QLD Reds 2010

[tranquility]

the most exciting thing for me is that the cream of the academy are at an age and level of ability to challenge for positions and cover injuries. I can not remember this being the case in recent memory.

For so long we have had no-one to replace the blokes are continually not hitting the mark.

It also outstanding news that A. Faainga played the house down in lismore for our inside backs depth.

 

[TOCC]

without blowing my own trumpet, i have been singing the praises of A.Fainga'a for the past 12months and backed him to secure a starting sports, barring injury.

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah, I've been a fan too TOCC.

Still dont see much in his brother though.

Would be more than happy with 12 Fainga'a 13 Turinui with Diggers on the wing.

 

[spectator]

Wouldn't be giving him the starting 12 jersey just yet TOCC. I will be interested to see how Link selects backlines for the remaining trials.

Ant Fainga'a is certainly a great defender, and a good talker and organiser in the backline, and his club combination with Cooper should be a plus. I actually thought that Ben Tapuai brought more in attack in the Lismore trial and has a better ability to beat the man.

Hoping to see more game time for Walsh in the trials. He really did impress into the wind last night, and his goalkicking, another Red's achilles heel, was superb.

Walsh/Cooper 10/12 combination another option?

Diggers back on the wing is another good call Noddy, with Hynes or Morahan on the other. Do you think we will see Hynes at fullback for the next trial?

 

[TOCC]

Yeah i dont rate Saia to highly either, however from all the matches ive seen Anthony play he has stood out in my eyes, he is rock solid in defence and goes pretty well in the attacking department as well.

Anthony plays a similar style of game to Berrick Barnes IMO, and he would compliment Cooper well if they cant fit him in, but like you said spectator players like Tapua offer more in attack.

I guess it depends on what style of game Link wants to play in 2010.

 

[tranquility]

just the fact that we have OPTIONS of playing style and combinations is heartening.

 

[tranquility]

also i do rate saaia or however it is spelt. if he keeps racking up super caps at the rate he is going he will go close to becoming the most capped australian hooker. he already has 39 caps and he is 22. outstanding for a young hooker. James Hanson who everyone raves about is only one year his junior and has zero super caps. Also Damian Fitzpatrick, who is being touted as a hooking prodigy and Stephen Moore are the only other hookers who debuted at hooker at the same age in recent history.

give the bloke a chance to let his teeth grow.

 

[RugbyReg]

also i do rate saaia or however it is spelt. if he keeps racking up super caps at the rate he is going he will go close to becoming the most capped australian hooker. he already has 39 caps and he is 22. outstanding for a young hooker. James Hanson who everyone raves about is only one year his junior and has zero super caps. Also Damian Fitzpatrick, who is being touted as a hooking prodigy and Stephen Moore are the only other hookers who debuted at hooker at the same age in recent history.

give the bloke a chance to let his teeth grow.

as you have said he has 39 caps. how many more chances does he need?

 

[en_force_er]

as you have said he has 39 caps. how many more chances does he need?

Plus he is built like me and I'm a pretty average Colts hooker.

He just isn't going to develop enough to be dominant. Sad but true.
Cut your losses and blood Hanson. I still remember he was awesome for the Rebels, even at 19.

 

[spectator]

as you have said he has 39 caps. how many more chances does he need?

Plus he is built like me and I'm a pretty average Colts hooker.

He just isn't going to develop enough to be dominant. Sad but true.
Cut your losses and blood Hanson. I still remember he was awesome for the Rebels, even at 19.

I actually thought S Fainga'a was handy at Lismore and I wouldn"t mind seeing how he goes against the Saders. His throwing at the lineout seemed quite accurate on Saturday and I did think he made himself busy in broken play.

 

[TOCC]

whlist i dont rate Saia Fainga'a, i do think there is still a chance for him...

Whether its a case of resting on his laurels for to long or a slow developer, i think he has more potential then he has shown in the past 2 years. The matter of tapping into this potential is however completly reliant on his dedication to the job at hand.

 

[Lee Grant]

One that got away.

I've mentioned before that 2008 wasn't a vintage year for likely future Super players but there were some good quick guys in the back three.

There were a couple of good forwards too: Michael Hooper who is on the bench for the Brumbies in their trial against the Hurricanes and a lock who was skilful in the lineouts, hoed into the physical contests and was selected for the Oz Schools 1st XV.

The Queenslanders I spoke to during the 2008 tournament week said that he would chose cricket as a pro career and it has turned out that way. He has already appeared for the Queensland team and as I type this is bowling for the Oz U/19 team in the tournament in NZ.

Nicholas Buchanan, the son of James, the ex-Oz cricket coach, has put on a bit of weight since I saw him in Canberra. He's a muscular bowler, not all that quick, and one feels that the two opening bowlers, Hazelwood and McDermott Jr, have more promise. But I wish him well.

 

[fatprop]

Reds roll out more big guns for Ballymore trial
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 01:09

E-mail Print
queenslandreds-logoQR Reds Head Coach Ewen McKenzie has pumped up the experience level by a few hundred caps for the Reds' second trial match of the season, a Ballymore hitout against New Zealand's Crusaders this Friday night.

After successfully mixing and matching an expanded squad of Reds, QAS Reds Academy and Wider Training Squad players against the Waratahs in Lismore last weekend, McKenzie has rolled out some more big guns against the Crusaders, including Queensland's most capped player, Sean Hardman (137 caps) as starting hooker.

Wallaby wing Peter Hynes (73 Reds caps) will start at fullback in his first run of 2010 and will be vice captain to interim skipper Ben Daley, who is one from one as captain after leading the Reds to their 26-24 win over the Waratahs in last week's first trial match, in the absence of regular captain James Horwill.

Former All Black flanker Daniel Braid (68 Super Rugby caps) will also have his first outing of 2010 after taking time out last weekend to return home to New Zealand for his wedding

Former Melbourne Storm centre Will Chambers is on course to make his professional rugby union debut after being rested from last week's trial as a precaution, due to a lower back strain. Chambers will go straight in at the deep end, being named at outside centre in the starting lineup.

Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia has been named on the bench, while fellow Wallabies James Horwill and Digby Ioane will sit this one out.

"As we did last week against NSW we want to give guys a chance to perform, so we'll still have an extended squad of 28 for this week's trial to try a few things and look at individual and combination performances," McKenzie said.

"If players want to be in the mix when the time comes for us to select that team for Round one against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium, now's the time for them to put their hand up with a good performance."

The trial match against the Crusaders kicks off at 7.30pm on Friday night at Ballymore. Tickets are available through Ticketek.

Gates open at 5.30pm and the curtain raiser match will be Gold Coast South African expats v Gold Coast NZ expats, kicking off at 6pm.

Parking restrictions will be in force around Ballymore on Friday night and limited on site parking will be available for patrons, who are encouraged to arrive early.

The Reds will travel to Perth for their final trial match on Friday, February 5, before kicking off the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 tournament against the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, February 13.

QR Reds team to play the Crusaders (from fullback): Peter Hynes (vc), Luke Morahan, Will Chambers, Anthony Fainga'a, Blair Connor, Ben Lucas, Richard Kingi, Scott Higginbotham, Daniel Braid, Ezra Taylor, Van Humphries, Robert Simmons, Dayna Edwards, Sean Hardman, Ben Daley (c). Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper, Jack Kennedy, Adam Byrnes, Andrew Shaw, Lei Tomiki, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Tim Walsh, Ben Tapuai, Morgan Turinui, Rod Davies, Aidan Toua

Crusaders: Jared Payne, Sean Maitland, Robert Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Kade Poki, Colin Slade, Kahn Fotuali’i, Thomas Waldrom, George Whitelock, Ash Parker, Sam Whitelock, Joe Wheeler, Owen Franks, Ti'i Paulo, Ben Franks. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett, Isaac Ross, Jonathan Poff, Willie Heinz, Daniel Bowden, Adam Whitelock, Tim Bateman, Matt Todd, Andrew Olorenshaw.



Referee: Paul Marks, Assistant Referees: Damien Mitchelmore and Simon Moore.

 

[TOCC]

also St George are the new Reds sleeve sponsor for the next 2 years

 

[straightshooter]

also St George are the new Reds sleeve sponsor for the next 2 years

Lets just hope they get value for money so then other big corporates get on the QR train over the coming years. Performance on the paddock will ensure bigger and bigger sponsorship in coming years.

 

[RugbyReg]

this'll be QR's last year I would've thought. I am pretty sure it was a 3 year deal and with all that is happening within that organisation I would've thought the agreement won't be renewed. Let's hope for a positive year so we can find a replacement.

 

[TOCC]

this'll be QR's last year I would've thought. I am pretty sure it was a 3 year deal and with all that is happening within that organisation I would've thought the agreement won't be renewed. Let's hope for a positive year so we can find a replacement.

quite right, with QR going public and the organisation been restructured sponsorships like this will be reassesed and probably cut, but alas they are negotiating at a time when there will be extra exposure with the expanded competition so it could be a bonus

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah, in fact. That's a good point re S15. More home games. More domestic games. Should be appealing.

 

[chief]

A new sponsor for next appear would appear to be on the cards. I don't think QR will be too keen to renew it.

 

[spectator]

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