Tomahawks 7's squad

[Anonymous]

I think the AMNRL should now be looking towards 2004 and getting a group of players prepared for the World 7's qualifiers in January. I know Fiji are currently trialing players and it would be good to see the USA doing the same and getting a core of players up to pace (both condition wise and skill wise) for this major event.

For the Tomahawks to move foward they need to be playing on the World stage against the best teams. This is the only way the standard of the game will improve and also the only way I can see the American media getting behind the game.

I would love to see 20 players selected now and to have these players train for a month as a squad and then have a trial weekend, where the players are put through testing and also game play against each other. This way the AMNRL can sought out which players are physically up to playing in such a competition and also allow them to try different combinations. Perphaps hold a weekend long event in Philly, with testing on the first day and game play on the second day?

A few names I would like to see included in the squad are:

Mike Mulvihill, Greg Stuelleti, Matt Radar, Danny Bull, Rich Portale (Wildcats)
Lenny Lux, Carl Barr, Shayne Mains, Marcus Vassikopolous (GM)
David Faimanifo, Martin O'Donohue (DC)
Christian Rahui, Matt Astill, Craig Wells, Rich Warr (NY)
Ryan Blake, Al Gary, Joe Bascalli, Dave DeValerio (Media)
Phil Shipos, Derek Tulley, Dave Cuncliffe (NJ)
and
Jeff Preston (Philly)

That is 23 names, then you could even have others like Vea Ofa, Loren Brousard, Fred Lewis and Brian Leuma trialing as well.

The more preperation the Tomahawks have the more competitive they will be.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

RLR said the US could not send players to the 7s and were only going to play an Australian based team in the qualifiers. The tour is scheduled at a different time to the 7s and they cannot send players out again for work reasons. I think this really sad, coz the 7s were supposed to be 'the' promotional tool for international RL and now there's only a few full international teams coming. I hope this is not true and the US will send a team, but Terry is rarely wrong.

I guess this is just another incentive for a pro comp. or US players signing for NRL/SL clubs as professional players can travel overseas without missing work etc.

 

[roopy]

The Americans seem to have decided to not put as much into making the sevens as they did last year, probably because they really thought they should have been rewarded for their loyalty to the concept with a spot in the main draw last year.
The sevens gave them their start really, but i'm glad to see they will be concentrating more on their full team game this year, because that is more important for their development I'm sure.

 

[global13]

Where did you guiys read that the USA would not be sending players over?

 

[mono_mal]

hey musai who did Fiji intend on fielding in the Sevens?
they have a real chance of winning the comp and taking home much needed funds if they have all players available and concentrate on playing mostly off shore players.
Hopefully they go with a side along the lines of:
1. Kativerata (Parra)
2. Tadulala (Storm/Brisbane Norths)
3. Navale (Sydney Bulls)
4. Naiqama (Dragons)
5. Cakacaka (Newtown Jets)
6. Dikidikilati (Newtown Jets)
7. Pickering (Sydney Bulls)

8. Marawaya (Ourimbah)
9. Naiqama (Sydney Bulls)
10. Davui * (Parra) / Rakabu* (Sydney Bulls)
* Unsure of eligibility

 

[global13]

MM,

I dont know their intentions for the main World 7's but I do know that they will field along those lines for the Illawarra 7's. The exceptions being the NRL players and Tabua Cakacaka (who is going to play in France for Pia).

I think you will find that there World 7's side will again take the form of the players from Fiji, with the likes of Wise and Pecili Suasua playing also. Not too sure about Semi.

Personally I would like to see Waisale Naiqama be in both sides as I have seen him play a few times this year and really rate him. I think he would go really well at 7's too.

 

[roopy]

Where did you guiys read that the USA would not be sending players over?

The last issue of RL Review.

The good news from the article was that they intend to send over a full squad like last year, but only for a short tour during the preseason and after the sevens.

I think the real problem is that the sevens comes at the same time as the semi finals in US Union comps. No one is saying that, but I'm sure it is why they can't come at that time.

 

[ExJnrKiwi]

There's an opportunity for not only the US but other emerging countries to capitalise on the World 7's event. I doubt there's a lot of thought or planning that goes into this event by many emerging countries.

If they did their planning well before the end of their seasons they could organise their own say 6 week 7's comps and recruit/promote it amongst both codes as an end of season tournament. Touch/Flag footy is quite big in the US by all accounts and I imagine some of those participants would fancy their chances in full contact 7's type footy. It could then serve as a prelim to selecting a National Squad. The fact that RU may be having their finals should not pose too serious a hurdle as that accounts for less than 10% of the player base. In other words you have up to 90% availability subject to personal commitments.

Where there's a will there's a way as they say but it appears they tend to think of 7's as an afterthought rather than a serious opportunity.