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Following the successful Tour to South Africa and the APC Pre Season matches in Perth, I have got to wondering who may be the first Western Australian Rugby player (not counting Wobber of course) to make it from the local comp through into at least an Apprentice Contract and ultimately take the field in a Super 14 match.
There are so many variables that it is obviously very difficult to identify a couple of individuals, or even a playing position, so for the poll I have left it as what year we may see that happen.
However, I have gone through the various squads since the end of S14 and the following men keep popping up (all at least once in Force Gold) and must surely be amongst our leading first contendors to make the next step?
Would be great to hear from our local club TWF Members more about these fellas, what their backgrounds are and whether they have the ability and capacity to go on with a career.
Also let us know if any of them stood out in any of the matches you saw them play in, either at this level or for their Clubs.
This is after all a large part of what this site is about (apart from Word Assoc...) looking to the future and developing the code around WA.
The "Caps" include this weekends match as well.
Leading Local Force Contenders 2006:
Ryan Tyrell, Force Gold Bench-6, Force Academy Start-1
Ryan Lenegan, Force gold Start-3, Force Gold Bench-2, Force Academy Start-1
Will Brock, Force Gold Start-1, Force Gold Bench-4
Tyler Edwards, Force Gold Start-1, Force Gold Bench-3, Force Academy Start-1
Garth Ziegler, Force Gold Start-3, Force Academy Start-1
Matt Shaw, Force Gold Bench-3
Kieran Longbottom, Force Gold Start-1, Force Gold Bench-2, RWA Dev XV Start-1
Elliot Kuhlmann-Hall, Force Gold Start-1, Force Gold Bench-2, Force Academy Start-1
Kiti Fuluna, Force Gold Start-2, Force Gold Bench-1
Nathan McCort, Force Gold Bench-2, Force Academy Start-1
Bill Johnston, Force Gold Bench-2, Force Academy Bench-1, RWA Dev XV Start-1
Johnathon Stanley, Force Gold Start-1, Force Gold Bench-1, Force Academy Start-1, RWA Dev XV Start-1
Dan Bailey, Force Gold Start-1 (Injured first match in SA)
Greg Plimmer, Force Gold Start-1
Tim Davies, Force Gold Bench-1, Force Academy Bench-1
Others:
Kyle Edwards
John Summers
Ben Calder
Sean Ashton
Curtis McLean
Darcy Bowden
Alex Rufus
David Cloete
Lloyd Johnson
John Menehira
Chris Indich
Ryan Williams
Michael Murphy
Brent Murphy
Anton Wickens
Aidan Higo
PJ Pitman
Brent Murphy
Tristan Winnall
James Stannard
Mike Tabera
Angus Neilson
Matt Shaw
Ben Lindegaard
Tim Carslaw
Kris Martinick
Last edited by Burgs; 18-08-06 at 12:42.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
What about Kris Martinik (spelling?) I think he qualifies as well?
You are correct in that he is home grown, I think he got injured out before the first SA match?
I'll add him in the others list as he has also been over to the Brumbies for development too.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
My understanding is that the Academy guys have had their 'reviews' this past week and some will know by now wether they are going to have another year as part of that organisation or not.
I know Dan Bailey has been asked to step up again - which he is chuffed to do.
Great stuff for Dan, Bails. (Happy Birthday for yesterday to you too!)
Hopefully he will have a kinder year with injury in 2007!
Look forward to hearing who else is in and out soon.
Interesting that there is pretty much a concensus that we are only a couple of seasons from local lads running out in the Blue and Black.
I would see this as a pretty good endorsement for RugbyWA's development programs and Academy system if within three years they can start producing elite players from the "Western Rugby Wilderness"!
I think James Stannard probably makes the step up from "Others" on the above lists with his selection in the APC team against the Reds and his PG Hampshire Awards in one week?
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
I thought John Welbourne was a Perth lad ??
Poll excludes Wobber, Moses.
Yeah Moses, what I am putting forward is those who have been developed from "Clubland" in WA (or at least previously an Amateur) since the formation of the fourth franchise.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
ahhh Wobber, name didn't click. Cheers
Crikey! A vote for 2007, I wonder if somebody knows something we don't?!
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Anyone know Kiti Fuluna's background? Saw him for Force Gold against Yamaha. Very Impressed. Plimmer was good too. Fuluna is in the APC squad and given that we didn't pick up a lot of forwards -particularly a replacement for Wobber - I'd not be surprised to see him on an apprentice contract in 2007. Too bad we can't see any APC footage to see if he gets a go![]()
Hey,
I voted for 2008, I thought that a year and a half from now would be plenty for somebody to progress through the ranks. I couldnt tell you who though!
An add-on poll you could do Burgs is when a home grown Force player progresses past the S14 level and players for the wallabies, and then crosses codes to league!
cheers
chook
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
There is a few guys that come to mind who certainly have the potential to play super 14 in 2008 if injuries prevail.
ummmm James 'Chucky' Stannard Played APC against the reds and won the PG Hampshire award!!!!!!!!! he would be favourite to get a gig. because he is versitle as well, has a kicking game and creates opputunites. if not him i think kiti will play. he is an amazing flanker. correct me if im wrong.. i think he is from up north? because a few boarders at scholl from port headland know him.
adam wallace-harrison. wesley old boy. has played for the brumbies for two seasons and has been in the wallaby squad before.
Last edited by pruc; 06-01-07 at 10:30. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
We are chasing "Home Grown" as being players who are developed/emerged since the formation of the Force pruc so even if Wal returned to Perth he wouldn't fit the definition, nor would Brett Sheehan.
I understood Kiti to have been from the Territory, he at least is mentioned in some Rugby press as being from Alice Springs.
I did notice Kiti was training with the Force Squad before Christmas when I watched a session.
I'm sure there were others there from outside of the contracted players but obviously he stands out a tad!
You could well be on the money with Stannard.
Has he returned to WA or originally from Qld though?
It would seem that the Force Coaching Staff wanted to see more of Tyrell, Lenegan, Brock and Edwards going on the first post listings.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.