2015 Squad Contract Renewals

[WFDom]

So just two spots left with Luke Burton and Sias now officially, official

Burto??? TiF?

[The InnFORCEr]

Burto??? TiF?

From today's press release

2015 Western Force squad*:
Robbie Abel (EPS), Chris Alcock, Marcel Brache, Luke Burton, Nathan Charles, Adam Coleman, Angus Cottrell, Pek Cowan, Patrick Dellit, Sias Ebersohn, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Dane Haylett-Petty, Ross Haylett-Petty (EPS), Chris Heiberg, Matt Hodgson, Zack Holmes, Oliver Hoskins, Brad Lacey (EPS), Ryan Louwrens (EPS), Steve Mafi, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Luke Morahan, Albert Nikoro, Ian Prior, Solomoni Rasolea, Brynard Stander, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Heath Tessmann, Francois van Wyk (EPS), Rory Walton, Sam Wykes
* two places remaining

[Timbo]

So - the two remaining places?

Both back 3? Given it seems Pat Dellit is only there as a tackle bag at practice? And the prospect of the Badger being back seems to be fading into the rising sun.

[WFDom]

Did they just slip that one in there? I hadn't heard it officially announced.

[The InnFORCEr]

Did they just slip that one in there? I hadn't heard it officially announced.

I believe so mate.

[WFDom]

Bugger... would have been good to give him a bit of fan fare.

Don't want to unnecessary blow smoke up his ass, but I think it's important the WA boys get some good press. Also emphasises to the young born & bred potential future of WA rugby that it is possible.

Hope I'm premature in my criticism & we hear something official, I thought that's how we rolled... would be a shame if we didn't

[The InnFORCEr]

2015 Squad Contract Renewals

Props (5):
Chris Heiberg 2016
Tetera Faulkner 2015
Ollie Hoskins 2016
Pek Cowan 2016
Francios van Wyk 2015 EPS

Hookers (3):
Heath Tessman 2015
Nathan Charles 2016
Robbie Abel 2015 EPS

Locks (5):
Wilhelm Steenkamp 2016
Sam Wykes 2015
Adam Coleman 2016
Rory Walton 2016
Steve Mafi 2016

Backrowers (6):
Matt Hodgson 2015
Ben McCalman 2015
Brynard Stander 2015
Angus Cottrell 2016
Chris Alcock 2016
Ross Haylett-Petty 2015 EPS

Scrumhalves (3):
Ian Prior 2015
Alby Mathewson 2016
Ryan Louwrens 2015 EPS

Flyhalves (2):
Zack Holmes 2015
Sias Ebersohn 2017

Centres (4):
Kyle Godwin 2016
Junior Rasolea 2016
Marcel Brache 2015
Luke Burton 2015

Outside Backs (6):
Luke Morahan 2015
Pat Dellit 2015
Dane Haylett-Petty 2015
Brad Lacey 2015 EPS
Albert Nikoro 2016
Mitchell Scott 2016



Coaching Department
Michael Foley 2015 - Head Coach - He may not be due for renewal, but I would rather see 2018 after his name!
David Wessels - 2015 - Senior Assistant Coach
Kevin Foote - 2015 - Backs Coach
Tai McIssac 2017 - Lineout Consultant/Future Force


Athletic Performance Department
Charlie Higgins – Head of Athletic Performance
Will Markwick – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Louis Dallimore – Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach
Emidio Pacecca – Head Physiotherapist
Ben Mather – Rehab Physiotherapist


Off Contract after 2014
Kieran Longbottom 2014 - Saracens
Salesi Manu 2014 - Italy
Phoenix Battye 2014 - Biarritz
Hugh McMeniman 2015 - Released
Chris Tuatara-Morrison 2014 - Gone
Ed Stubbs 2014 - Released
Jayden Hayward 2014 - Italy
Nick Cummins 2015 - Coca Cola West Red Sparks


Just one spot to fill before 31 December. As they have always said they will do everything to get Nick back from Japan for next year, but the decision will ultimately be made by Japan. I'm sure they have another option just waiting until all hope is lost in Japan

[GIGS20]

Jeez, when you crystallize it like that TIF, it really brings home how much of a loss KBomb is. Ditto with Jayden and Badge.

Good pickups in the other areas, making us look pretty bloody good across the park, however we really need Ollie to step up and fill the void or we might be in trouble up front. Outside backs look like they can be covered, with Nikoro and Scott looking like they might be good pickups and plenty of possibilities of cover from the centres if things don't go as planned. Marcel could play wing if he had to and Burto has shown enough fire to allow us to play Kyle out of position if it was needed. We just don't seem to have the same level of disaster protection in the front row.

Who can swap sides? Do we have a Hooker who can play Bookend? Although Tets was used to replace Slipper in the tests, and Pekka for the Force, there is plenty of talk about his versatility. Has he played much tighthead?

Is Heiberg up to it? Where does Van Wyk fit in the equation?

I'll be looking very closely at the front row next season, because it's the most likely potential banana skin for us.

ps Can we take one of our squadron of world-class backrowers and teach them to prop?

[MI5_Dog]

PS can we have the squad find some real mongrel!
we were missing that killer instinct in a lot of games this year where we should have put teams to the sword and just didn't.
The mongrel is there, hiding, just waiting to be released.
We find it against those team we think will thump us and then hide it away against teams we should be thumping.

[chiraag]

Yep, I think prop is probably our biggest concern, followed by outside backs. There's a fair step down from Pek & Tets. Tets can definitely play both sides and has for the force for the last 2 seasons. Would probably be good for him to concentrate on tighthead now that KBomb has gone and Pek is a loosehead. Will also increase his chances with the wallabies as there is no depth at TH.

A bit worrying if either gets injured though. Ollie is coming along OK, but did get shown up a few times at NRC from memory and I would be worried having him start many games at this point. I have a feeling if there was an injury, Joe Savage would probably get a call up. He looked rather good in the NRC.

[Herbasimplex]

Yep, I think prop is probably our biggest concern, followed by outside backs. There's a fair step down from Pek & Tets. Tets can definitely play both sides and has for the force for the last 2 seasons. Would probably be good for him to concentrate on tighthead now that KBomb has gone and Pek is a loosehead. Will also increase his chances with the wallabies as there is no depth at TH.

A bit worrying if either gets injured though. Ollie is coming along OK, but did get shown up a few times at NRC from memory and I would be worried having him start many games at this point. I have a feeling if there was an injury, Joe Savage would probably get a call up. He looked rather good in the NRC.

Know anything about Heiberg and how he is travelling? have seen nothing of him.

[Sheikh]

Know anything about Heiberg and how he is travelling? have seen nothing of him.

Savage got more game time than Heiberg in the NRC. Savage played every game, half starting, half bench. Heiberg played 8 of the 10 games, starting just 2.

It could have been that Heiberg had an injury (might justify why he didn't play every game, but one of those was the one where Pek & Tet started and Ollie and Savage were the bench) or maybe they wanted a longer look at Savage, or maybe they just reckon Savage has come on better.

[G_Beard]

Savage got more game time than Heiberg in the NRC. Savage played every game, half starting, half bench. Heiberg played 8 of the 10 games, starting just 2.

It could have been that Heiberg had an injury (might justify why he didn't play every game, but one of those was the one where Pek & Tet started and Ollie and Savage were the bench) or maybe they wanted a longer look at Savage, or maybe they just reckon Savage has come on better.

From what I understand, had a very good Force A campaign beginning of last season, then battled with a serious of low grade injuries. In the process of finding full fitness again as injuries seem to be behind him now.
Hoping for a good season for him, nice guy, immensely strong.

[GIGS20]

Savage got more game time than Heiberg in the NRC. Savage played every game, half starting, half bench. Heiberg played 8 of the 10 games, starting just 2.

It could have been that Heiberg had an injury (might justify why he didn't play every game, but one of those was the one where Pek & Tet started and Ollie and Savage were the bench) or maybe they wanted a longer look at Savage, or maybe they just reckon Savage has come on better.

Might be that he was part of the full time squad, but not in front of Pek and Tet, so missed out on the games where the squad weren't playing because he was in the squad and missed out on the ones where the squad was playing because he was too low on the pecking order.

Savage on the bench means one of two things
Heiberg isn't versatile and Savage covers the side that Heiberg can't
Savage is better than Heiberg

We'll know the deal when Heiberg's contract is up....if Joe Savage is a better option, he'll get the gig then, but one thing is clear...in the current contracted squad, Heiberg is at least fourth, I've seen Van Wyk used before him in Force blue.

[wholetruth]

A couple of questions about Savage.
I don't know what he does for work but would Joe Savage give it up at his age and risk not making the wage? (he would not be a full squad player).
Does he have Aus citizenship because if not would he even qualify as he has already played for the Hurricanes (I think) and would not qualify as an overseas development player.
Perhaps someone can answer these.