2022 Force Squad - The List

[bootsetal06]

I don’t fully understand the talent scouting system in OZ but jeez they’ve screwed up big time in the recent past … All Blacks… Italy… Ireland ….. Tonga …etc
I don’t know FLW roots but he’ll probably play for England !!

[chiraag]

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/lalaka...ratahs-2022330

F#ck me. How can Foketi get an RA top-up and FLW can't even get a phone call from the Wallabies?!

[GIGS20]

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/lalaka...ratahs-2022330

F#ck me. How can Foketi get an RA top-up and FLW can't even get a phone call from the Wallabies?!

Do you wonder why we can't build a competitive team now?

In both instances, the Force because anybody we have who's world class gets ignored by the Wallabies and eventually gives up in frustration, for the Wallabies, because they keep on paying useless flogs who wear insipid-blue

[Tazzmania]

Cannot get behind the paywall in The West

It seems to have been an issue and continues to be an issue even with the resurrection.

Western Force chief executive Tony Lewis says Rugby Australia must change recruitment model for success

If any one can get behind the paywall would be intresting if any additional names mentioned besides the ones that we know abourt all ready:

Fergus Lee Warner
Kyle Godwin
Santiagio Medrano
Jake McIntyre
Byron Ralston

Someone somewhere mentioned 12 people, which is line with our usual attrition rate.

Suspect that Thrush, Kahuii and Holmes will take lesser playing roles

Harry Loydd was a Tim Sampson link so likley to be off.

Not sure who else may be off or coming to an end of their playing days at Super level;

Possibles: Ready, Prior, Lacey, Stander ?

[wholetruth]

Western Force boss Tony Lewis says a level playing field is needed for player contracting if Rugby Australia wants five successful Super Rugby sides.
The chief executive said the gulf between sides was too big despite the $5.5 million salary cap because of Wallaby top-ups.
It is understood RA pays as much as $2 million in top-ups to some Wallaby-stacked sides.
As a “start-up” team second-time around, the Force struggled to recruit players who attracted top-ups.
Lewis said they should have been given an AFL style kick-start for newcomers who are given priority draft picks, financial help and can pay over the salary cap.
“We don’t get that sort of help. We don’t have that credit in the bank,” Lewis said.
“It’s not an equal playing field, we’re not here to moan, but a new model has to be developed.
“Two years ago we pretty much had to start from scratch.
“We brought in four Argentinians for a short period to give us experience.
“You can’t keep doing that. You can’t keep importing.
“Our job is to grow Wallabies and Australian coaches.
“If Rugby Australia wants five competitive teams they need a salary cap that works in a fair and competitive way for everyone.
“General managers of Australia’s Super teams working with RA to develop a new contracting model for 2024.”
Lewis’ comments come with the Force on a recruitment campaign to replace about a dozen players they will lose at the end of the year.
Flanker Fergus Lee-Warner and Argentinian prop Santiago Medrano are going to English club Worcester, centre Kyle Godwin and fly-half Jake McIntyre are joining French clubs Lyon and Perpignan and winger Bryon Ralston is heading to Irish side Connacht.
Former All Blacks, second-rower Jeremy Thrush and centre Richard Kahui, and ex-Wallaby prop Greg Holmes are expected to announce their retirements while second-rower Sitaleki Timami has already parted ways after opting out of COVID vaccines.
Wallaby hooker Folau Fainga’a is joining from the Brumbies with a clutch of former junior Wallabies.
Fans took to social media demanding change after recent heavy losses, 53-15 to the Crusaders and 61-10 to the Highlanders.
“I’m not patient, I don’t expect supporters to be patient, but one thing I do know is that if we think we are going to change things overnight it won’t work,” Lewis said.
“If fans are getting frustrated and annoyed it shows they care.
“We know fans are hurting, the team is hurting, we’re all hurting.”

[Jules]

Surely after this season RA will look at the system. It just sux 😞

[wholetruth]

Add Ready to that list with Fainga's coming

[todd4]

In the article about Simon Cron coming to the Force he said he was impressed with Twiggy's saying that he would make the Force a 'true powerhouse in WORLD rugby'. We won't become a powerhouse in AUS rugby under the current restrictions without concessions over recruitment/salary cap.

Twiggy doesn't strike me as someone full of wind and bluster, I was hoping he had some sort of plan in place to make some real progress in the years to come.

[Leo86]

Years ago, not sure if still in place. The NBL had a point system, each player was ranked, a team was only allowed a certain amount of points, players who were loyal also were minus a point. eg say 5 was the highest ranking for a player, if that player had stayed at a team for X amount of time they then were classified as a 4. If they left to another team they then would of been classified as a 5.

[shasta]

This frustration is 16 years old from where I've been looking. People have been saying the "new" RA/ARU would be different. That's not looking likely so far.

[palitu]

wow, just checked out the list... it is not pretty reading! not a lot of people on board for next year. I assume there is some holding back due to the new coach coming in. I reckon that there will be a rash of signings all coming through at once.

I want to see Bo Abra, seems pretty handy for a new prop.