Search found 140 matches

by paddybrown
Thu Jun 29, 2023 11:02 am
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Contract Situation
Replies: 1650
Views: 476120

Re: Contract Situation

JTA at pre season training with Ulster according to his Insta. Anyone know if just training with the squad until he heads off to WC with Samoa? I believe that's the case. He doesn't appear to have signed for any club yet. What a waste. Hope he gets sorted soon We only have two NIQs, when we're allo...
by paddybrown
Thu Apr 13, 2023 4:23 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: An attempt at realism
Replies: 18
Views: 3184

An attempt at realism

This board is starting to get me down with the relentless negativity. Where does the attitude come from that we're entitled to expect Ulster to be better than they are? It's not like there's been a period within living memory where we've been consistent champions. We act like we're Man U fans drunk ...
by paddybrown
Thu Apr 13, 2023 7:14 am
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Contract Situation
Replies: 1650
Views: 476120

Re: Contract Situation

We have Scott Wilson in the academy, and Cameron Doak, Joe Mawhinney and Jack Boal, who got game time for the As this season. But front rowers tend to need a bit more development time than most positions, so no idea if any of them are ready for pro level. The other option is bringing in someone with...
by paddybrown
Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:35 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Contract Situation
Replies: 1650
Views: 476120

Re: Contract Situation

After a trawl of Wikipedia, here's all the Irish-qualifies tightheads I could find playing outside of Ireland. Super Rugby Oli Jager, 27, Crusaders, ex-Blackrock College Premiership Bryan O'Connor, 24, Gloucester, ex-Ireland u20 Conor Kenny, 26, Newcastle, ex-Connacht Championship Corrie Barrett, 24...
by paddybrown
Wed Apr 12, 2023 6:37 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Contract Situation
Replies: 1650
Views: 476120

Re: Contract Situation

Even if JTA does re-sign, he'll be going to the World Cup with Samoa. With O'Toole off with Ireland and Marty Moore unlikely to be fit, that leaves Milasinovich as our only tighthead for the early part of the season. If James French can give us a bit of cover until we get our internationals back, I ...
by paddybrown
Wed Apr 12, 2023 6:24 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Cooney staying?
Replies: 41
Views: 7073

Re: Cooney staying?

Again with the negativity. No, we're nowhere near overhauling Leinster, but they have an unparalleled player recruitment pipeline, and changing coaches isn't going to fix that. That's a very long-term project. The fact is, we're overachieving. We're the second best team in Ireland, and that's withou...
by paddybrown
Mon Apr 10, 2023 6:45 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Pack for next season...
Replies: 351
Views: 46431

Re: Pack for next season...

The big issue in the early part of the season is the World Cup. We'll have a depleted squad, and players will need to be rested after the tournament is over. Loosehead: Warwick, O'Sullivan, Reid. Only Kitshoff is likely to be involved in the World Cup. Hooker: (Stewart), Andrew, (D. Moore). Herring ...
by paddybrown
Fri Apr 07, 2023 4:02 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Contract Situation
Replies: 1650
Views: 476120

Re: Contract Situation

As I understand it, if one province offers another province's player a contract, the province he's with has to be given the opportunity to match the offer. The story I was told, can't vouch for its accuracy, is that Jude Postlethwaite was upgraded from the academy to a development contract a year ea...
by paddybrown
Thu Apr 06, 2023 1:07 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23
Replies: 451
Views: 52620

Re: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

Payne's departure has come up before, but I really don't think that's the issue. Don't forget, we were having defensive collapses in the last ten minutes last season when he was still here - we've only got a grip on that in the later part of this season. A bigger issue this season has been what's ha...
by paddybrown
Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:25 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23
Replies: 451
Views: 52620

Re: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

There's no amount of weight training can make you taller if you don't have the genes for it. My nephew's year didn't have the raw material to produce any pros. But the previous crop put three into to the academy and one of those into the senior team, from not a particularly big school, that's only e...
by paddybrown
Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:00 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23
Replies: 451
Views: 52620

Re: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

I thought the Leinster academy was really adding value etc (maybe still the case) however there has been mentionings on podcasts etc of elite level coaching etc in private schools paid for “in house” (not Leinster or Irfu, as anyone would think). Add in potential rugby scholarships etc. This is cle...
by paddybrown
Sun Apr 02, 2023 10:38 am
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23
Replies: 451
Views: 52620

Re: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

Only five seasons after Wenger left.
by paddybrown
Sun Apr 02, 2023 10:16 am
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23
Replies: 451
Views: 52620

Re: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

It’s time for McFarland to go IMO. He’s taken us as far as he can. Disagree. I call it the "Wenger out syndrome" - an unfortunate import from the round ball game, the idea that we'd be perfect if it wasn't for the manager holding us back, and we get rid of him everything will be grand. I ...
by paddybrown
Sun Apr 02, 2023 9:37 am
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23
Replies: 451
Views: 52620

Re: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

8. Why the awful yellow Jersey? We play in white, Leinster blue. No clash. End of. It's our Heineken Cup kit. Not sure why we switched from red, but we did. With the number of yellow flags being handed out, I wonder are they preparing us for a first choice yellow kit next season? The Ulster provinc...
by paddybrown
Sat Apr 01, 2023 8:28 pm
Forum: View frae thae Hill
Topic: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23
Replies: 451
Views: 52620

Re: Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

Too much negativity here. A good effort against what is effectively Ireland, the number one ranked team in the world. We couldn't keep up with them, but we didn't disgrace ourselves. We did about as well as any team in the Six Nations. You couldn't fault anyone for effort, and Stockdale and Herring ...