Tim wanted a 3 year deal but was only given 2 years he told me at the Awards night
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Anstee or Sampson?
hard gig for the coach-same for most professional sports!
:offtopic:
This really should be discussed on the 2022 Discussion Thread
TIF will lose his Shit.
full squad just announced-members should have the e-mail
Impressive! Most impressive!
So the squad is looking like:
Props (6)
Bo Abra
Greg Holmes
Harry Lloyd
Santiago Medrano
Tom Robertson
Angus Wagner
Hookers (3)
Feleti Kaitu'u
Andrew Ready
Jack Winchester
Locks (5)
Ryan McCauley
Jackson Pugh
Izack Rodda
Sitaleki Timani
Jeremy Thrush
Back-row (5)
Tim Anstee
Ollie Callan
Kane Koteka
Fergus Lee-Warner
Brynard Stander
Scrumhalf (3)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
Michael McDonald
Ian Prior (c)
Flyhalf (3)
Bailey Kuenzle
Jake McIntyre
Reesjan Pasitoa
Centre (4)
Kyle Godwin
Richard Kahui
Grason Makara
Reece Tapine
Wingers (5)
Daniel Ala
Brad Lacey
Manasa Mataele
Toni Pulu
Byron Ralston
Full Backs (2)
Jack McGregor
Jake Strachan
Bearing in mind that Holmes, Thrush and Kahui might play less with their coaching roles, there's possibly some gaps in the centres still (although a number of the backs can play multiple roles).
I'm a little surprised that Timani is still here - I thought he was with us as a stepping stone to the Waratahs (who are terribly light on locks again). But Timani and Rodda should make an awesome lock combination with Thrush involved, too, and McCauley and Pugh should learn a lot (even if they might find it difficult to get a game!)
The props have Holmes, Robertson, Medrano and Lloyd probably as the main guys, but Wagner would be pushing for a spot and Abra may get a few opportunities. I assume that we still have Victor Harris in the WTS and will bring in another young prop from the Force Future squad to fill the next spot on the conveyor belt.
The hookers are unchanged from last year, but with Kaitu'u's Wallaby call-up, I presume he'll be the main man and Ready the bench player with Winchester as cover.
The back row seems light with only 5 players, considering you need 3+1 for each game, but those guys seem to be made of teak (and Pugh can drop back to the back-row at a push).
Scrum-half is a real battle, and Prior's club captaincy may not translate into match captaincy. Fly-half is McIntyre's but with a couple of promising young guys knocking on the door.
The centres should be Godwin and Kahui as Makara and Tapine are a bit young, but like Kuenzle and Pasitoa have promise.
The wingers have some serious pace with Pulu, Lacey, Mataele, Ralston and Ala (maybe Mataele could move into the centres, if his defense is good enough) and the full-backs have McGregor and Strachan back picking up their battle from last year.
I think we're still a little inexperienced in the backs to unlock the better defenses, but a lot of that will come down to the coaching, but we have a forward pack who can go toe to toe with pretty much anybody in Super Rugby. I'm getting excited already!
I honestly believe that the Western Force is a better Team with Holmes, Thrush, and Kahui on the field.
Having them as a part of the Coaching set up within the organisation is a great move for the future.
I just hope that they are willing and able to competitively contribute on the field for a long time.
I remember Tony Lewis saying in one of his interviews that they were going to let Holmes, Thrush and Kahui not worry too much about the coaching stuff this season and just let them enjoy their last year on the feild.
Thrush and Kahui coached the WA U16 squad one night this year.
Afterwards I said to my grandson "Its great for you to have coaching by 2 former All Blacks"
My grandson replied, "Oh, were they All Blacks?"
(This kid is smart and has attended many Force games with me).
Kahui has been doing a reasonable amount of coaching of the younger players at Baysie for the last year or so anyway. Seems he's getting the feel of it.
I'm seeing plenty who can play 6 and 8 but Kane is the only recognisable 7, do we think there's a plan to convert somebody like Tim or Ollie?
Pretty sure stander could make the switch easily, but he's a less long term option than Kane imho
Timani is in the 36 listed in yesterday's announcement.