surprised in the slightest

[The InnFORCEr]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

You have to wonder what the grounds for the denial were...

[todd4]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

That's a shame. He would have been a great pick-up.

[Burgs]

Yeah, similar from the Roar-

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/09/1...n_hAx9xcnsSHxA

"Indeed, off-contract Reds star Jordan Petaia is seemingly the latest to be cast off by RA.

The 24-year-old might be about to audaciously try and switch codes to the NFL early next year, but the shoddy lines of communication have continued with the two-time World Cup member.

The Western Force recently attempted to make the Reds’ back an offer, but the Super Rugby franchise couldn’t get a response from RA as to whether they would tip money into the deal to sign him.

It’s something that has left the Force livid, especially given Dylan Pietsch’s desire to head west has been knocked on its head by the national body.

While Petaia was long odds to accept the deal given his desire to try and give the NFL a crack, RA’s failure to put out an arm and roll out the red carpet to try and convince the player to stay has added to his feeling of disillusionment with the game in Australia.

The fact Petaia, who was widely considered the best young talent in Australia five years ago and remains one of the nation’s best gamebreakers, hasn’t even been included on the Wallabies’ injured list in 2024 has raised eyebrows, too.

RA’s decision to exclude Petaia from the list appears to be because the talented back has yet to commit to the code beyond 2024."

Pretty sure our fearless RUPA CEO was quoted saying (in reference to Rebels dispersal) that RA couldn't tell players where to go. Seems they can tell them where they can't go though...

[Kernow]

You have to wonder what the grounds for the denial were...

I can't help thinking that it is part of a plan to get the Force to tow the line and centralise