2025 Squad - Speculation Thread

[Burgs]

I am sure plenty others are already done deals just not announced. Koteka is not on your list, I believe he is still contracted before and is the reason Callan has been let go.

Yes, but is assumption to post as such.
Re Koteka, be delighted to update his status if can be officially confirmed,
Recent developments have proven, just because a contract was previously signed doesn't mean it is the current situation.
I suspect we won't get official public confirmation until the full Squad is announced.

Add: Also a word of caution, as good as Koteka has been, by Round 1 next season he will be a 31 year old that won't have played professionally in two months under three years. He has an enormous motor and a significant "pre-season" to get back to 100%, but I don't think we should be setting a high bar for him from Day 1 Koteka Mk II.
In 2022 he was the undisputed Force #7. In 2025 he will be up against Tizzano. Fantastic (we assume still) injury cover, but not really Backrow bench cover (ie 6-7-8).

[GIGS20]

Yes, but is assumption to post as such.
Re Koteka, be delighted to update his status if can be officially confirmed,
Recent developments have proven, just because a contract was previously signed doesn't mean it is the current situation.
I suspect we won't get official public confirmation until the full Squad is announced.

Add: Also a word of caution, as good as Koteka has been, by Round 1 next season he will be a 31 year old that won't have played professionally in two months under three years. He has an enormous motor and a significant "pre-season" to get back to 100%, but I don't think we should be setting a high bar for him from Day 1 Koteka Mk II.
In 2022 he was the undisputed Force #7. In 2025 he will be up against Tizzano. Fantastic (we assume still) injury cover, but not really Backrow bench cover (ie 6-7-8).

Glad you mentioned Tizzano, the state of play has changed significantly since the last time Kane took the field. That's also one of the reasons why I'm not completely devastated at the loss of Ollie Callan, yes he's locally developed and yes he's a pretty good player, but he's about to be eclipsed by two (wel Maybe Kane is a question mark, but definitely 1) local product, so hard to call it a disaster.

[WFDom]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

[GIGS20]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

Colour me not surprised in the slightest

[The InnFORCEr]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

You have to wonder what the grounds for the denial were...

[todd4]

From G&G

"Dylan Peitsch apparently wanted to be released to go to the force but this was denied"

https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/co...3#post-1439812

That's a shame. He would have been a great pick-up.

[Burgs]

Yeah, similar from the Roar-

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/09/1...n_hAx9xcnsSHxA

"Indeed, off-contract Reds star Jordan Petaia is seemingly the latest to be cast off by RA.

The 24-year-old might be about to audaciously try and switch codes to the NFL early next year, but the shoddy lines of communication have continued with the two-time World Cup member.

The Western Force recently attempted to make the Reds’ back an offer, but the Super Rugby franchise couldn’t get a response from RA as to whether they would tip money into the deal to sign him.

It’s something that has left the Force livid, especially given Dylan Pietsch’s desire to head west has been knocked on its head by the national body.

While Petaia was long odds to accept the deal given his desire to try and give the NFL a crack, RA’s failure to put out an arm and roll out the red carpet to try and convince the player to stay has added to his feeling of disillusionment with the game in Australia.

The fact Petaia, who was widely considered the best young talent in Australia five years ago and remains one of the nation’s best gamebreakers, hasn’t even been included on the Wallabies’ injured list in 2024 has raised eyebrows, too.

RA’s decision to exclude Petaia from the list appears to be because the talented back has yet to commit to the code beyond 2024."

Pretty sure our fearless RUPA CEO was quoted saying (in reference to Rebels dispersal) that RA couldn't tell players where to go. Seems they can tell them where they can't go though...

[Kernow]

You have to wonder what the grounds for the denial were...

I can't help thinking that it is part of a plan to get the Force to tow the line and centralise

[Garry Owen]

This is a disgrace. Basically it’s join the centralization model or we will shaft you any way we can.

I do agree though that Petaia shouldn’t be given a top up at this time. The injury history is a problem but I would very happily see him and Pietsch at the force

[volvo]

Western Force sign centre Matt Proctor and extend young scrum-half Henry Robertson

One-time All Black Matt Proctor is set to provide a boost to the Western Force midfield after signing with the club in a one-year deal.

And in a further win for the Force, they have also locked up rising scrum-half Henry Robertson on a two-year deal.

The arrival of Proctor after one season at the Rebels follows the loss of former Nathan Sharpe Medal winner Sam Spink (Saracens), young centre Henry O’Donnell (Waratahs) and a serious injury to Bayley Kuenzle.

The 31-year-old, who played one game for the All Blacks against Japan in 2018 after 12 caps for the Maori All Blacks, has played 72 games in both Super Rugby and the English Premiership, representing the Hurricanes and Northampton.

Currently playing in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship with Wellington, Proctor said recent discussions with departed Force lock Tom Franklin swayed him to sign with the Force.

“The results weren’t quite there last year but looking deeper a lot of the losses were close games, so they weren’t far off, so I can see the potential there,” he said.

“The club has made a lot of positive signings over the last 12 months as well. I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my rugby career with my family moving over to Perth.

“When I was contemplating the move, I spoke to Tom who reiterated it’s a great place to live, they’ve got good people around the club and it’s a team that is moving in a positive direction.”

The re-signing of Robertson will provide depth in a scrum-half room alongside Nic White and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa after the 24-year-old won the Force’s rising star award last season.

“I’ve been at the club for two years now, I’ve got to know everyone and it’s a great group of players and coaches to work with. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” Robertson said.

“I’m really enjoying working with (coach Simon Cron) and the coaching staff and also my fellow scrum-halves Nic White and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, who I get along with and are great to learn off.”

Cron said he was delighted to bring Proctor into the fold and see Robertson re-up with the team.

“He (Proctor) is a very decorated player who’ll bring a lot on field. He’s also a very experienced midfielder who has a really professional attitude towards training and development of those around him.

“The feedback from teams he’s been with in the past has been so positive that we were excited to get him over to Perth.

“(Robertson) is a key member for the future of the club and everything he does excites us as coaches and us as an organisation.

“He’s the epitome of a driven, skillful, talented rugby player, plus he’s a great team man.”

https://thewest.com.au/sport/western...son-c-16006170

[Garry Owen]

Good news, we definitely needed a 13 and he will do the job. We have 3 very good half backs, just need to give them all game time.

Hopefully this is the start of a lot of announcements, starting with some props and wingers

[GIGS20]

I didn't expect to see Proctor sign for us, that's fantastic news and desperately needed.

I'd still be making plays for both Jooste and Strachan, because we're still pretty short outside of 12, but they're not as desperate a signature anymore.

Some THP's still wouldn't go astray.

[chiraag]

Tahs have re-signed Tristan Reilly as well now. Was expecting he might come our way given all of their outside back signings and him being the only one that was out of contract at the end of this year. I guess not.
Hopefully there are some winger signings coming from us....

Happy with the Proctor signing, although a bit of a gamble given his recent injury history.

[GIGS20]

Tahs have re-signed Tristan Reilly as well now. Was expecting he might come our way given all of their outside back signings and him being the only one that was out of contract at the end of this year. I guess not.
Hopefully there are some winger signings coming from us....

Happy with the Proctor signing, although a bit of a gamble given his recent injury history.

getting any contract moved through Rugby Australia and not pushed to the Tahs is cause for celebration

[Kernow]

I didn't expect to see Proctor sign for us, that's fantastic news and desperately needed.

I'd still be making plays for both Jooste and Strachan, because we're still pretty short outside of 12, but they're not as desperate a signature anymore.

Some THP's still wouldn't go astray.

I think Strachan is a stretch having not re-signed him. I don’t think he played again for the force after that HIA against the Tahs. He had some pace about him but not a big body at pace.