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Thread: Stirlo reckons Melbourne's a Super town

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    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
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    Post Stirlo reckons Melbourne's a Super town

    Stirlo reckons Melbourne's a Super town
    Adrian Poszenko | March 8, 2009

    http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...842719493.html


    WALLABIES skipper Stirling Mortlock has backed the addition of another team to the Super 14 competition and nominated Melbourne as a worthy candidate for the next licence.

    And Mortlock, set to line up against Sonny Bill Williams at outside-centre against the Barbarians in June, believes the Kiwi rugby league international will be "on the radar" of All Blacks selectors in his first game back in Australia.

    SANZAR has all but assured Australia of an extra team in an expanded Super competition as rugby bosses from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa backed the move to a 15-team, 22-week competition from 2011.

    Western Sydney, Melbourne, Gosford, Newcastle and the Gold Coast have all been mentioned as candidates, while Japan, the Pacific Islands, South Africa and New Zealand are outsiders to get the 15th spot.

    Mortlock threw his backing behind the expansion and said there would be plenty of support for a Melbourne side.

    "Every time we play Test matches down there we get a tremendous following," he said. "They'd be keen to get something.

    "Every year, someone from the organisation goes to the Weary Dunlop function. There's a fair amount of support for rugby down there.

    "I don't know the finer details, I just know they were close to securing a Super 14 franchise. A number of our players at the Brumbies come from Melbourne.

    "But [such] decisions will be made by the right people and made with all the information, for the right reasons at the right time."

    The other big rugby news during the week was the announcement that Williams will take on the Wallabies in the Barbarians match on June 6. Mark Gasnier was approached to join Williams for the Sydney Football Stadium encounter but knocked the ARU back because of club commitments.

    That will leave the spotlight firmly on Williams in his first appearance in Australia since his infamous defection from the Bulldogs.

    Mortlock described Williams as an "unbelievable athlete" and predicted All Black selectors would be watching his Barbarians performance with interest.

    "Already it's generated a lot of excitement and talk," Mortlock said. "Sonny is an unbelievable athlete and what he did at the Bulldogs was amazing. He seems to be going very well in France, from all reports.

    "There will be a lot more hype about it. It will be a very different challenge [for me].

    "New Zealand officials will be keen to see how he's progressing as well."

    Asked if he believed Williams would become a dual international, Mortlock said there was every chance, pending eligibility issues.

    "The fact he's such a marquee player and has so many good attributes and qualities, he'd be on the radar, for sure," he said.

    Former Wallabies coach John Connolly said Williams would face his sternest test in rugby when he lined up against the veteran Australian centre.

    "[Williams] is someone who creates a lot of interest wherever he plays - this will be no different," Connolly said. "But this will be his toughest test in the 15-man game."

    The 23-year-old caused outrage when he walked out on the NRL mid-season to take up a multimillion-dollar deal with French club Toulon. However, Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer said he would happily catch up with Williams upon his return to Australia.

    "My door is always open to Sonny Bill to sit down and have a chat," he said.

    "In knowing him, it would still be hurting him that he chose not to speak to his mates face to face before he went over there."

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    Legend Contributor slomo's Avatar
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    the brumbies should move there if stirlo thinks its so great....

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    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slomo View Post
    the brumbies should move there if stirlo thinks its so great....
    Solo... The Force Colours would work in Victoria... and the Force then could have a new board...thats a bonus & worth a thought...

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    Veteran Contributor frontrow's Avatar
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    I don't know what you are worried about, he was talking about the next team if the expansion, actually when they expand super rugby, not taking an established team there....

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    Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....

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    Legend Contributor slomo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    Solo... The Force Colours would work in Victoria... and the Force then could have a new board...thats a bonus & worth a thought...
    fair enough...maybe stirlo could be there first signing !

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    Solo... The Force Colours would work in Victoria... and the Force then could have a new board...thats a bonus & worth a thought...
    No they wouldn't as they are the WA state colours. However the Navy Blue of the Brumbies is actually the colour most Victorian teams wear, Victorian State AFL side, Victorian Cricket, Melbourne Victory's home strip, Victorian Hockey. So the Brumbies would fit in nicely
    Posted via Mobile Device

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    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
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    Stirlo is very passionate about the Brumbies I doubt he would sign elsewhere... He is now also a mentor in the squad...He will retire as a one team man... nevertheless players from all teams will look for opportunities... I'm sure the Brumbies could lose a few... However I would be a little more worried in the west... East coast players may prefer an east coast clubs... I sure we will here WARU and Mitch screaming for a player draft…

    You see Players stay at the Brumbies because of the rugby program and the culture not just for the cash...

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    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
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    The silence here speaks volumes... Please don't comment you may have to justify your position...

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    Veteran laura's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper
    The here silence speaks volumes...
    Or we have already spoken about it and don't feel the need to say it again..

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    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by laura View Post
    Or we have already spoken about it and don't feel the need to say it again..
    actually Laura its your first comment on the thread...

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    Veteran beige's Avatar
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    That's ok, there's about 500 others to choose from - change the thread title and it's the same conversation...

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    Veteran laura's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    actually Laura its your first comment on the thread...
    On the topic of a potential Super 14 team in Melbourne I, along with other, posted here...
    http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=20660

    or just on the topic of another Australian franchise, others posted here...
    http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=20654

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    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by laura View Post
    On the topic of a potential Super 14 team in Melbourne I, along with other, posted here...
    http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=20660

    or just on the topic of another Australian franchise, others posted here...
    http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=20654
    Perhaps i was referring to my prior comment in this thread not other threads....

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    Veteran laura's Avatar
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    Perhaps we have a similar stand point on this particular article as the other three and do not feel the need to restate that in all three places.

    Please read your PM's Mudskipper.

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by laura View Post
    Or we have already spoken about it and don't feel the need to say it again..
    Pretty much Laura, we can only talk about the Brumbies shifting south for so long
    Posted via Mobile Device

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