The "Generation Next" of WA Rugby

[Burgs]

So, here we are at the start of the Western Force’s fifth season, with two full contract born and bred players (Longbottom & Tyrell) and an overseas born, Perth schooled player (Haylett-Petty) on the roster, the return of a prodigal son (Sheehan), a Level 1 developed contract (Turner) and a handy Academy list of “local produce” and some interstaters.

But where to from there?

There always seems to be an emphasis on youth, but can any TWFers report on potential diamonds in the rough running around for your respective Seniors side, that warrant a look?

Are there any young jets in your Colts that have gone under the radar with the Academy selections?

Any new recruits from further afield come to earn their stripes like a James Stannard?

What is the feeling in club land about the levels of depth and player development over the last four years and are there signs of hope for an increased output of local Super Rugby players in line with the original intent of a Perth based side?

Look forward to reading what our TWF WA Club stalwarts have to say.

[jazza93]

There are more players that will come through in the next 5 or so years, but we are still better off scouting other places like NSW/QLD, Africa/South Africa and bringing the talent here.

If they had the money its probably worth sending good academy players over to NSW to play more and in a better comp.

[travelling_gerry]

Officially from RWA insider last night - "watch out for the crop of kids from WA coming through"

[welshrugbyfan]

There are some quality young players coming up in age. Give it time and overseas players will want to come to the Force to better themselves.

So many SA, Kiwi and NH nations familys have moved here now and they bring their passion for the game as well as their kids with them.

I say send out flyers to these rugby loving nations with pictures of our beaches and rugby club information attached.

There are plenty of oxygen thieves living here that we could exchange a one for one swap with them.

[Burgs]

Well, so far no one has been prepared to name names, so I thought I might put up the Squads that have been selected in recent times and see if it prompts any feedback on individuals.
A few familiar names starting to re-appear as younger brothers and long term talent identification.
OK, any thoughts on any of these lads?
It is, I imagine, fair to think that any local "Generation Next" would most probably be amongst these names?

2010 RugbyWA Academy

Level 1:

Justin Turner,
Siosefo Manu,
Joelin Rapana

Level 2:

Cruze Ah Nau,
Zac Holmes,
Heremaia Te Aute,
Siliva Siliva,
Ted Postal,
Steve Pocock,
Kyle Godwin

Level 3:

Oliver Hoskins,
John McCabe,
Ben Hales,
Conrad Gillingham,
Bruce Smith-Wright

2010 Junior Gold Squad

Antini Brown (Cottesloe),
Elliott Burka (Wests Subiaco),
Ethan Carlisle (Perth-Bayswater),
Chris Johnson (Associates),
Steve Komene (Wests Subiaco),
Brad Lacey (Southern Lions),
Rick Le Roux (Wanneroo),
Gary Neugebauer (Hale),
Chance Peni (West Subiaco).

2010 Junior Academy Squad

FIRST NAME-SURNAME-CLUB-OTHER
Lukas Birch Kalamunda Guildford Grammar
Luke Burton - Hale
James Cam Perth Bayswater La Salle College
Kyle Cameron Associates Hale
Nicholas Chapman Wanneroo Hale
Alexander Christian Associates Scotch
Richard Cooper - Wesley
Tom Enright Associates Hale
Shane Gillham Southern lions Atwell SHS
Richard Hardwick Associates Churchlands
Ross Haylet-Petty - Hale
Cameron Knox Southern Lions Corpus Christi
Kane Koteka Wests Subiaco Aranmore
Tahumuri Manawatu Wests Irene McCormack
Patrick McCarthy University Aquinas
Laken Mitchell Perth Bayswater Morley SHS
Matt Monteath Joondalup
Alex Oakley Southern Lions Canning Vale
Jordan Paynter Southern Lions CBC
Kurt Penney Associates Trinity
Kaneti Pita ARKS Lumen Christi College
Isaiah Rehutai Mandurah Halls Head Comm Coll
Harry Scoble Wanneroo Wanneroo SHS
Adrian Shanahan Wanneroo
Corey Thomas Guildford Grammar
Hemi Tuiavii Perth Bayswater Thornlie SHS
John Van Der Wielen Palmyra Aquinas
Nicholas Ward Palmyra All Saints
Kylan Yoxall Kalamunda Hale

The 2008 State 20s Squad:
(There was no '09 Squad)

Angus Neilsen (Captain),
Tom De Buf,
Marlen Walker,
Callam Hearn,
Keiran Stringer,
Atticus Dekuyer,
Enzo Mutoti,
Mark Schmidt,
Tyler Berry,
Cameron Sinden,
Nathan Hunt,
Conrad Gillingham,
Dylan Tyack,
Mitch Hyde,
Jesse Fatnowna,
Brenden O'Dea,
Adam Morris,
Sean Batchelor,
Matt O'Brien,
Valeni Tiatia,
Matt Bourke,
Ryan Russell,
Dave Kidson.

The 2009 State 16s Squad:

Hemi Tuiavii,
Richard Cooper,
Oli Hoskins ©,
Tom O’Day,
Ross Haylett-Petty,
Cory Garner,
Matt Monteath,
Rick Le Roux,
Ethan Carlisle,
Antini Brown,
Daniel Long,
Izzy Rehutai,
Chance Peni,
Cole Peppiatt,
John McCabe,
Ben Enright,
Scott Tolmie,
Jonathon Burley,
Nick Sardinha,
Kevin Bush,
Scott Nichol,
Hemi Chase,
Kurt Penney.

The 2009 State 15s Squad:

FIRST NAME-SURNAME-CLUB-SCHOOL
Ryan Bharat Joondalup St. Marks Anglican
Lukas Birch Kalamunda Guildford Grammar
Elliott Burka Wests Aranmore
Nicholas Chapman Wanneroo Hale
Luke Burton Associates Hale
Josh Eisentrager University Aquinas
Hohepa Galvin ARKS Lumen Christie
Richard Hardwick Associates Churchlands
Ross Haylett-Petty University Hale
Steven Komene Wests Aranmore
Kane Koteka Wests Aranmore
Bradley Lacey Southern Lions CVC
Frederick (Rick) Le Roux Wanneroo Swan Christian
Patrick McCarthy University Aquinas
Chance Peni Wests Aranmore
Kaneti Pita ARKS Lumen Christi College
Benjamin Read Kalamunda Guildford Grammar
Harry Scoble Wanneroo Wanneroo SHS
Anthony Tekooro ARKS Thornlie SHS
Adrian Shanahan Wanneroo St Marks
Corey Thomas - Guildford Grammar
Robert Tucker Associates Hale
Alexander Winter Wanneroo Duncraig

[sandgroperrugby]

If they had the money its probably worth sending good academy players over to NSW to play more and in a better comp.

Understand where you are coming from in terms of quick development of these players but that would suck the talent out of the local comp, to the detriment of longer term development of other players and the local competition wouldn’t it? It is a catch twenty two; you need those players here to lift the comp and skill level of other players around them, but sometimes to the personnel detriment of the skilled talent that would be better of learning more in a tougher skilled environment. HMMM I think this is what is referred to as a conundrum….

Officially from RWA insider last night - "watch out for the crop of kids from WA coming through"

With the amount of South Africans that have arrived due to the mining boom in recent years these stocks should be at a higher level. These kids would have unknowingly lifted the profile of Rugby at there schools as well. WIN WIN

[auzzie mack]

We need a tougher club comp here the force need to pump more money into the local clubs , as a goal i think we our comp to be as good as the brisbane club rugby and friend of mine told the our top 1st grade sides here would hold there own without winning it

[TOCC]

• NSW 44.25%
• Queensland 30.83%
• ACT 7.97%
• Western Australia 7.39%
• Victoria 4.4%
• South Australia 2.79%
• Northern Territory 1.42%
• Tasmania 0.96%

http://rugby.com.au/news/aru_general.../section/21893

considering playing numbers in WA are now very close to ACT, it would make sense to assume it cant be long before WA start to produce there own Wallabies

[pieter blackie]

We need a tougher club comp here the force need to pump more money into the local clubs , as a goal i think we our comp to be as good as the brisbane club rugby and friend of mine told the our top 1st grade sides here would hold there own without winning it

The biggest problem at this stage is infrastructure and money.
Only one club in WA have acceptable facilities the rest are in a shocking state of neglect

[James]

considering playing numbers in WA are now very close to ACT, it would make sense to assume it cant be long before WA start to produce there own Wallabies

I'd say 5 years till WA has its first home made Wallaby. The downside of looking at stats like that TOCC is that to get really top players you need to have them playing against really top players. The WA juniors running around are getting better and better every year (note the success of the Combined States team last year) and there are a couple of guys that look like they could be Wallabies if things go their way. I think when Perth and Melbourne hit peak player development potential we'll have another golden age of Super and International rugby.

[Hansie]

Spending Money on imports to win a premiership denies our youngsters the opportunity to prove themselves. Follow same rules as S14 - maximum number of imports restricted to 2. Spend money on coaches - they tend to be a bit more loyal and stay longer.

[James]

Yeah but to be fair Hansie you take a guy like Kyle Godwin who, in a couple of years, could be a star fly-half for the Force and if you want to get him from where he is now to what he can achieve he needs mentoring and support.

[WaterBoy]

The biggest problem at this stage is infrastructure and money.
Only one club in WA have acceptable facilities the rest are in a shocking state of neglect

Which club in WA has acceptable facilities?

I think it is a shame the Force guys don't play for their allocated local clubs at least a couple of times a season. Would be a good chance for the club guys to have a run with them.

[fulvio sammut]

Dunsborough Dungbeetles of course, Waterboy.

Don't you talk to your brother?

In all seriousness, Pieter is exaggerating a tiny bit.

The only senior clubs with crap facilities are Nedlands and Cottesloe, two of the most successful ones.

Ok, I'll add Uni to that comment, but only in respect of crap facilities.

Oh, and the Wanneroo changerooms.

Maybe Pieter was right after all....

[pieter blackie]

If all the club facilities were to the same standard as Rockingham's then rugby in Perth would have been a whole lot different