Sharksworld has reliably learned that Western Province centre, Tim Whitehead, has indeed signed a contract with the Sharks for 2012 and beyond.
A regular for Province at Currie Cup level over the last two years, as well as a star on the Varsity Cup stage with Ikeys, the 23-year-old former Grey High (PE) pupil has also represented the Stormers on a few occasions over the last two campaigns. He will add much-needed depth to the Sharks centre stocks, where his ability to play in either the number 12 or 13 jersey will be valuable. We first reported the Whitehead story as an unconfirmed rumour a few weeks back, but are now a lot more certain that the move will indeed happen.
In other transfer news, strong rumours persist regarding a move by at least one, but possibly both of the Cronje twins to the Lions. According to our information, flyhalf Guy has already signed with the Lions, while older brother Ross is still weighing up his offer.
More as we get it, as always.
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Yowza. I’m impressed with the Whitehead signing.
Any idea where Oupa Stef is going next year? He makes it sound on twitter as if his Sharks career is ending, but he isn’t retiring. Japan maybe?
@PTAShark (Comment 1) : I’m getting confused and frustrated by that story in equal parts 🙂 He’s making no sense.
Wish he’d rather shut up about it and concentrate on the semi. W don’t need sideshows
Ai donner.
Sharks recruiting for the Vodacom Cup now? Whithead is pretty average, not that what we have is amamzing but cant see him playing ahead of Bosman,Terblanche,Joubert,Jacobs and even JLP.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) : Hey don’t talk about that plonker. 😛
Thank you WP! 😀
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) : wrong site, you tonsil 🙂
@SheldonK (Comment 4) :
I’d agree he’s average, but I’d consider starting him ahead of those lot!
A Bosman & Whitehead combination could work.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : 😛 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 8) : Arent they both 12s?
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : I don’t really know Whitehead well enough to rate him, but none of our current centres proofed any better yet. Juniors excluded. But I guess you are right about him not being select above the others.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 10) :
I think Whitehead would make a decent 13. You’d have to forget about playing too expansively… focus a lot on tactical kicking and using the loose-forwards, which the Sharks could seeing as they’ve got a lot of good ball-carriers. It’d definitely shore up the defense though, and it’s not like they’d be better off with any of the others.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 10) : well, whatever number, they’re both better than Joubert, who’s averaging about a 4 so far 🙂
I think Whitehead will be a much better signing than Joubert and JLP.
He has youth on his side and even though he aint in the same league as the Bok cnetres at WP, he certainly isn’t a bad player.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Joubert seems to be playing with butter on his hands this season! @hendrikp (Comment 8) : Id prefer a Bosman/Ludick or Bosman/Jacobs combo to be honest. Just dont think Whithead is better than our u21s.
interesting – cant say I’m surprised at the Cronjes’ heading to JHB and wouldnt be surprised if Mark Richards was next.
@wpw (Comment 14) : Agree 100%
Happy days!!
The Sharks signed a backline player under 25years old. 😎
OK so how good is Whitehead again? 😳 I haven’t seen enough of him to really judge.
Wes, I dont mind JLP that much, the dude can play some footy.
I’ve always regarded Whitehead as an outside centre that can play 12 not vice versa.
I think he’ll add value to the Sharks backline.
It makes a lot more sense to start in SR than be a 4th choice for another team.
I wish more players of >23 years old would weigh up their futures in this manner. Go where you have a good shot at getting the game time. It’s in the best interests of SA rugby to have our best players starting. For players not wanting to leave their Unions or Unions not wanting to part with contracted players, we really need more short term loan agreements in SA.
I remember when Wilhelm Steenkamp was surplus to requirements at the Bulls, they reached a loan deal with the Sharks which say him play for us. That was winner-winner chicken dinner.
@Pokkel (Comment 18) : He is not bad but i dont think he is better than Williams, Lindeque , Jordaan! He is not a big guy and doesnt have extreme pace. Its not a bad signing, well depending how much they paid for him.
@beet (Comment 20) :
Now Wilhelm is heading back to Pretoria to sit on the bench! 😐
I agree though with what you say about some players weighing up their options. It makes it easier for someone like Whitehead though, who has already moved away from home to start his career, so moving again isn’t so tough? Players like de Jongh (for example) are already home.
I think the only solution would be central contracting, or more co-operation between unions with yes, short-term loans.
Should’ve signed JP du Plessis 😆 😆 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 22) : Central contracting would be the ideal situation but the 4 big unions are too powerful/profitable for that to ever happen. I do like the loan idea though. But then the Currie Cup should remain at 8 teams and the excess of players at big unions should be sent to Leopards and Pumas respectively.
Just curious…the Sharks seem to be building quite a large squad. There was hardly any rotation in 2011 so will there be more in 2012?? Or are more guys leaving than we know?
Wow and without even giving one of our own under 21 centres a shot we go buy whitehead! Nxa! 👿 the cronjes won’t be the only one’s leaving at this rate aga! Ngazengacikeka 👿
@hendrikp (Comment 23) : If I was the Commercial Manager at the Sharks and I only had the 80min in the Tank to go on, I’d be very tempted to offer him something. There was enough potential there to suggest he’s the real deal.
So lets hope 1 of 2 things happened.
1 He’s not available, having committed his future elsewhere or
2 Regular weekly scouting report backs to the Union suggest that his form in Durban was the exception and not the norm – i.o.w. he’s not what he’s made out to be.
Otherwise 🙄
@SheldonK (Comment 25) : the latter
@beet (Comment 27) :
Hopefully it’s the first. Are they showing any of the U21 semi-finals games on TV?
I see he did score 2 tries the weekend before last though!
Hope he amounts to something special, otherwise I’ll be eating humble pie 😆
@Poisy (Comment 28) : I wouldnt be surprised…altho not sure which teams would be looking?
@hendrikp (Comment 29) : There isn’t that much u21 rugby on TV but it’s enough to get by. What has been frustrating is they’ve been showing a lot of B-section u21 at times when the could have shown the A-section juniors
@beet (Comment 27) : You assume that the Commercial Manager of the sharks would apply logic! 😉
Re JP du Plessis – he is definately talented but I havent seen enough to warrant the hype one reads.
Rob, how much older is Ross than Guy Cronje?
@steve (Comment 32) : That’s why I say these decisions have to be informed ones based on trusted feedback over a reasonable period of time.
On the same afternoon that JP showed good alround skills with the ball in hand at KP, Pat Howard had an unimaginably quiet afternoon on which he wouldn’t have been able to impress anyone. However again if it was my decision to make, I’d have been running after Patrick with a pen and contract paper as soon as the final whistle sounded, knowing from past experience what he’s capable of when decent ball does come his way.
So I can fully understand people having varied opinions of the same player like in JP’s case.
@Salmonoid (Comment 33) : That’s the type of question only Rob would know the answer to
Most of us would accept minutes, Rob will give you the answer to the nearest second.
Although I haven’t seen him play, or if I have, didn’t pay attention, and hence cannot really make an absolute judgement, I believe Whitehead’s signing is a step in the right direction; if nothing else, it demonstrates and awareness from our coaching staff that centre has been our Achilles heel all year long.
Having said that, unless we intend to pursue Frans Steyn, Sonny Bill Williams and Jacque Fourie, our centres are still some way off from world-class, so I hope that our coaches will tailor our game plans in future to play towards our strengths.
I’m sure this signing raises concerns that we could be alienating our U-21’s, but seems to me the general consensus among those in the know is that they’re still a season or so from being ready for the big time. Also, with Stef likely to retire, and Marius Joubert being about as useful as a wooden t*t on an expectant mother, there should still be opportunities to give the young guys exposure, provided there’s the will from our coaches. But aye, there’s the rub…
I think this is great news!
Good young talent.
@SheldonK (Comment 30) : I wouldn’t know maybe lions or even blou bulle
@Salmonoid (Comment 33) : a few minutes, I would think… as is usually the case with twins
@robdylan (Comment 40) :
I thought you would know that considering you bothered to find out which is the elder.
@beet (Comment 35) : Seems as if Rob has got some homework to do.
Finally the Sharks sign a decent young centre.
@Ben (Comment 44) : like we didn’t have any to begin with 🙄 just wasting money as usual nxa
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) :
@Poisy (Comment 45) : You can’t just throw a 20 year old into a Super Rugby team and expect them to be ready for that level right away.
I also think we have some really great young talents coming through the ranks, but give them a chance to grow. I think this would be our coaching panels’ aim.
Whitehead will only provide cover anyway. He hasn’t played much senior rugby. It’s more likely that Joubert, Bosman, Adi and even Ludik be used in these positions.
@Poisy (Comment 45) : I know why you are pissed. 😉
But seriously this is a much better signing than the Joubert signing.
Not the ideal signing, but a step up from any of the other centres they have. If they don’t think Lindeque is good enough, Whitehead is suddenly the best 13 in Natal.
The backline is sort of looks like it’s starting to come together.
I’ve had a big think about it, and I’m going to agree that Lambie should play 10. I still think Johan Goosen is the Springboks future in the 10 jersey, but it can’t hurt having Lambie at fullback (for the Boks), but having faith in him to step into the 10 jersey.
The problem is will Plumtree have the balls to play him ahead of Michalak?
9 Conrad Hoffmann – Stick with him!!
10 Patrick Lambie
11 Odwa Ndungane/Lwazi Mvovo – Can’t decide. Almost lean towards Odwa. Haven’t seen enough of Sithole!?
12 Meyer Bosman
13 Tim Whitehead
14 JP Pietersen
15 Riaan Viljoen
And Stefan Terblanche, please retire.
@hendrikp (Comment 49) : Glad you’ve come to your senses! 😉
@hendrikp (Comment 49) : This is what the pecking order should be in next year’s SupeRugby imo.
9. McLeod/ Hoffman
10. Lambie/ Michalak
11. JPP/ Mvovo
12. Bosman/JLP
13. Jacobs/Whitehead
14. Odwa/ Sithole
15. Viljoen/ Ludik
@hendrikp (Comment 49) : Actually as a WP supporter yourself, one would think you’d wish Stef keeps playing for the Sharks for 4 more years! 😈
@Ben (Comment 52) :
I support every SA team! But you’ve got to have a favorite.
Not so sure I like Jacobs ahead of Whitehead. You lot seem to have a weird infatuation with Jacobs! Whitehead is an improvement, however slight.
And I’m hoping Plumtree gives Hoffmann game time in Super rugby! Nothing against McLeod, but Hoffmann, if he gets his head right, is a step up in ability.
Anyone think Sithole could force his way into being a starting winger?
I know that from time to time we all tend to get impatient but in terms of developing juniors, the Sharks have done as good a job as any other Union. Herbst, Cooper, Chadwick, J.Marais, Coetzee, Kleynhans, Cronje, Lambie, Sithole, Richards, Prinsloo are all youngsters that have featured at some stage this season.
As for Paul Jordaan, Heimar Williams and Piet Lindeque, the signing of Whitehead, in no way implies that the door has been shut closed in their faces. These youngsters have to pick up their game, iron out the weaknesses and come out firing next season.
The idea that a young player can’t make his debut during the SupeRugby is nonsensical.
The Sharks owe it to their fans to put together a squad that will give them the best possible chance of winning a title here and now, not 3 years down the line. However I also appreciate that succession planning is a vital ingredient to continued long term success, so along the way giving youngsters experience and with it the opportunity to succeed or fail, is a necessity.
Obviously if young players can be introduced in accordance with some kind of plan of action that improves their chances of succeeding at the higher level, it’s a lot better than having to chuck one into the deep end in the midst of a desperate injury crisis or something along those lines.
@hendrikp (Comment 53) : Haven’t seen much of Whitehead but any ways. You think Marius Joubert is better than Adi. Seriously! So for now Adi is my 1st choice 13. Adi is a brilliant 13.
@hendrikp (Comment 53) : I think the centre dissatisfaction at the Sharks has worked in Jacobs favour.
Around here he’s often portrayed as some kind of knight in shining armour. He’s not getting any younger either and I have the feeling that when matched against decent opposition in SR, he could possibly fall even shorter of the requirement than what we have at current.
Sithole had another fantastic game for the u21 on Saturday. There are a few kinks in his game that need ironing out – his hands seemed to be biggest concern to me in the quicker paced senior game. But I’d say that he has to be a strong contender for a starting berth in 2012. He offers a lot on the frontfoot. I think he’s a good bet to play for the Boks in the future.
@hendrikp (Comment 53) : Whitehead still needs to prove himself in a Sharks jersey…Jacobs’ been there, done that…Let’s wait and see more… 😉
@Ben (Comment 55) : ME 2 !!!
😆 
@beet (Comment 56) : “…knight in shining armour…” 😆 😆 😆
@Charlie (Comment 59) : What happened to your avatar pic? (The Adi one)
Good news at last!
McLeod, Fred, Mvovo, Lambie, Whitehead, JPP, Viljoen.
Not too bad.
Also remember Frans Steyn is available from june 2012!!
@hendrikp (Comment 8) : i don’t know about that combo on defence. from what i’ve seen of whitehead he is okay but not outstanding on D
Rob,
Whats your take on Lindeque. How well do you rate him?
@Original Pierre (Comment 61) : Will Frans actualy consider comming back to the Sharks?
@Original Pierre (Comment 61) : Steyn’s on his way to Cheaters… 😆
@vanmartin (Comment 60) : Got updated… Only temporary though… 😉
@Charlie (Comment 65) : I’ll dance naked on my car’s roof if he joins the Cheetahs!
@Ben (Comment 67) : You can start with the rehearsel, behind close doors… 😆
@Ben (Comment 67) : It’s the best fit for Frans Steyn. I think he’ll be extremely happy in Bloem. I don’t think he should consider a return to Durban. He might also fit in really well at Loftus but they don’t really need another centre with a high price tag.
@beet (Comment 69) : Do you honestly think the Cheetahs can afford him? Why shouldn’t he consider a move back to Durban?
@beet (Comment 54) : Beet, I think you have rather eloquently articulated what I was aiming for in an earlier post. The fact is, with the demands of Super Rugby, you need at least 2 players in each position, and given the likely level of attrition, it is quite probable that one or both of those players could be injured, handing opportunities to the next players in the pecking order. So here’s how I see it:
10: Lambie/Michalak/Jordaan
12: Bosman/JLP/Williams
13: Jacobs/Whitehead/Lindeque
Kicking Tee: That little plastic doughnut/heap of sand/Marius Joubert
@beet (Comment 69) : Imo if Frans comes back to SA he will go to one of these 3 teams. Sharks, Bulls or WP.
@Culling Song (Comment 71) : I think Jordaan should move to 12 when he starts playing senior rugby. That position will suit him much more imo.
@Ben (Comment 70) : He earned so much in France, he could easily buy out the Cheetah Franchise, and still have enough change left to shut Oom Herold’s mouth !!! 😆 😈 😆
@Ben (Comment 72) : Hy wil op die plaas wees, tussen koeie, waar hy boom kan rook ! 😆
@Ben (Comment 73) : I haven’t seen too much junior rugby, so I’ll take your word for it; Jordaan and JLP to swop positions then. I still stand by my kicking tee rankings though.
@Charlie (Comment 75) : Hy sal meer as genoeg tyd kry vit sodra hy aftree in 10 jaar! 😆
The manner in which the sharks supporters treated Steyn, I doubt he will ever come back to the sharks.. unfortunately 🙁
@Culling Song (Comment 76) : Agree 200% about your kicking tee ranking!
Would like to know what Beet thinks about Jordaan at 12?
@Ben (Comment 77) : Hy is homesick… 😐
@Ben (Comment 70) : For the first time since anyone can remember, the Cheetahs have been able to retain all their FS players heading into a SR campaign. They may not be the richest Union but that Toyota sponsorship of theirs has changed things a bit.
If Frans Steyn is only interested in money, he should stay in France.
Rugby isn’t just about performing on the field, it’s about the lifestyle off the pitch as well. That’s why I say that if he’s looking for balance between reasonable pay and a lifestyle that suits him, he can’t go wrong with the Cheetahs.
@Charlie (Comment 80) : Bloemfontein is ni so ver van Durban af nie! Dis inelkgeval nie asof hy die koeie deur die week gaan melk nie, hy moet gan oefen! Hy kan naweke saam die koeie wees! 😆
@beet (Comment 81) : And that’s why the Cheetahs can’t afford to pay him a decent 10 grand a month. They’re already using all their funds on the players they have kept! 😆
And like I said Durban isn’t that far from Bloem.
@Culling Song (Comment 71) : As far as the no.13 jersey is concerned, I’d say give Whitehead the first shot at it. If for some or other reason he doesn’t get the job done there (form or injury), I would be tempted to go with Riaan Viljoen at 13.
I’d be willing to take a chance on Paul Jordaan as 3rd option. This could all change depending on Paul’s rate of progress in 2012.
@Ben (Comment 83) : I’ve also heard that Frans is keen to go to the States, hes made over enough cash over in France.
@beet (Comment 84) : Like I said to Ben earlier, I haven’t seen enough junior rugby (or Whitehead’s rugby) to be able to debate your opinion. Once again though, I stand firm in my opinion of kicking tees
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 85) : I think if he’s happy off the field, it might help take his game to the next level.
In my books he hasn’t yet fulfilled the huge potential he showed as a youngster.
@beet (Comment 84) : What do you think about Paul at 12?
@dawj (Comment 63) : very highly… has all the attributes to make a great 13 – strength, size and pace. Dying for him to get a run with the seniors.
@beet (Comment 87) : Yeah, plus he just got engaged the other day so i reckon he wants to chill at home a bit.Fool.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 90) : 😆
@Ben (Comment 88) : Paul Jordaan shows great individual skills. He’s quick, well balanced and steps well. I think where he needs to prove himself more is on ability to good decisions regarding distribution, coz to be honest I’ve seen him produce sublime solo efforts but haven’t seen him generate many creative opportunities for players around him. He also needs to be test more on direct defence esp if he’s to be considered at 12 where Bosman was found wanting and as a result lost a lot of the Sharks fan base support. From what I’ve seen Paul hasn’t really been put to the sword by guys running at him or into the spaces around him. His cover D doesn’t impress me much. Too often it lacks urgency and commitment imho.
Just like Paul, Robert Ebersohn was a class for Grey Bloem in the 12 jumper. FS have never employed Ebersohn in this role and up until this season, Ebersohn didn’t look like he was making big strides forward in his career. Altho I think Paul is a very versatile player, I think we should manage him in the same way as Rob Ebersohn. I would love to see him develop into a Hennie le Roux or Tim Horan type player at 10 or 12 but I think for now he’s better suited to the wide positions and possibly even fullback like a James o’Connor.
From watching him this season, I’d say that he doesn’t quite give me the goose bumps I got from watching Sadie slice thru outside gaps at will but he is nevertheless a very special player and considering that Sadie was 2 years old when playing at the same level, it indicates that A) Paul is a very special player and B) that we needn’t get ahead of ourselves with his development – time is on his side.
@Ben (Comment 70) : He’s made more than enough to be “set for life” and just play rugby without worries. He wants to come home. Unfortunately I think he will be too hardegat to join us – perhaps if we get a new coach and managment… People allegley burn bridges and then we as fans are stuffed! Personally I reckon the costal lifestyle is more suitable to him, but I reckom Plum and Bash might need to kiss his ass good and solid before he might consider..
@beet (Comment 92) : you mean 2 years older, I take it? 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 94) : No Rob. Sadie played u21 rugby for 19 years. Quit butting in!
@beet (Comment 95) :
@beet (Comment 92) : “and considering that Sadie was 2 years old when playing at the same level” 😯 Wow, 2 years old? That puts him on the same footing as Keegan Daniel with his 80 caps against Province
Do what Robert Eberson did(I still respect him for this) and go and play 7s for a few seasons.
@beet (Comment 92) : Thanks for your insight Beet.
@Culling Song (Comment 97) :
You mean Keegan Daniels?
@beet (Comment 95) : 😆
@Culling Song (Comment 97) : How is it that Keegan Daniel played against Province a few weeks ago but somehow stayed on 80 caps?
@hendrikp (Comment 100) : I’m not going there; I’ve removed the letter in the alphabet that fit between “r” and “t” from my keyboard; have you een how up et Richard Fergu on get if you call him Keegan Daniel ?
@beet (Comment 102) : My bad. Comes from having a 2-year old in the house; all counting is currently restricted to numbers below 30.
@Culling Song (Comment 103) :
I’d presume about as upset as I get when people spell my name ‘Hendrick’.
@hendrikp (Comment 105) : I’m having a hard time pronouncing your name. I have now come to the conclusion that the “p” must be silent
@Culling Song (Comment 106) :
I generally use my last initial when I sign up to places. Usually ‘Hendrik’ is taken
@Culling Song (Comment 106) : What do you make of the pronounciation of Lionel Mapoe’s name.
Having made quite a few trips to Lesotho, I thought it should be “Mup-Weh” like Sotho’s would say.
Don’t come and tell me his first name should be pronounced: “Leo-Nel” like the French do
@hendrikp (Comment 107) : Not here; here people go for wild and exotic and fantastical non-de-plumes, like “Big Fish” or “VinChainSaw” or “Dancing Bear” or “Clayton”.
@beet (Comment 108) : I find a***hole does the trick… 😆
@Culling Song (Comment 109) : Ja. I’ve got to admit that of all the blogger names on all the blogs that, Clayton is still the one that I regard as the most imaginative. It just doesn’t conform with any principle of anything. Sort of like a Pentagon or Langley highest level password or something.
@Culling Song (Comment 103) : 😆
@Culling Song (Comment 103) :
whi ky! whi ky!
@Culling Song (Comment 109) : It took a lot of creativity to come up with that one.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 114) : 😆 😆
You’re real name must be something like ‘Talking dog’ then! 😀
@Pokkel (Comment 115) : Strangely enough, I’m known as Bird.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 116) :
Fish Eagle—–Whisky?? 🙄
@Pokkel (Comment 117) : I dont know the reason but thats the story im going to use going forward
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 118) : 😉
you okes crack me up
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 118) : 😆
@robdylan (Comment 120) : Have a Fish Eagle – it’ll take the edge off
@Culling Song (Comment 122) :
I hope you have some nice whi ky on offer tonight? 😎
@Culling Song (Comment 122) :
I see the ‘s’ on your keyboard has magically reappeared!
@Pokkel (Comment 124) : ja, because Culling knows when the joke has run its course boet 🙂
@Pokkel (Comment 123) : Wait and see… 😆