QLD Reds 2010

[TOCC]

Townsville vs Darling Downs(DD) will be the curtain raiser match for the Reds vs Blues game at Ballymore, should be good, i know a lot of the DD boys are pretty excited to play at Ballymore for the first time. Its also the first season the DD have actually had a set program, they have been training for the past couple of months after been shown up last year in the State Comp, expect a big improvement in 2010.


Also the rumour is that Quade Cooper is expected back for the Force trial match after putting in the hard yards off the field, have Genia and Ioane become mentors to Quade...

So without QR, a quasi government body, as sponsor, does that mean no obligation to Suncorp and a possible return to Ballymore?

that would be correct, for those who dont know QR and the Reds have a contractual obligation to play at Suncorp Stadium, the obvious reason been that there is no train station at Ballymore and tends to make a mockery of QR sponsoring the Reds.

 

[RugbyReg]

February 6 QAS Reds 2nd XV v Australian Barbarians Ballymore 7:30pm
February 13 QAS Reds 2nd XV v Premier XV Suncorp 4:25pm
February 24 QAS Reds 2nd XV v CASI (ARG) Ballymore 7:15pm
February 28 QAS Reds 2nd XV v Waratah A Ballymore No.2 3:00pm
March 7 Waratah A v QAS Reds 2nd XV Away 3:00pm

QLD A games.

No matches v Brumbies A or Force A? Unfortunate.

 

[Ash]

I think that a return to Ballymore in its current state, though, would merely be heralding the beginning of the end for the Reds. The ground has so many issues, not the least being difficult access for spectators and completely stone age corporate facilities compared to Suncorp. At best they could think of playing a game that would get a small crowd anyway (eg vs the Cheetahs or Lions or Highlanders) at Ballymore, but changing grounds in the season pisses off fans and corporate support, not to mention creates problems with season tickets and corporate boxes/suites, etc etc.

Whilst no doubt significantly cheaper, I think that a return to the current Ballymore for the Reds would end up being a disaster, and they'd be moving back to Suncorp (if they could afford it) within a year or two.

 

[RugbyReg]

totally agree. The Reds would only move if the Roar did.

And if the Roar and the Reds moved the govt would have to backflip on renting costs to get them back using Suncorp.

In the end a move by the Roar could be a good thing for the Reds as it would get some usage back at Ballymore and it might encourage the govt (or Ogden?) to relook at their hiring policies.

 

[Moses]

No matches v Force A? Unfortunate.

Why not just play QLD A vs QLD B.. same thing right?

 

[RugbyReg]

hmmmm apparently they do just give out that funniest poster award...

 

[RugbyReg]

Aust Barbarians named for QLD A game on Saturday

1 Prop Cole Mooney Gold Coast
2 Hooker Andrew Coady Brothers
3 Prop Adrian Dixon Brothers
4 Lock Rubin Fuimaono Gold Coast
5 Lock Tom Murday Sunnybank
6 Flanker Martin Collins Gold Coast
7 Flanker Chris Johnson Souths
8 No 8 Paula Kaho Souths
9 Scrumhalf Sam Batty Country
10 Flyhalf Michael Zovko Souths
11 Wing Nicky Price Brothers
12 Centre Nathanuel Gendle Brothers
13 Centre James Harvey Brothers
14 Wing Rex Tapuai Sunnybank
15 Fullback Thomas Cox Sunshine Coast


16 Hooker Ryan Schultz Norths
17 Prop Sam Cummins Easts
18 Prop Brett Nayler GPS
19 Lock Geoff Ingram GPS
20 Flanker Mitch Francis Gold Coast
21 Scrumhalf Ian Prior University
22 Centre Fred Tuua Souths
23 Centre Ian Aokuso Wests

 

[spectator]

Where did they get the team title "Australian Barbarians" from? Very 'Brisbane club' this team, but at least the Academy guys are playing matches.

 

[RugbyReg]

Some interesting stuff here.

QR Reds backrower Ezra Taylor has been crowned King of the Gym after pipping Scott Higginbotham on the final day of preseason strength testing.

Head Performance Coach Damian Marsh tested the players four times over the course of the offseason with Higginbotham taking the lead from early leader Blair Connor to head into the final day of testing as favourite.

But it was Taylor's consistency across all disciplines that eventually earned him bragging rights for 2010. Higginbotham hung on to finish in second place while scrumhalf Will Genia came in third.

The 111kg backrower Taylor tied for first in two of the five disciplines tested - vertical leap and bench pull – while Digby Ioane, Aidan Toua and Albert Anae were impressive in winning the bodyweight bench press, chin-ups and bench press competitions respectively.

Taylor and wing Rod Davies split the honours in the vertical leap with a 79cm jump, while Taylor and Higginbotham tied in the bench pull with a lift of 135kg.

QAS Reds Academy prop Anae lifted a personal best 175kg for the one repetition bench press, Toua completed 20 chin-ups, and Ioane bench pressed his 95kg frame 27 times.

“We’ve got some really strong boys with Higginbotham, Genia, Connor and Ioane so to win King of the Gym is pretty tough,” Marsh said.

“All the players showed a capacity for great improvement and some of the guys have come a long way. The key for us now is to make sure those gains are evident on the park otherwise it doesn’t mean much.”

In other preseason testing Ioane won the two-kilometre run in a time of 7.40 minutes, beating second placed finisher and 201cm giant Adam Byrnes by a mere eight seconds.

Marsh praised the 116kg lock for beating all but Wallaby powerhouse Ioane in the run despite having to carry such a solid frame.

“Byrnesy has got a really big engine and he has got the capacity to really keep going. He’s mentally able to push himself through that bit of pain which helps him as well,” Marsh said.

Marsh will now taper the squad’s training towards maintaining, rather than building, their strength throughout the season.

 

[Geronimo]

Where did they get the team title "Australian Barbarians" from? Very 'Brisbane club' this team, but at least the Academy guys are playing matches.

I have just made this point in another thread. Next week they play a Premier XV in the curtain raiser. What is the difference?

 

[chief]

Is it the Darling Downs open team? Or is it like the Under 18 team? For the Pre-Game at Ballymore before the Blues match.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Some interesting stuff here.

QR Reds backrower Ezra Taylor has been crowned King of the Gym after pipping Scott Higginbotham on the final day of preseason strength testing.

Head Performance Coach Damian Marsh tested the players four times over the course of the offseason ...

... the five disciplines tested - vertical leap and bench pull – ... the bodyweight bench press, chin-ups and bench press.

It's hard for old blokes to keep up with the latest developments in exercise science, but this old gym junkie is scratching his head at the mix of exercises used by Head Performance Coach Damian Marsh to determine the Reds squad's "King of the Gym".

One of the first things that I was taught decades ago was that weight training for a particular sport should focus on developing capacities relevant to that sport. Rugby is primarily characterised by running and attempting to push forward against resistance. For both activities lower body strength is paramount.

The "five disciplines tested" in the Reds' "preseason strength testing" comprised "vertical leap and bench pull", "bodyweight bench press, chin-ups and bench press". However, of these only one related to lower body strength while four were focussed on the upper body.

The vertical leap is recognised as an effective measure of lower body power output with obvious relevance to the key capacities needed for rugby.

By contrast the bench press is an exercise with little or no specificity for playing rugby. It is difficult to think of any aspect of the game which requires pushing away from the body with the hands. So it seems strange that two of the five disciplines tested are variations of the bench press - a one rep max strength test and pressing one's bodyweight to failure.

The other exercises, "bench pull" and "chin-ups", involve pulling toward the body and have somewhat more relevance to the demands of the sport, e.g., in attempting to wrestle the ball away from an opponent or trying to securely grasp an opponent in the tackle situation or at the breakdown.

It certainly appears that there is an illogical imbalance between lower and upper body tasks in the exercises used in the testing, particularly given the absence of the squat.

 

[liquor box]

[/quote] His throwing at the lineout seemed quite accurate on Saturday [/quote]

This has sadly been forgotten in Australian Rugby for a while, we look for reasons why a hooker is so good that we forgive them for their poor throws.

I would love a hooker who gave us the opportunity to win every throw, it would be great if at the end of the season the only throws lost were because of the jumpers, not the throwers.

He will become a good hooker, he is only just getting "Man" muscles and should be an asset to the team. He will be starting by the last week of the season in my opinion

 

[TOCC]

Some interesting stuff here.

QR Reds backrower Ezra Taylor has been crowned King of the Gym after pipping Scott Higginbotham on the final day of preseason strength testing.

Head Performance Coach Damian Marsh tested the players four times over the course of the offseason ...

... the five disciplines tested - vertical leap and bench pull – ... the bodyweight bench press, chin-ups and bench press.

It's hard for old blokes to keep up with the latest developments in exercise science, but this old gym junkie is scratching his head at the mix of exercises used by Head Performance Coach Damian Marsh to determine the Reds squad's "King of the Gym".

One of the first things that I was taught decades ago was that weight training for a particular sport should focus on developing capacities relevant to that sport. Rugby is primarily characterised by running and attempting to push forward against resistance. For both activities lower body strength is paramount.

The "five disciplines tested" in the Reds' "preseason strength testing" comprised "vertical leap and bench pull", "bodyweight bench press, chin-ups and bench press". However, of these only one related to lower body strength while four were focussed on the upper body.

The vertical leap is recognised as an effective measure of lower body power output with obvious relevance to the key capacities needed for rugby.

By contrast the bench press is an exercise with little or no specificity for playing rugby. It is difficult to think of any aspect of the game which requires pushing away from the body with the hands. So it seems strange that two of the five disciplines tested are variations of the bench press - a one rep max strength test and pressing one's bodyweight to failure.

The other exercises, "bench pull" and "chin-ups", involve pulling toward the body and have somewhat more relevance to the demands of the sport, e.g., in attempting to wrestle the ball away from an opponent or trying to securely grasp an opponent in the tackle situation or at the breakdown.

It certainly appears that there is an illogical imbalance between lower and upper body tasks in the exercises used in the testing, particularly given the absence of the squat.

I see what your saying, but rather then discarding bench press and including more leg exercises i think they should have probably just included more leg exercises, like a shuttle run with weights or max squat.

Bench press whilst directly may not be relevant to rugby its the motor skill and strength required for bench press which is relevant, especiall in the forwards.

 

[RugbyReg]

Bruce,

no comment when the Tahs strongman awards were listed?

Berrick Barnes has made an immediate impact with the HSBC Waratahs by taking out the 2010 Strongman event.
2010 Stronman Berrick Barnes is presented with the trophy by 2009 victor, Damien Fitzpatrick.

2010 Stronman Berrick Barnes is presented with the trophy by 2009 victor, Damien Fitzpatrick.

2010 Stronman Berrick Barnes is presented with the trophy by 2009 victor, Damien Fitzpatrick. [2010 HSBC Waratahs Strongman; IBM Centre, Moore Park; 17/12/09]

The competition has been held on an annual basis over the last five Super Rugby pre-seasons, with each squad member measured over six different disciplines in the gym.

While Barnes was unable to compete in two disciplines due to his recovery from an ankle injury sustained on the 2009 Spring Tour, he finished in the top five across the remaining four elements to score victory.

Ben Seymour was the surprise runner-up after also scoring points in four exercises. The Manly flyhalf who is training with the Junior Waratahs, finished just 1.5 points behind Barnes.

Nemani Nadolo finished third after being the only player to finish first across two disciplines.

Barnes' Strongman attributes were typified by his victory in the chin-up contest where he set a new HSBC Waratahs record of 30. Amazingly, just minutes before Seymour had set the new mark at 27 before being quickly relegated to second.

Barnes also finished equal first in the Iron Cross with Luke Holmes who is training with the squad during the pre-season. Their 85 seconds on the discipline was the only performance not to break the existing record, with Ed Jenkins' 88 seconds from 2008 still holding strong.

Seymour claimed victory in the Farmer's Walk in 11.13 seconds, and in doing so annihilated Beau Robinson's record set twelve months ago.

Dan Palmer defended his victory in the bodyweight bench press, but added seven to his 2008 mark of 17.

The overhead log press, introduced for the first time last year, saw massive improvements with eight players going past 2009 Strongman Damien Fitzpatrick's mark of 45. Nadolo set the new benchmark at 61, while he beat his old record in the 2min row by more than 45m.

2010 HSBC WARATAHS STRONGMAN
1st Berrick Barnes 15pts
2nd Ben Seymour 13.5pts
3rd Nemani Nadolo 10pts

RESULTS BY DISCIPLINE (* denotes new record)
Bodyweight Bench Press
Dan Palmer 24*
Ben Seymour 20
Berrick Barnes 18
Brendan McKibbin 18
Sosene Anesi 17
Daniel Halangahu 17
Previous Record - Dan Palmer 17

Overhead Log Press (Forwards 50kg, Backs 40kg)
Nemani Nadolo 61*
Ofa Fainga'anuku 58
Berrick Barnes 53
Ed Jenkins 51
Ben Seymour 49
Damien Fitzpatrick 49
Previous Record - Damien Fitzpatrick 45

Farmer's Walk (Forwards 120kg, Backs 100kg)
Ben Seymour 11.13sec*
Jeremy Tilse 11.41sec
Rory Sidey 11.84sec
Sosene Anesi 11.85sec
Kane Douglas 11.87sec
Previous Record - Beau Robinson 11.78sec

Two-minute Row
Nemani Nadolo 760m*
Kane Douglas 714m
Hendrik Roodt 712m
Jeremy Tilse 710m
Paddy Ryan 703m
Previous Record - Nemani Nadolo 713m

Chin Ups
Berrick Barnes 30*
Ben Seymour 27
Brendan McKibbin 24
Phil Waugh 22
Ben Mowen 22
Previous Record - Timana Tahu 22

Iron Cross (7.5kg each hand)
Berrick Barnes 85sec
Luke Holmes 85sec
Phil Waugh 83sec
Ofa Fainga'anuku 83sec
Daniel Halangahu 81 sec
Record - Ed Jenkins 88sec (2008)

 

[tranquility]

regardless of the logic behind the relative strength and conditioning programs of the states. I just think it is great that Ezra has had a killer off season and it looks at though he has bedded down that number 6 jersey for the first match (if higgers plays 8). Also great news is the 2k result of Byrnes which is nothing short of remarkable. It would be great if these two can have good conistent injury free seasons.

While we have alot of youngsters coming into the fray it is important that this mid tier players are accountable and provide consistent and accurate performances.

 

[en_force_er]

If I'm not mistaken Frier was overall winner last year or the year before.

I may be wrong but I certainly remember reading that he dominated the "Iron Cross".

What happened to poor Adam?

 

[Ash]

Interesting that the Tahs gym comp events did not even involve any event with leg strength as the primary requirement, although leg strength is required for the farmers walk, and the row to a lesser extent.

I would hope that those events both the Reds and Tahs chose would not be indicative in any way of their overall gym work in any way.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Despite the fact that tranquility mentions "the relative strength and conditioning programs of the states" and that two of the Reds' stalwarts have responded to me it was not my intention to have a go at the Queensland program. I certainly have no grounds for believing that it is in any way inferior to that of the 'Tahs for example. All that I was doing was drawing attention to what I saw as "an illogical imbalance between lower and upper body tasks in the exercises used in the testing, particularly given the absence of the squat."

I see what your saying, but rather then discarding bench press and including more leg exercises i think they should have probably just included more leg exercises, like a shuttle run with weights or max squat.

Bench press whilst directly may not be relevant to rugby its the motor skill and strength required for bench press which is relevant, especiall in the forwards.

I am scornful of the bench press as an exercise for rugby players. I think it is about as useful as canoeists doing the squat. However, everyone does it and people rate it as a measure of strength. My very inexpert opinion would be to drop the one rep bench press and keep the bodyweight version.

I suspect that a reason why the squat is not used is that so many professional players have damaged backs and no longer squat. There are also issues relating to comparing players who may differ greatly in the depth to which they can squat.

The vertical jump is probably the best single measure of power production but if you are going to compare performances they should be adjusted for bodyweight.

It might also be useful to include a one-minute or two-minute erg to test anaerobic capacity.

Bruce,

no comment when the Tahs strongman awards were listed?

I didn't take that much note of the Waratahs strongman tests, Noddy, as I don't see their real relevance to overall gym performance as Ash suggests. Some of the activities have been popularised by Ashley Jones with the Crusaders but I see them as more of an adjunct to normal strength training. Again some have very limited specificity to the sport of rugby.

 

[en_force_er]

and the row to a lesser extent.

I would imagine their style of rowing wouldn't involve much legs at all.

Yes, rowing is pretty much an all leg exercise but it isn't how non-rowers seem to approach it.
Don't ask me why, just an observation I've picked up in the gym.