Recent content by TSR

Gordon is capable of a good game. But none of his performances this year have been better than what White or McDermott produced and most of them have been sub par. White & McDermott also have to deal with players flopping on the ruck and how the forwards are matching up. Before this years...

Wholesale changes are likely to make things even worse - but targeted changes and a big training focus on reducing the basis errors. I’d like to see Skelton, Salakai-Loto or Canham (in that order) in for one of Frost or Williams. And wouldn’t mind seeming the next one in the order in the bench...

I thought Bobby V still looked off too - but then I checked the stats and he had 12 runs in the time he was on the field and he also made some strong tackles. Maybe not as far off we think - just not good enough to turn around a generally ordinary team performance.

I think the change happened a few years ago and some of the kids have been signed to senior squad contracts for 2025 and for 2026. But will still be a bit off being established test players. Jorgenson is probably the front end of it. But then there is guys like Wilson, Ieli, De Lutiis, Martens...

Okay. That timing does seem odd. Anyway - not relevant to this game so I’ll leave it.

Isn’t Schmidt gone after the next two games? I mean, I get people are frustrated but there isn’t someone else coming in now before the end of his tenure.

3. McReight 2. Hooper 1. Valetini Edit: changed my 1 point to Valetini from Tupou. No where near his best but the stats show he had 12 carries in his time in the field and I remember a couple of good tackles too. And since I was rewarding Tupou off 47 minutes and for being better than he was...

A couple of observations from me - - Schmidt must regret tying himself to Fisher’s ‘connected line speed’ defence. It’s been our biggest issue and continues to be - although our ability in the air is a close second - early in the season our discipline was very good. Now we seem to have fallen...

From my vantage point (a long way away) it seems that the reform has started. There seems to be improvement in our pathways system. But, like you say, it is going to take a long time for us to see the benefits at the top level. And not only is no one else standing still but the assaults on our...

If only Donaldson had taken his chance when he was given it. He’d be up to like 20 or so tests now.

Salakai-Loto, Canham & Uru are all athletic guys with passing/offloading games. From the very little I’ve seen of Muller he’s very mobile as well. It says to me the are going to continue to play pretty up tempo. I’m not sure it necessarily means they play in the wider channels - maybe. My only...

Isn’t Ikitau out because his wife is due?

I agree as a player that his strengths appear best suited to 6 or 8. I’m just saying that the best season he has played at the Reds, IMO, was 2 yrs ago. And, from memory, he played predominantly as a lock. I don’t remember it nullifying his game at all. Which doesn't mean that lock is his...

I always thought Uru was better at backrow. But his best year for the Reds was two years ago as a lock. I don’t see him ever pushing for higher honours as a lock, but he’s very able at Super level.

Assuming he’s passed his HIA protocols I wouldn’t mind seeing Canham named instead of Williams this week. I think Canham still has some way to go as a top level lock - but he is one of the more athletic options available and has the bit of extra size Williams doesn’t have. I think Williams has...