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Thread: Stirling Mortlock ponders life as a Melbourne Rebel

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    Veteran pieter blackie's Avatar
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    Stirling Mortlock ponders life as a Melbourne Rebel

    FORMER Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock said yesterday the opportunity to play again under his first national coach Rod Macqueen was causing him to think seriously about joining the Melbourne Rebels next year.

    Then again, Mortlock is thinking seriously about all his options beyond this year's Super 14 campaign with the Brumbies.

    "Probably for the first time in my entire career I'm open to all opportunities, moving overseas, staying here at the Brumbies or going to another Australian franchise," Mortlock said.

    But it is understood Mortlock, one of Australian rugby's highest-profile and most respected players, is high on the Rebels' hit list and it would have to be said the 80-Test veteran is more than open to the idea of a move to Melbourne.

    In particular, the 32-year-old centre is attracted by the possibility of once again playing under Macqueen, the man who selected him for his Test debut a decade ago in 2000. "I just missed the chance to play under him at the Brumbies," said Mortlock, who made his first Super rugby appearance against the Waratahs in 1998.


    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225821811907

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    Would be a smart move by the Rebels, up there with Sharpey for us.

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    Do it Morty. The Brumbies lick ass. Its not often you get a chance to be part of a new team and hell they might even make him captain.

    You get the feeling the Melbourne franchise is going to tear the Brumbies to shreds recruiting wise. If they don't win it this year they won't for a long time.

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    Thats what they said about the Tahs last year.

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    Well somebody has to rip the beating heart out of that bunch of mercenaries. If the ponies hold onto their superstar brigade for more than 2010, they'll surely lose their up 'n' comers.

    We'll take Toomua thanks very much!

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    C'mon the

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    Is this the start of the rats deserting the sinking ship?!

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    He's already got the shits with Gits...

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    Writing's on the wall, He couldn't make Gits look good, the committee has sacked him!

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    C'mon the

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    Quote Originally Posted by travelling_gerry View Post
    Thats what they said about the Tahs last year.
    I don't think the Tahs are that much at risk with Melbourne. Rod McQueen will probably look to the Brumbies first for local recruits- he probably knows them a bit better and they would probably respect him more than players from other clubs. Without starting up too much of a "how lousy a place Canberra is to live" debate if you had the choice between two teams that will probably have similar cultures and one of them is in a bit more of an exciting city with a World Cup winning coach. Who do you choose?

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    id rather live in canberra than sydney...

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    I'd rather live in Perth than any of the other four.

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    The Rebels will approach pretty much every player that is out of contract next year. If the Brumbies suffer the most, it would only be because they have the biggest concentration of talent. But arguably, that could also mean that they would wear any losses easiest. Worse might be only losing a couple of players, but they are key. For sake of argument for instance (and ignoring actual contractual status), if they only took three from the Reds but they were Horwill, Ioane and Genia...?

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    Horwill and Ioane are both on 2 year deals though aren't they? I suppose maybe they'll have a clause.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Burgs View Post
    Would be a smart move by the Rebels, up there with Sharpey for us.
    I know what you mean, but it's not that smart.

    Sharpey was 27 when he joined us and you'd say that a lock can probably stay at the top level until about 34. He's had 4 seasons as captain and, barring injury, probably another 3 more.

    Mortlock's already 32 and is showing signs of his age - I'm not sure that paying high wages to a 33/34 year old back for a couple of seasons is the smartest way of building a team. If I was in the VRU I'd be looking for someone around 27-28 who shows leadership qualities and build my team around them.

    I think we lucked into / scouted well for Sharpey. Someone who's got a similar mentality as the coach, a World Class player, willing to uproot his family and willing to suffer poor initial performances for potential future success. I'm not sure there's an Australian player out there who fits that description for the Rebels.

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    There is only one Sharpey

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    coz Stone Cold says so

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