The men to rescue Aussies from 'black hole' demons

When Wide World of Sports came calling for a Super Rugby Pacific preview piece I was obviously keen to oblige.

Some of the best memories in the game have come from golden sides in the competition.

The Reds year of mayhem and magic in 2011, the Brumbies of 2004 with Smith, Roff, Gregan, Larkham.

Watch all the action from the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, kicking off on February 23, with every match ad-free, live and and on demand on Stan Sport

The Brumbies celebrate winning the 2004 Super Rugby title in Canberra.

There’s 2014 with Bernard Foley’s 50m, championship winning penalty goal.

The Blues of 2003 with Spencer, Rokocoko, Rupeni and Mealamu.

The Crusaders of almost every era. Beautiful.

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Sean Maloney is Channel 9 and Stan Sport’s voice of rugby.

Unfortunately, when it came time to bang this yarn out, the words didn’t come easily.

There was a dark rugby cloud hanging over the keyboard.

The demons of the 2023 World Cup were still dragging me into a black hole.

I’d already lost countless hours of sleep over the campaign, but now the words were gone too.

So, needing closure and some level of cathartic release, I watched Stan’s freshest doco: ‘The Wallabies – Inside Rugby World Cup 2023.’

It’s a journey. I went from fetal position thumb sucking, to raging at the screen over some of the decisions made across the campaign.

For those with impressionable kids, know that it’ll be hard not to swear repeatedly at the TV.

Anyway, the knowing of what’s coming in terms of results, injuries and unhinged press conferences didn’t dull my watch at all.

Instead, I was struck by how much the players hurt.

The hurt during brutal extended training sessions. The hurt when the results stacked up against them.

The unprecedented hurt of copping a record loss to Wales and the World Cup dream dying in the process.

By the end of episode three, I came out with a higher appreciation of the players who represent our country. I felt better. I still don’t know why Michael Hooper wasn’t in France, but I had closure enough.

Now, we get to once again see those men do their thing weekly in Super Rugby.

With a new Wallabies coach in Joe Schmidt to impress, better days are ahead on the field.

Here’s a look at the Aussie sides in 2024.

ACT BRUMBIES

The benchmark for Aussie clubs.

This will be coach Stephen Larkham’s second year in charge after returning from overseas and he has a beautifully settled squad to work with.

Flyhalf Noah Lolesio now boasts European experience after time in Toulon while powerhouse No.8 Rob Valetini was crowned Wallabies player of the year last week.

Throw in grizzled old men like James Slipper, Cadeyrn Neville and a fit again Alan Alaalatoa and they’re rightful favourites to top the Aussie teams.

Len Ikitau of the Brumbies in action at AAMI Park.

WHO TO WATCH: Len Ikitau

How this bloke wasn’t picked for the World Cup is absolutely beyond me. I’ll never get it, ever.

Now ‘Lenny’ has a chance to treat us to some of his good stuff in Brumbies colours.

He’s a rock in defence, has smarts with the ball and a beautiful long, left boot to get the Brumbies away from their own try line.

Worked great with Tamati Tua last year. Potential player of the year.

WELCOME BACK: Alan Alaalatoa

The hard as nails captain and front rower suffered an Achilles blowout vs New Zealand last year but should hopefully be back in the middle sooner rather than later.

Knocks blokes over for fun and is a world class scrummager.

MARQUEE MATCH-UP: Their rivalry with Queensland has emerged as one of the best in the competition.

They appear to genuinely hate the Reds when the ref calls time on.

Always a must watch.

MELBOURNE REBELS

There’s a real sadness to the club’s off-field plight, particularly given the strength of players that coach Kevin Foote has assembled for this season.

The big name signing is obviously Taniela Tupou but he also has Wallabies in Andrew Kellaway, Rob Leota, Carter Gordon and Pone Fa’amausili.

Emerging locals Josh Canham and Daniel Maiava look to have bright futures as well.

Hard to know how the front office dramas may impact a team who took down both the Waratahs and Reds last year.

WHO TO WATCH: Darby Lancaster

Yes he’s a rookie. Yes he’s only 20.

I really believe this kid could be something bright for Aussie rugby over coming years though.

Lachie Anderson, Corey Toole, Tim Anstee and Ben O’Donnell have all shown the jump from Aussie sevens into Super Rugby is more than possible.

Lancaster is proper quality and has an enormous ceiling.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of the Wallabies wins a lineout.

WELCOME BACK: Lukhan Salakai-Loto

The former Reds and Wallabies lock has been fronting up with Northampton Saints in the Premiership over the last few years.

A huge athletic presence with legit international bones now, Salakai-Loto will be massive for Melbourne.

MARQUEE MATCH-UP: I’ve never seen a Rebels vs Force game that didn’t offer up spice and a tight scoreline.

Always fun, always unpredictable.

NSW WARATAHS

It’s been reported Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has been given only four weeks to prove himself worthy to stay in the job beyond this year.

Never mind the season runs 15 weeks, nor the fact they’ve been handed a brutal draw to start 2024.

Put this ultimatum in the ‘let’s start up a Super Rugby team in Hawaii’ file.

Darren Coleman of the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.

‘DC’ had the audacity to stick his head up last year and declare his team were one of ‘the’ sides to beat. How dare he.

Unfortunately, a shocking run of injuries followed and they were unable to reach their own goals.

Despite preseason results not being been great, they’ve got too good a coach and squad not to make a dent.

WHO TO WATCH: Max Jorgensen

Scored two tries in his Super Rugby debut last year… as an 18-year-old!

Sadly, injury cruelled him at the back end of the year and again as part of the Wallabies squad in France.

Possesses lightning pace, is supremely balanced and deceptively strong.

Freakishly talented outside back who will be a Super Rugby veteran by his 21st birthday.

Miles Amatosero of the Waratahs.

WELCOME BACK: Miles Amatosero

The boom youngster comes back to Sydney after a few years taking names in the French Top 14 with Clermont.

He’s a giant of a human, tipping the scales at 125kg and standing over 206cm.

Huge locks have been hard to find for the Tahs in recent times and he might just be a good one.

MARQUEE MATCH-UP: Waratahs vs Blues is always a fun one, that’s rolling around in week four.

Depending on how things go in the first few rounds and depending on whether or not NSW decision makers stand firm, it may also be the game that secures Coleman a contract extension.

QUEENSLAND REDS

These guys have got some real smoke about them this season.

They smack of smokiness.

They’ve a new, accomplished, well respected and highly likeable coach in Les Kiss and look to have a squad of early 20s veterans.

It feels like we’ve been talking about Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott, Liam Wright and Jordan Petaia for a decade.

Those same pathway players form the nucleus for a very dangerous 2024 Reds vintage.

You toss in Hunter Paisami, James O’Connor and Seru Uru and all of a sudden you’ve got a ready made finals threat.

‘We are Red’ indeed.

Seru Uru of the Reds makes a linebreak at GIO Stadium.

WHO TO WATCH: Seru Uru

He’s done some great things at Super Rugby level but I believe he can become a regular Test footballer this year.

Looked superb in the preseason and could potentially give cover for jerseys numbered 4-8.

Also holds one of the best names in the competition to commentate.

‘Uuuuuuruuuuuuuuu.’

England coach Eddie Jones talks to London Irish coach Les Kiss in 2019.

WELCOME BACK: Les Kiss

A weird one highlighting a coach, I know, but when an Aussie heads overseas, grafts, learns, gets good, then returns, it’s worth celebrating.

He went from the Waratahs over to Ulster in Ireland before joining London Irish.

He’s proven at the top level and could be the key to unlocking this quality outfit.

MARQUEE MATCH-UP: As mentioned above, you can’t go past Reds vs Brumbies and they’re on a collision course for round six.

Last year they split their results and it’s likely going the same way in 2024 between the Aussie heavyweights.

WESTERN FORCE

There’s something endearing about the way the Force just go about their business over in Perth.

They copped the draw from hell last year but didn’t complain, just got on with it.

There were wild wins at home against Moana Pasifika, the Rebels and the Highlanders coupled with near misses in New Zealand vs the Blues and Hurricanes.

The Force is strong in 2024 💪 The squad tackle the big questions ahead of the new season.

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Morgan Turinui, Michael Atkinson and I checked in over there in late January and they’re a rock solid group.

Simon Cron has picked up a brilliant ball runner in Will Harris along with the culture king, Nic White.

Expect more ambushes in the Golden West at the hands of the well supported Force.

Jeremy Williams of the Force looks to break through.

WHO TO WATCH: Jeremy Williams

The recently appointed captain is a fresh face at the leadership level but has shown through 29 caps he’s got the ticker to take his team forward.

First with the Waratahs, Williams adds an abrasive element around the park along with silky lineout skills.

WELCOME BACK: Harry Potter.

The utility back made the jump from Shute Shield footy in Sydney to the Premiership with Leicester Tigers, scoring 20 tries across 67 appearances.

Potter, who is qualified for both Australia and England, was highly regarded at Welford Road and gives coach Cron some excellent options across the backline.

MARQUEE MATCH-UP: The masters of countless upsets in their own backyard, I’ve circled the first big name they look likely to drop and we won’t be waiting long.

With the weather predicted to hit 37 degrees in Perth on Friday, I reckon the Force get conditions to suit against the Hurricanes and sneak a win.