Rebels recruit Higginbotham

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Of course it adds, you lose a good number 8 and you replace him with another good 8.

They are still a team with 1 loose forward of that caliber. As welshglory is saying, the depth is still the same. They replace Delve by Higgs, it doesn't make them better, it just keeps them at the same level. They need to add more top players to be able to top the conference and be serious contenders, which should be the goal of every team.

 

[Cave Dweller]

They are still a team with 1 loose forward of that caliber. As welshglory is saying, the depth is still the same. They replace Delve by Higgs, it doesn't make them better, it just keeps them at the same level. They need to add more top players to be able to top the conference and be serious contenders, which should be the goal of every team.

Actually no. Ok your a Sharks supporter so you would not know much about developing talent (cause you buy them) but new youngsters are going to come in adding to Australian depth. It is not about creating depths for the rebels but for Australia and as the teams get more competitive so does the depth increase.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Ah, yes... Good to see you support the team with the grand academy...

 

[Cave Dweller]

Ah, yes... Good to see you support the team with the grand academy...

We develop them for the Bulls and Sharks these days.

 

[Larksea]

I dont think the Reds will be the same without this guy, from what I've seen of them this year they have very much relied on Scott and Genia in their wins with touches and fantastic goal kicking from Harris.

Even more so because Samo seems to have arrived at the end of his carrier.

Kinda strange seeing all the tallent now at the rebels, what to the aussies think about it? I'm trying to imagine the same thing haoppening in NZ. Imagine a new franchise pops up in NZ and within a couple of years they had signed a bunch of Key All Blacks out from other areas. I think there would be an uproar.

That said the Aussie teams seem to operate more as professional clubs in their own right with players jumping around and coming in from overseas, rather than franchises that represent their regional union feeder clubs and The National Union. We had the 4 huricanes guys move last season because of the coaching cleanout but that's very rare.

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Do you know Australia have a open policy about stealing talent? They always have a place open for a promising youngster to tie him to a 2 year contract and make him eligible for the Wallabies *cough*Rathbone*cough*cough*

Much like the way the Beast plays for South Africa? yes?

 

[Cave Dweller]

Much like the way the Beast plays for South Africa? yes?

Did the Beast play for Zim at U/21 level? The Beast can be compared to Pocock yes.

I dont think the Reds will be the same without this guy, from what I've seen of them this year they have very much relied on Scott and Genia in their wins with touches and fantastic goal kicking from Harris.

Even more so because Samo seems to have arrived at the end of his carrier.

Kinda strange seeing all the tallent now at the rebels, what to the aussies think about it? I'm trying to imagine the same thing haoppening in NZ. Imagine a new franchise pops up in NZ and within a couple of years they had signed a bunch of Key All Blacks out from other areas. I think there would be an uproar.

That said the Aussie teams seem to operate more as professional clubs in their own right with players jumping around and coming in from overseas, rather than franchises that represent their regional union feeder clubs and The National Union. We had the 4 huricanes guys move last season because of the coaching cleanout but that's very rare.

Funny thing is the Canes actually looked better and the Blues looked awful.

 

[Aedaphon]

Funny thing is the Canes actually looked better and the Blues looked awful.

And we were all calling Hammett a madman for dropping Nonu, Hore, Cruden and Gear... Good calls, the side is playing well and more importantly it's a young side now.

Rebels have made a great signing in Higginbotham but they're losing a real leader in Delve, it's a shame they can't keep him around any longer. They're finally starting to build some momentum at the bottom of the league and it's a crying shame to lose their captain (who has really looked at the heart of everything this season).

Still, at least they'll keep some form of back row now.

 

[Larksea]

I actually thought Hammett made the right move by cutting Nonu and Hore and I thought at the time they (hurricanes) would be better off long term. Especially if the two were undermining his leadership the way it played out in the end with Weepu and Gear going as well I think says something about the problems they had in wellington.

If you compare what happened at the canes to what Happened at the chiefs were Aled De Malmanche and Stephen Donald were both told they were not required for 2012 when Dave Renee took over at the chiefs. Yet they left with heads held high and it hardly made headlines in the media even though both would have been upset about the move (heck Mega cried after his last Waikato game) they accepted it and moved on.

 

[Cave Dweller]

I actually thought Hammett made the right move by cutting Nonu and Hore and I thought at the time they (hurricanes) would be better off long term. Especially if the two were undermining his leadership the way it played out in the end with Weepu and Gear going as well I think says something about the problems they had in wellington.

If you compare what happened at the canes to what Happened at the chiefs were Aled De Malmanche and Stephen Donald were both told they were not required for 2012 when Dave Renee took over at the chiefs. Yet they left with heads held high and it hardly made headlines in the media even though both would have been upset about the move (heck Mega cried after his last Waikato game) they accepted it and moved on.

Weepu is a great player but his discipline and attitude sometimes got to be his biggest downfall. Think Hurricanes had the too many superstars with too many big heads syndrome the same as the Cats had in the first season they started, Funny thing is the Cats started with a narrow loss to the Blues as well and it went pear shaped after it.