According to a report in the Cape Times this morning, the rumours of Rory Kockott joining WP stemmed from the fact that Conrad Hoffman has been in talks with Rudolf Streuli and John Plumtree with the view to joining them in next years campaign. The wording used was “have been in serious talks with Sharks”, Rassie also squashed the rumours of WP even talking to Kockott.
As a staunch Hoffman fan, I can’t believe we don’t see the merit with keeping him on and question how the Sharks can promise him more game time than WP can (unless Kockott is going somewhere). Rassie has also stated that he is happy with Dewaldt Duvenhage and Ricky Schroeder keeping the scrumhalf duties. Which also of course means that they are not looking to extend Ricky Januarie’s contract at the end of the year either. Behind Schroeder Rassie threw in the name of Freddie Muller, who, I have to be honest, I don’t know.
Hoffman has looked superb every time he has come on as a substitute, even when we’ve shuffled him around the backline and really shined for Maties in the Varsity Cup this year, starting at flyhalf and shifting to scrumhalf later on in the game (or vice versa). He would be great for any team as he is capable of playing scrumhalf, flyhalf and fullback. Allister Coetzee even spoke about Hoffman’s “sparkle” in the self same article, so I can’t imagine he would be pleased to see him go.
But looking at all the current talks/signing for the Sharks they are going to have plenty options come next year, with quite a formidable backline in the making, choosing where to play McLeod, Lambie, Jaques Louis Potgieter, Meyer Bosman and possible Hoffman will be very interesting to see.
(p.s. As this is my first article so there may be some “we’s” thrown in there, and by we I mean WP, I will try remember this is a Sharks website going forward and refer to “they” as WP and “we” as Sharks)
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I dont mind the “we’s” at all
But seriously this makes little sense
Lekker WP! But seriously, I’ll wait until a signing is officially announced before I get excited, Hoffman IS a very good player
Congrats on your first article, good job
But seriously, why does WP let all their good youngsters go and then buy these ancient pensioners? The Sharks would love to have a school talent base like WP’s…
Congrats Molly!! 😎
If this does happen then I will be seriously peeved off cos one things for sure, this decision WILL come back to bite us in the ass!!
We needed depth at prop for a number of years now, what does Rassie and his cronies do?? Sign wingers, fullbacks and centres!!
Ok, we are doing much better of late but that has more to do with AC’s Player management skills and Proudfoot’s coaching of the forwards!
As for Schroeder!! WTF?? The guy is useless!! 👿
nice work, Molla!
wasn’t Ricky Schroder the star of 80s sitcom “Silver Spoons”?
Great stuff, Molly!
IMO think WP is crazy to let this guy go. Also think the Sharks are crazy to pursue him though. I think in Ross Cronje and Reinach we have the future of 9 rapped up. Why buy youth from WP when our own youth is good enough? Or is it?
@wpw (Comment 6) : like Real Madrid only signs Attackers and no defenders?? but all-and-all i would welcome “the Hoff II” to sharks country…
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 10) : i think Kockett will leave, even if it is to the cheetahs or overseas. (Plums certainly not a big fan), tha will leave us thin at scrummie, even with youth, i think plum would just want a senior backup. Cronje and Reinach`s 20??
@robdylan (Comment 8) : That’s the one, but was better known for his role in “The Champ”
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 14) : did you read that on Sharksworld? 🙂
Thanks guys, I tried to hold back on all the anger… Can anyone put together a list of players Rassie has bought and players he has let slip past. I couldn’t think of many offhand. And can’t remember who he bought and who Fester bought.
@robdylan (Comment 14) : **cough**
Bought – Luke Titus – Let slip Zahier Ryland 😳
Are you for one second suggestion Rassie and WP rugby in general is clueless when it comes to talent identification and retention within the structures of WP rugby???
HOW DARE YOU! 🙄
Rassie is a genius!!!
although it must be said Fester was a bit ridiculous, Attie Winter, Duimpie Theron.Yoh ❗
Rassie makes all the stink to poach Brian Mujati and then we keep him for one season
Congrats Molly: I hope your first time was special. 😆
Hoffman is a very good player: hope we dp buy him. Heard this on KFM this morning too.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 20) : Seriously, was it only 1 season? Who bought Big Joe?
@molly (Comment 22) : I’m sure he did a currie cup and a s14, or maybe there was a half a currie cup ion there somewhere, Joe was there during Smals reign.
Okay, who erased what??
I erased my comment earlier, probably the same time as Rob replied.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 17) :
Egon Seconds??
Pat Barnard
@molly (Comment 22) :
Rob Wagner was the one behind that buy!! 🙄
@wpw (Comment 26) : Pat Barnard was the rookie when he left, he was 3rd in line to start but we lost 2 props in quick succession and suddenly he was the starter, by then he had already signed and said in the media if it had played out earlier he would never have done it.
Congrats Molly.. hope to see quite a few more..
I would rather we get Jaco Taute.
Great work done Molly
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 10) : Hoffman would be a great asset since he’s a utility player and can cover many of the back line positions. Ross and Reinach will have to fight to proof that his not better in one of his utility positions (9) than they are in their specialty position.
So all in all it would be a good buy.