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The 2018 runners-up have been plotting their course to the 2019 title since the final whistle rang in San Diego. One of the top club sides in America prior to the creation of Major League Rugby, the Glendale Raptors lived up to their reputation in the inaugural campaign and came painfully close to their goal. They enter as one of the favorites once again, but this time there are a couple questions that need answering.
A perfect start to the campaign saw them sprinting out in front of the pack with seven straight wins. They could have been guilty of complacency in their final regular season match that saw them lose to San Diego but still topped the table to earn top seed status for the playoffs. A physical Utah side were no match at Infinity Park but Seattle proved their kryptonite in an enthralling final at Torero Stadium.
OFF-SEASON MOVES
It was not surprising to see USA stars Ben Landry and Bryce Campbell snapped up by English clubs, while Dylan Fawsitt’s return to New York was planned. The departure of John Quill was a surprise and a late decision just a couple months before the season. Outstanding Australian No8 Sam Figg might have stayed but did not come to terms while veterans Peter Dahl and Max de Achaval look to be stepping out of the spotlight at the end of distinguished careers.
Strengthening the scrum was a priority and front row trio Max Lum, Chad Gough, and Marco Fepulea’i have already landed. The latter arrives from Auckland and should be the first choice tighthead. Another prop, Noah Barker, will arrive following his international commitments with Canada and will be a key player on the loosehead side.
Brendan Daly is a work horse lock or blindside flanker with USA experience. There are more big name acquisitions in the back row with Eagles pair Hanco Germishuys and Malon Al-Jiboori arriving, and international support in Australian Will Munro and South African openside Dwayne Pienaar. The most notable new backs are Cheetahs kicker Robbie Petzer, an option at flyhalf or inside center, and Kiwi fullback Dylan Taikato-Simpson.
HOME FIELD
Glendale are unbeaten at Infinity Park and it will take some doing to break that this season. As a facility it is among the very best in the competition and every Raptors player knows it’s business time when they step on the pitch. Filling the 5,000 capacity venue has been a bit more difficult that they might have hoped. Another season near the top of the table might help put some more bums in seats.
HEAD COACH
Dave Williams has been a prominent figure in American rugby for some time. He represented the USA in both 7s and XVs and has since been part of both as a coach. He took over the top job at the Raptors in November 2016 and has not looked back, driving professionalism at the club from day one. Peter Borlase will be his top lieutenant this season, the former Canterbury prop focusing heavily on the set piece.
CAPTAIN
The incumbent Eagles scrumhalf Shaun Davies is the lynchpin in the Raptors side. A vocal leader who holds himself to the highest standards in preparation and performance. The speed that Davies clears the ball from the breakdown is critical to Glendale’s attack. Glendale will have to cope with his absence for international duty in the opening rounds.
KEY PLAYERS
As far as star power goes, few players in the league can match the trajectory of Hanco Germishuys. Whatever nickname you want to give him, the 22-year-old dynamo is near unstoppable once he gets going with ball in hand. He brings a different dimension to the Raptors attack and is likely the only forward in the league who will come close to topping the try-scoring chart.
The other half of the most influential halfback combination in MLR is Will Magie. A regular on the Eagles match day roster, the 26-year-old flyhalf is known for his decision making and a deadly accurate kicking game that punishes any winger or fullback who loses focus for even a moment. Magie is also among the top goal kickers in the league.
One of the breakthrough players of the 2018 season was wild card Mika Kruse. Able to play across the backline, he spent much of last season on the wing but should see the bulk of his time at outside center this season. Kruse is an electric ball carrier who can bamboozle defenses both with footwork and his uncanny passing skills.
ONE TO WATCH
It’s rare to see a front rower picking up long-range intercept tries, but the Chad Gough is not your average front rower. Though Zach Fenoglio remains the first choice rake, newcomer Gough should see plenty of game time and offers the speed and athleticism of a midfield back. If he can prove himself at the set piece there could be Eagles honors in his future.
STRENGTHS
One thing you won’t ever see is a Raptors team fading late in the game. Williams is a fitness guru and his teams always show up in shape. That conditioning allows Glendale the ability to choose the tempo throughout the 80 minutes, whether it’s high velocity or slowing things own to kill the clock. As one of if not the best prepared team in the league they are consistently tough to beat even at their worst.
QUESTIONS
There is no question that the Achilles heal of this team last season was the scrum. Seattle took them apart and weren’t the only team to cause them problems. The additions of Barker and Fepulea’i should be a considerable help but they won’t become world-beaters there overnight. The lineout is will drilled but lacks height with only Casey Rock of genuine international size.
Perhaps most important will be how they they navigate the early part of the season with their top players away at the Americas Rugby Championship. There looks to be sufficient depth with Petzer in particular a savvy addition but Carlo de Nysschen is relatively untested at scrumhalf and there isn’t really a wrecking ball to fill in for Germishuys.
OUTLOOK
Only a fool would bet against the Raptors being in the playoff picture once again. The departures of Landry, Figg, and Campbell in particular is a big loss but Glendale have done reasonably well in the recruitment department and boosted the front row in the process. Davies and Magie remain the best halfback combination and fitness-permitting that alone makes the Raptors title contenders.
TRANSFERS
IN: Jared Barker (PR, James Bay, CA), Marco Fepulea’i (PR, Auckland, NZ), Max Lum (PR, Southbridge, NZ), Chad Gough (HO, Utah Utes), Brendan Daly (LO, SFGG), Jonny Layne (LO, BYU), Hanco Germishuys (FL, Austin Elite), Will Munro (FL, Mâcon, FR), Dwayne Pienaar (FL, Roodepoort, SA), Malon Al-Jiboori (N8, San Diego Legion), Jason Damm (N8, Clemson), Colin Gregory (FH/FB, Clemson), Robbie Petzer (FH, Cheetahs, SA), Celester Asuega (CE/FB, Denver Barbarians), Campbell Johnstone (CE/WI, Mount St. Mary’s), Mateo Gadsden (WI, Back Bay), Dylan Taikato-Simpson (FB, Hautapu, NZ)
OUT: Nick Kwasniewski (PR), Dylan Fawsitt (HO, Rugby United New York), Ben Landry (LO, Ealing Trailfinders, UK), John Quill (FL, Rugby United New York), Brian Wanless (FL), Sam Figg (N8, NSW Country Eagles, AU), Grigor Kerdikoshvili (N8, Lelo Saracens, GE), Jake Christmann (SH, Utah Warriors), Bryce Campbell (CE, London Irish, UK), Seth Halliman (FB)
