'This is is the first year when I've finally got my body right. It's a shame''
Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese admits he’s a little “jealous” of his NRL counterparts with no rugby to be played until at least July. While the rugby league competition will resume in less than three weeks, a domestic Super Rugby competition is still almost two months off.
Due to Victorian state government tight restrictions, Uelese’s Melbourne Rebels are likely to be the last of the Super Rugby clubs to resume training on May 18.
That situation has also forced their AAMI Park co-tenants the Melbourne Storm across the border into NSW to train.
“We are a bit jealous looking at the NRL but it gives us hope that we aren’t too far away from getting to that point,” Uelese told AAP.
“We’re waiting on Rugby Australia and looking forward to seeing what kind of competition structure they come up with.
“It’s giving us a bit of hope and motivation – it’s good to see the NRL boys out there training and we really can’t wait to get back into it to.”
The proposed competition is a 10-week five-team domestic competition that also involves the Western Force. Uelese is especially desperate to get back to playing with a troublesome knee injury restricting him to just 11 games in the past two Super Rugby seasons.
He missed the first four rounds this year, returning for two games until the competition was shut down in mid-March.
“This is is the first year when I’ve finally got my body right,” the 23-year-old said. “It’s such a shame. I had two games on the trot and was looking to build on to that and then all of this happens.”
He did however play in all five of the Wallabies’ 2019 World Cup matches as a reserve hooker and said he was looking forward to what incoming Test coach Dave Rennie brought to the role.
“I’ve had a chat with him … he’s huge on fitness and that aspect of things,” Uelese said.
“He also made it clear that you have to earn your spot and anything that happen ed before this year didn’t guarantee you a place but that’s something I love – there’s no favourites and everyone is on an equal base.
‘That’s given me an incentive to work that little but harder on my scrummaging, my throwing and my fitness, so it’s really exciting.”
AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s 12-15 games Luke. Ringrose has barely played in 2024 and Henshaw and Keenan have also been out for spells in the same time period. There are always injuries and for younger players to play with the likes of Barrett will be great for them. It’s just looking for negatives where there are none.
5 Go to commentsAndy Goode pushing his own agenda with very dubious considerations on refereeing performances. Luke Pearce speaking a bit of French doesn’t make him a good and adequate referee for the Champions Cup final; his latest refereeing performance in particular was not so great.
4 Go to commentsJordie knows that he has to earn the right to put on the jersey, whatever that jersey might be.
5 Go to commentsThe best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
4 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
116 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
4 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
4 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
116 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to comments