Queensland Reds 2025

[Major Tom]

It's not the referees even calling the offsides, they're usually watching the ruck, it's the AR's who are more often then not calling offside

Yeah I know that’s how it works. But it’s a hard watch when you know that the ref will find an offside 9/10 when a team is 5m out. Just seems far too difficult for the defensive team to be able to defend and it’s making the game a bit too predictable for me. I don’t know what the solution is.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I was at the game tonight (reds v waratahs at lang park) with the sports ears. Almost every offside penalty blown when they were defending their try line was due to hands on the ground being past the feet of the attackers by the defending team. Multiple calls every time.

I have to ask the view of the many learned punters on this site.

Is the there a fundamental misunderstanding of the offside rule in regards to hands being past the feet of the opposition when they are standing and defending on their own try line?

As there were a significant amount of penalties given in this situation as compared to offside penalties when defenders are not defending their try line, It may be the case there is a misunderstanding on the part of the referees, the touch judges (who were the officials that called most of these penalties via their on field comms to the on field ref) or the players?

WR (World Rugby) put out info to everyone in this in around 2015/2016. It was in our Australian game management guidelines from then for a while, presumably now the powers that be consider it well known enough that it doesn't need to be in there anymore.

Players know they can't do it. But it works when it's done and not pinged. It's just a really easy penalty for ARs and refs to spot when they want to penalise someone

 

[JRugby2]

Yeah I know that’s how it works. But it’s a hard watch when you know that the ref will find an offside 9/10 when a team is 5m out. Just seems far too difficult for the defensive team to be able to defend and it’s making the game a bit too predictable for me. I don’t know what the solution is.

Its just a game circumstance that gets more attention.

you rarely see pillars setting themselves up that low anywhere else on the ground as they don’t need to, and referees give it more attention because when the ball is at the back of ruck ready for a pick and go 2m from the tryline, what else do they really need to focus on.

solution is be aware of where you put your hands when setting yourself up as a pillar defender on the goal line, not like the 10cm your stealing is gonna make a major difference anyway

 

[Cole]

Hopefully not true, but I heard today that Mason Gordon's season may be over due to his ongoing concussion problems. Evidently he has had multiple, 5 or 6, within last 12 - 18 months and he is still having symptoms from his most recent one a month ago. Terrible news for the young guy, but you have to look after you head. Hopefully he is ok

 

[Major Tom]

Hopefully not true, but I heard today that Mason Gordon's season may be over due to his ongoing concussion problems. Evidently he has had multiple, 5 or 6, within last 12 - 18 months and he is still having symptoms from his most recent one a month ago. Terrible news for the young guy, but you have to look after you head. Hopefully he is ok

Well that's shit...

 

[Adam84]

That is disappointing news for the guy; besides the obvious depth issue it creates for the Reds, it's horrible for a young player to be having these kinds of issues so early on in their career.

 

[PhilClinton]

Yeh that is a shame for Mason. I am a bit concerned Lynagh may end up in a similar situation, he puts his body on the line in defence quite a bit.

A couple of interesting narratives which are kind of related to this. After the Super W on the weekend, the 7s girls who played were all very vocal about how much more physical the 15s game was and how many extra collisions they were in. A couple sounded a bit skeptical about doing it long term.

In comes back to a few conversations I had years ago, where some of the QRU and QRL well-being officers actually had an informal 'task force' to discuss the future of the 15 and 13-man games in regards to concussion and how to better integrate 7s and 9s as genuine pathways. There was research being done around the reduction in collisions and head knocks etc.

But interestingly, since then, both comps have seemed to drop off those versions of the game. World Rugby is looking to cut the 7s tour back and the NRL basically have no officially involvement with any 9s competitions.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yeh that is a shame for Mason. I am a bit concerned Lynagh may end up in a similar situation, he puts his body on the line in defence quite a bit.

A couple of interesting narratives which are kind of related to this. After the Super W on the weekend, the 7s girls who played were all very vocal about how much more physical the 15s game was and how many extra collisions they were in. A couple sounded a bit skeptical about doing it long term.

In comes back to a few conversations I had years ago, where some of the QRU and QRL well-being officers actually had an informal 'task force' to discuss the future of the 15 and 13-man games in regards to concussion and how to better integrate 7s and 9s as genuine pathways. There was research being done around the reduction in collisions and head knocks etc.

But interestingly, since then, both comps have seemed to drop off those versions of the game. World Rugby is looking to cut the 7s tour back and the NRL basically have no officially involvement with any 9s competitions.

Tough little bugger but it does shorten a career to continually take shots.

I definitely think a some of the 7s players have a target on them as well by incumbent Wallaroos and it's good for the comp and depth. The thought that these players will walk into the 15s might have irked a few others.

I personally think 7s is going to completely slide back into the background of Rugby like it was in the mid 2000s. Had a pick up with Olympic inclusion but I think it's gone fairly stale now.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Yeh that is a shame for Mason. I am a bit concerned Lynagh may end up in a similar situation, he puts his body on the line in defence quite a bit.

A couple of interesting narratives which are kind of related to this. After the Super W on the weekend, the 7s girls who played were all very vocal about how much more physical the 15s game was and how many extra collisions they were in. A couple sounded a bit skeptical about doing it long term.

In comes back to a few conversations I had years ago, where some of the QRU and QRL well-being officers actually had an informal 'task force' to discuss the future of the 15 and 13-man games in regards to concussion and how to better integrate 7s and 9s as genuine pathways. There was research being done around the reduction in collisions and head knocks etc.

But interestingly, since then, both comps have seemed to drop off those versions of the game. World Rugby is looking to cut the 7s tour back and the NRL basically have no officially involvement with any 9s competitions.

I thought the research showed that there was a significantly higher concussion risk playing sevens than in 15s?

 

[PhilClinton]

I thought the research showed that there was a significantly higher concussion risk playing sevens than in 15s?

I didn't keep up with it, but yes potentially. As I mentioned all I know is the discussions stopped and both respective sporting bodies seem to have pushed aside their plans to expand on 7s and 9s.

If the research didn't support them, then it would make sense to stop wasting their time.

 

[JRugby2]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) back this week - could spell the end of Blyths Red's career

 

[Adam84]

I really like Blyth and think he has a fair bit to offer Australian Rugby, he is just clearly sitting down the pecking order with the logjam at the Reds.

If LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is back and Blyth is likely to drop out of the squad, he might be the kind of player who should be loaned to the Waratahs given their issues at lock.

 

[Wilson]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) back this week - could spell the end of Blyths Red's career

I think there will still be some rotation throughout the season, even if there are no injuries, but it is probably the beginning of the end.

 

[JRugby2]

I really like Blyth and think he has a fair bit to offer Australian Rugby, he is just clearly sitting down the pecking order with the logjam at the Reds.

If LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is back and Blyth is likely to drop out of the squad, he might be the kind of player who should be loaned to the Waratahs given their issues at lock.

Yeah I don't mind this - he's clearly at a higher level than QPR, but also clearly behind the likes of Smith, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Canham.

 

[TSR]

I imagine that the initial move will be to give Canham & Smith a break to keep them fresh. If Salakaia-Loto is ready for this weekend I won’t be surprised if one of those two gets a break.

I also won’t be surprised if Blyth gets a start against some if the Kiwi teams - particularly the Blues - where we need to physically match up.

 

[Wilson]

Yeah I don't mind this - he's clearly at a higher level than QPR, but also clearly behind the likes of Smith, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Canham.

If there's an injury crisis than it can be explored, I don't think players moving between teams mid season just because they're better than what that team has serves the competition or it's credibility.

The other side of it is what compensation the Reds would need to allow it - while they'd always be able to recall him in the event of injury it's not the same as having him training with the squad available. There's going to be a limit on what can be offered though, the tahs are not an independent org anymore but RA stepping in with 'RA' resources (as opposed to ones specifically for the tahs) might not be so well received, wither by the Reds or the other states, particularly if the Brumbies or Force are interested in signing him for next year. The simplest way would be a player trade, but given the Reds need is largely at fullback right now, I'm not sure the tahs are going to be willing to part with Jorgensen, Kellaway or Sua'ali'i to make it happen. Kailea is the most likely candidate as a wallaby also outside the 23, but that probably only works if there's a significant injury to a loosehead at the Reds.

It would also effectively mean the Reds had given up on retaining him, so I don't think it'll happen either way until Smith (and possibly Uru) has been re-signed.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

A couple of interesting narratives which are kind of related to this. After the Super W on the weekend, the 7s girls who played were all very vocal about how much more physical the 15s game was and how many extra collisions they were in. A couple sounded a bit skeptical about doing it long term.

I went to the game. It was clear that the Tahs were giving it to Tegan Levi (physically and with the chat). Fredericks and Stewart certainly made a point of it.

Physicality was always going to be different however these girls are well equipped backed on their professional background compared to the majority of Super Rugby Women's players who are amateurs.

Akira and Reiko Ioane got bashed when they transitioned from 7s to 15s. They were physically dominant players in 7s too. It takes some time

 

[Dctarget]

McReight is out, Wright is out, depth in the backrow is tested. Might see Salakaia-Loto return through the bench as a backrow reservist. Speaking of, who's the replacement 7?

 

[Wilson]

McReight is out, Wright is out, depth in the backrow is tested. Might see Salakaia-Loto return through the bench as a backrow reservist. Speaking of, who's the replacement 7?

Salakaia-Loto is coming back through the bench according to Kiss, they might look at him as a backrow from the bench but I don't think it's the most likely outcome. It will likely be Bryant at 7, who did a very good job filling in for McReight when he was suspended last year. Brial an outside chance too, but he'll probably hold his bench spot.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

McReight is out, Wright is out, depth in the backrow is tested. Might see Salakaia-Loto return through the bench as a backrow reservist. Speaking of, who's the replacement 7?

Backrow depth is solid. Bryant is gun. I'd be worried that if he doesn't get time this season he might head south