dru
David Wilson (68)
It's potentially a massive issue and I trust Lynagh firmly places himself first. Hopefully it all settles and play on. If not, look after yourself ,Tom.
Queensland Reds 2026
- Thread starter Adam84
- Start date
It's potentially a massive issue and I trust Lynagh firmly places himself first. Hopefully it all settles and play on. If not, look after yourself ,Tom.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
I'm almost certain he's not currently available, but it'd be a great time to bring Isaac Lucas back, particularly if we do lose Campbell. Covers 10 and 15 pretty much equally, has racked up a fair bit of pro experience now and has played plenty of rugby with a fair bit of our current team.
Going even further him and Hockings would be a pretty perfect pair, though I can't see us having the cap space for a Hockings if we couldn't hold onto either of Smith or Blyth. Probably depends on whether or not there is any RA interest in bringing them back (aside from availability).
Going even further him and Hockings would be a pretty perfect pair, though I can't see us having the cap space for a Hockings if we couldn't hold onto either of Smith or Blyth. Probably depends on whether or not there is any RA interest in bringing them back (aside from availability).
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Props is not the worst even with Gibbon and Hodgman leaving - is Faagase staying? But I'd be keeping JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) on THP as much as possible as Nonggoor can be craptastic and until Deluttis gets goodtastic
LHP: Ross, JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen)
THP: Nonggoor, Deluttis
Both: Faagase
Developing: King & Bloomfield
Though tbh I'd probably go
1. Ross 3. JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen)
17. Faagase 18. Deluttis
Adam84
John Eales (66)
Nonggorr was often the one playing LHP late in the games when JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) came on at THP
Behind King & Bloomfield, you also have Kingsly Uys signed, who is a couple of years away, but in terms of planning, it's one to consider.
George Blake is the other one. He might be an upgrade on Sef.
Ignoto
John Hipwell (52)
I don't think we'd be able to afford Hockings. I would imagine Blyth is being paid an extra $100 - $200k a season at the Tahs than here which would probably be less than Hockings?
Is there any up and coming tall timber in our Academies? I can see we could definitely use a "Van Humphries" signing to fill the hole Smith and Blyth left with a young fella coming in.
We desperately need to re-look at our centres. Henry has demonstrated we can't rely on him and Frankie is a TBA.
The planning seems pretty good in the front row.
LHP = Faagase (34), Ross (30), Blake (24) Uys (17?)
THP = JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) (34), Nonggorr (24), De Luttis (22), Bloomfield (21), King (20)
Tight head we seem particularly set for the next few years. But I would still love to get Lehopo Leota back from France. I saw he's already debuted for Racing 92 pro 14 side a couple of times.
At loosehead, Ross is a great pick up as we probably can't rely on Sef for much longer you would think. Uys needs to be afforded as much time as possible - he's 2 or 3 years away minimum. Like leota it would be amazing get Macarius Pereira back some how.
Wrong thread but Blake is Cook Island heritage and if fit he could come off the bench in the PI/FN game against the lions.
Yeah the midfield desperately needs some variation of size.
Trevor Hosea if affordable, he could be really useful. Angelo Smith as an (unreliable) backup.
We have some good tall timber coming through, but they're not gonna be ready for another few years at minimum.
Lucas seems basically the same as Lynagh and HMP. I think Hockings has a fair bit to offer. Height and aggression.
If debreczeni is available I'd try running him at centre. Maybe too slow and inexperienced there though.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Could make an adequate fullback if Campbell leaves.
JRugby2
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Maybe but I just question the value for money. They would no doubt be commanding more vs when they left - but are they delivering a higher level of play? Not sure from what the admittedly little I've seen from Japan that, that is where they should go.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
I haven't watched enough Japanese rugby to know for sure, but great is really more of a question for RA in terms of contracting, we're unlikely to be paying them a Reds wage alone if we were to lure them back.
Would they add to/improve the Reds squad as it stands? Almost certainly, particularly Lucas in a situation where we are losing Campbell. My main point around suggesting these guys is that we should be looking to the high level pros that have left the Reds to fill gaps in our squad first up. We won't find everything we need in former Reds, but if you hold any belief in the Gainline Analytics ideas around cohesion then we should ideally be looking to bring it in where possible, over similar players coming in cold that we might otherwise find in the market. Whether or not we can get them at a competitive price remains to be seen, but eligibility changes in Japan mean their market value might not be quite as high as it once was, and anyone who left under Thorn might be keen to come back into a new environment, particularly to put themselves in front of a coach who will be moving into the wallabies role after a season.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Yeah, Hockings is pretty unlikely and would probably only make sense if he was coming in on an RA top up which seems unlikely. Always worth talking to them though, and there's a chance we we might be able to if we were to look at him as a replacement for Smith and Blyth with more lock cover coming from the back row and 20s coming through. There is a bit of a now or never to it too - he's right on the cusp of Japanese eligibility, if he doesn't hear from anyone in Australia then he'll almost certainly go through with it, if there's clear interest back home than maybe he has second thoughts and decides he wants to chase the wallabies dream.
Wilson
John Eales (66)
From all reports Debreczeni is weighing up another go around with the Brumbies against retiring into a coaching role. I doubt he's seriously entertaining external offers, and it's unlikely he'd be worth what it would take to lure him away. More to the point I'm not sure it's worth bringing in someone with his injury profile at his age and level, I doubt we'd ever see the pay off.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Another thing to factor into 2026 and beyond signings, is the fact Kiss won't be around after the season.
It will be important for the Reds to assess their coaching stocks, alongside the needs of Kiss at the Wallabies and hopefully provide some early clarity around the succession plan. Good coaches can be enough of a carrot to players to take a bit of a haircut if they feel like they'll be supported and in a good environment.
It will be important for the Reds to assess their coaching stocks, alongside the needs of Kiss at the Wallabies and hopefully provide some early clarity around the succession plan. Good coaches can be enough of a carrot to players to take a bit of a haircut if they feel like they'll be supported and in a good environment.
Watched them play earlier this year, they were both fine, didn't exactly stand out, and TJP was being preferred at first receiver. Think you've got better athletes than Lucas.
Nuggetyflyhalf
Allen Oxlade (6)
a smooth coach transition is going to be very important for the club
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Hockings will play for Japan at the WC -
Trevor Hosea might be a more reasonable option but if the Reds are looking, so will be the Force. They are losing Carter so need a 3rd decent lock but so too will the Brumbies potentially lose Neville - so could be a starting berth there ahead of Shaw, especially with the loss of Hooper which means a great opportunity for a strong player. Potential starter for Australias best team? Yes please.
In terms of non top up money available for a decent lock, the Reds are probably in the worst position (sadly)
Only edit maybeeee that with Blyth and Philip to the Tahs to join Grant who is contracted through 2026, means Amatosero is available and would be a good option to go south, north or west.
Trevor Hosea might be a more reasonable option but if the Reds are looking, so will be the Force. They are losing Carter so need a 3rd decent lock but so too will the Brumbies potentially lose Neville - so could be a starting berth there ahead of Shaw, especially with the loss of Hooper which means a great opportunity for a strong player. Potential starter for Australias best team? Yes please.
In terms of non top up money available for a decent lock, the Reds are probably in the worst position (sadly)
Only edit maybeeee that with Blyth and Philip to the Tahs to join Grant who is contracted through 2026, means Amatosero is available and would be a good option to go south, north or west.