Queensland Reds 2009

[Cutter]

I posted this on TSF re starting lineups for next year so thought I would copy it over here. * means Wallaby.

15. Vaa'ulu
14. Hynes*
13. Turinui*
12. Barnes*
11. Ioane*
10. Cooper*
9. Lucas
8. Houston
7. Braid (of the ex All Black variety)
6. McMeniman*
5. Van Humphries
4. Horwill*
3. Dayna Edwards
2. Hardman*
1. Greg Holmes*

16. Fainga'a
17. Weekes
18. Adam Byrne
19. Luafutu/Ezra Taylor (of the ex Highlanders variety)
20. Genia
21. Davies/Fetoai/Connor
22. McLinden (of the ex Raiders variety)

Not a bad starting lineup, but zero depth. If injuries strike, the Reds will be toast. If they can keep their top XV on the field, they will frighten some very good teams.

 

[RugbyReg]

fullback is obviously up in the air. By reading the reports Davies had a gun European tour, fast, strong under the high ball and good in defence. Then there is Toua, not actually on a full contract but has shown brilliance in his limited time with the Reds. McLinden hasn't been signed to sit on the bench, and apparently he's training the house down...and then there's Vaa'ulu who I just don't see as a fullback but the great man himself, Latham, has decreed him the next in line.

 

[Ash]

fullback is obviously up in the air. By reading the reports Davies had a gun European tour, fast, strong under the high ball and good in defence. Then there is Toua, not actually on a full contract but has shown brilliance in his limited time with the Reds. McLinden hasn't been signed to sit on the bench, and apparently he's training the house down...and then there's Vaa'ulu who I just don't see as a fullback but the great man himself, Latham, has decreed him the next in line.

Noddy; I think that in your post you sort of hinted that the fullback spot isn't as much up in the air as we probably think.

My guess is that the Reds intend on McLinden starting, with Davies off the bench. They probably consider that Toua is a year or two off S14, hence why they nominated him for the 7s. McLinden will probably hang around for 1 - 2 years, by which time Davies and Toua will be fighting it out to have the 15 jersey - or so the Reds probably hope.

And next year there is also a chance of signing Hunt - but I think that's a very long shot at this point in time.

I agree with you that Va'aulu doesn't really look like a fullback, but again Va'aulu did nothing to disgrace himself with his few S14 performances. But then again, Caleb Brown looked a lot better and like a future Wallaby star 2 years ago with a similar amount of appearances as Va'aulu. I don't think Va'aulu would be in the same class as Brown, and what Latham said was more rhetoric than anything else - remember, Croftie said a similar thing about Tasi Luafutu should the Reds not sign Pocock.

 

[TOCC]

fullback is obviously up in the air. By reading the reports Davies had a gun European tour, fast, strong under the high ball and good in defence. Then there is Toua, not actually on a full contract but has shown brilliance in his limited time with the Reds. McLinden hasn't been signed to sit on the bench, and apparently he's training the house down...and then there's Vaa'ulu who I just don't see as a fullback but the great man himself, Latham, has decreed him the next in line.

Toua is not on a full contract? as far as i am aware he is

 

[RugbyReg]

Yeah I think you're right. He's on a rookie contract. I was mistaken.

 

[TOCC]

Yeah I think you're right. He's on a rookie contract. I was mistaken.

whats the difference between a rookie contract and a academy contract..
obviously the pay would be better but does it just mean that they train with the reds squad all the time or something?

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah, basically as it stands each S14 squad must sign 33 players (not sure how the marquee player sits in all of this), of which a minimum of 3 (and max of 5?) must be rookie contracts. These are full time contracts, but at the minimum level of salary.

An Academy contract is more part time. But once an Academy player plays (I think) at least 3 games for their S14 team (ala Lucas and Edwards last year) they have to get upgraded to a full time contract.

I think a player can only have a rookie contract once, for one year. ie Toua is on a rookie contract, so he must be on a full time contract (or Academy) next year, regardless of who he plays for.

 

[TOCC]

^^ thanks

15. McLinden
14. Hynes
13. Turinui
12. Barnes
11. Ioane
10. Cooper
9. Lucas
8. Houston
7. Braid
6. McMeniman
5. Van Humphries
4. Horwill
3. Dayna Edwards
2. Hardman
1. Greg Holmes

16. Fainga'a
17. Weekes
18. Adam Byrne
19. Luafutu
20. Genia
21. Fetoai
22. Vaa'ulu

Its a pretty straight forward pick for QLD's starting lineup, the only question marks remain over fullback and the bench..

I think 2009 will be a big year for Fetoai though, i expect that we will see more of him coming into the games earlier and possibly even starting a few ahead of Turinui. I think McLinden will start the first few games at fullback, then Va'alu will come off the bench, he will tnen impress Mooney and hence be promoted to starting fullback.

 

[spectator]

Given his previous S14 experience with the Highlanders, Ezra Taylor would have to be a chance for the 22 wouldn't he? I'm also thinking that Rob Simmons should be starting to show a bit as well.

 

[Scotty]

I don't think Va'aulu would be in the same class as Brown, and what Latham said was more rhetoric than anything else - remember, Croftie said a similar thing about Tasi Luafutu should the Reds not sign Pocock.

That is the feeling I got as well, and even if he was serious, just because he was one of our greatest fullbacks, doesn't mean he can pick the next one!

Only time will tell.

 

[TOCC]

Given his previous S14 experience with the Highlanders, Ezra Taylor would have to be a chance for the 22 wouldn't he? I'm also thinking that Rob Simmons should be starting to show a bit as well.

yeah your right, i should probably have put Rob Simmons ahead of Byrne, but i think earlier in the season Mooney may go for experience on the bench..

Taylor is a tuff one, i havent seen him play so i have no idea about him, but i figured since he was more a 6/8 then Mooney may go with Luafutu who can play 7 as well as 6.

I think with the ELV's most coaches will like to make sure they have a decent openside flanker on the bench.

 

[formeropenside]

SWOT analysis - Queensland Reds 2009

Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats

Berrick Barnes

S - Perhaps the best tactical kicking game in Oz. Strong defender. Can kick drop goals with both feet.
W - Limitations in a running game. May suffer being switched between 10 and 12. Injury prone.
O - Reds may need a goalkicker, adding an extra string to his bow.
T - Injury.


Daniel Braid

S - Fills a gap as a quality 7 that Qld were otherwise missing.
W - Heart may not be in it, and performances may reflect this.
O - To act as a senior team member and train a young openside.
T - That a NH contract is the real goal.

Adam Byrnes

S - Tall and big.
W - Punchy. For some reason, released (or not kept) by NSW when they have a lock shortage.
O - Horwill out injured early season, could impress off the bench.
T - Not (quite) as tall and big as Van, Horwill or Simmons.

Blair Connor

S - Fast and elusive runner. Able to play 13-15.
W - Lightweight.
O - Fullback spot? Only young so may have some developing ahead.
T - May be eaten by hungry teammates.

Quade Cooper

S - Developed will on NH tour. Running playmaker.
W - Defence, kicking can be patchy.
O - To become a real Wallaby 10 candidate.
T - Temper.

Ben Daley

S - Mobile LHP. Already has (a few minutes of) S14 experience.
W - 108kg, apparently: is scrummaging up to scratch?
O - Backup to Holmes or LHP so Holmes moves to THP?
T - Leroy Houston moving to prop due to mobility issues. Academy prop James Slipper.

Rod Davies

S - Fast.
W - Returning to rugby after League.
O - Impressed on NH Reds tour.
T - A lot of fast outside backs at the Reds.

Dayna Edwards

S - A strong scrummager.
W - mobility, defence.
O - The Wallabies always need a good THP.
T - Last year's back injury severely reduced effectiveness and led to limited rugby in 2008.

Saia Fainga'a

S - A physical player, according to Mooney.
W - Brumbies forwards are not traditionally noted for set piece work. Built like an openside rather than a hooker.
O - One of the Mooney lovechildren from U-19's a while back.
T - Hardman offers more in the set piece, and Hanson may offer more around the park.

Anthony Fainga'a

S - Versatile inside back able to play 10 (at a pinch) 12 or 13.
W - Cut by the Brumbies, who are short an inside back or two.
O - Could be a backup 10 option if Barnes is injured at some point in the season.
T - The reserve bench mix if Lucas, Cooper and Barnes are all starting players.

Fetoia

S - Hard running outside centre.
W - Not as quick as others: unlikely to get a look in for a wing spot.
O - The 13 jersey may be up for grabs if Morgs has been eating pies in the off season.
T - That Morgs has not been eating pies and has invested in a tackling coach.

Will Genia

S - Specialist halfback, the only one in the squad. Good pass.
W - Does not have Lucas' versatility or kicking game.
O - Presumably will be on the bench if not starting, as there are only 2 halfbacks in the squad.
T - Injury.

James Hanson

S - Mobile hooker who impressed in the ARC. Speedy.
W - Light at less than 100kg.
O - May well see game time in 2009.
T - Probably the third hooker in the squad.

Sean Hardman

S - Reliable. Strong in set piece. Experienced. Has kept a number of other hookers on the bench over the years (incl. Foley and Moore).
W - Reliable. Rarely sighted in general play. Not getting any younger.
O - Reliability may be what the Reds forwards need this year.
T - Reliable hookers seem less in demand with each passing year.

Scott Higginbotham

S - Strong runner, solid defender, lineout option.
W - Not tall enough for the second row. 6 or 8 only.
O - Depends whether MMM is used at 5, 6 or 8.
T - Luafutu and Ezra Taylor may be preferred in the 6 slot.

Greg Holmes

S - The best LHP in Australia until Benn Robinson came along. May still be. Strong scrummager and mobile around the park.
W - Has been unlucky with injuries the last few seasons.
O - The Wallaby 1 jersey calls.
T - Injury.

James Horwill

S - Australia's outstanding second rower of 2008.
W - Used to be hot headed.
O - Could be a long-term Qld captain.
T - Form slump, injury.

Leroy Houston

S - Big. Strong runner.
W - Big and slow, with the turning circle of a M1 tank. Not a noted lineout jumper.
O - Could cement the 8 spot by playing a Palu-esque role.
T - Pies.

Van Humphries

S - Big and tall.
W - Also, old.
O - Horwill's injuries could ensure a starting spot and regular exposure.
T - Simmons, MMM, Byrnes.

Peter Hynes

S - Wallaby debutant. Fast. Solid defender.
W - Kicking.
O - Wing or fullback?
T - Can he repeat his 2008 form?

Digby Ioane

S - Fast. Hard runner.
W - Catching, kicking.
O - You cant coach speed.
T - A pure winger.

Jack Kennedy

S - Can play both sides of the scrum.
W - 110kg.
O - Props always have opportunities.
T - Coming from the Brumbies Academy is not calculated to strike fear into your oppostion come the first scrum.

Poutasi Luafutu

S - Hard running, hard hitting, versatile backrower who can play 6,7 or 8.
W - Not a pure fetcher, and not a genuine lineout option. Jack of all trades.
O - Is he the right man at 6 or 8? Near as big as Houston with greater mobility.
T - Lack of height could be an issue come lineout time.

Ben Lucas

S - Goalkicker, excellent tactical manager, can play 9 or 10.
W - Second season as a halfback. Small.
O - As there is only Genia as another halfback in the squad, should get plenty of game time. Could be the next Wallaby halfback.
T - Flexibility may be a curse not a blessing.

Mark McLinden

S - Fast. Professional
W - Hasn't played Rugby in more than 10 years.
O - Can play almost anywhere in the backline, versatility may be useful.
T - What is his best position?

MMM

S - Big, tall, skillfull. Able to play 4, 6 or (presumably) 8.
W - Injury prone, queries over scrummaging at 4.
O - Stay fit for a season.
T - Had a reasonably quiet EOYT. Hopefully can lift form again.

Rob Simmons

S - Big, tall.
W - A bit punchy.
O - With Big Kev coming back from a foot injury, may be a chance at the vacant 5 slot.
T - With fewer lineouts under the ELV's, do you need two giants at 4 and 5?

Ezra Taylor

S - Can play lock or blindside. Was a rare Highlanders forward without a mullet.
W - Pretty short for a lock at 193cm.
O - Will compete for the 6 and 8 jerseys, realistically.
T - Missed the whole of 2008 with a knee injury. Can he recover old form?

Aiden Toua

S - Excellent broken field runner.
W - Still very young.
O - Still very young, could fill the 15 slot.
T - Needs time to develop.

Morgan Turinui

S - Big, strong, skillfull. Good rugby brain. Has a surprising turn of near-speed.
W - Turnstile in defence. Lacked involvement in early part of last season.
O - Can be the old head in a young backline.
T - Pies. Lots of them.

Brando Va'aulu

S - Fast, excellent finisher.
W - Kicking game something of an unknown quantity.
O - Latham has anointed him as the next Reds 15.
T - The Reds have a lot of young fast outside backs.

Laurie Weeks

S - Strong scrummager in Sydney club rugby. Kept Superprop Tilse in second grade.
W - Not very mobile. May need to bulk up at S14 level.
O - May end up the second most important player in the team.
T - S14 is a step up from club rugby.

 

[spectator]

Nice work FOS.

I will be interested to see how Weekes and Kennedy step up but Bell showed in his selection of Edwards that he has a keen eye for front row talent.

 

[TOCC]

tickets have just gone on sale for the trial match against NSW in Toowooomba, its not a very big ground so you might have to move fast if you want to actually attend the match

 

[Lee Grant]

Good SWOT analysis former, except:

Berrick Barnes

S - Perhaps the best tactical kicking game in Oz.

The word "Perhaps" was one word too many.

 

[naza]

Re: SWOT analysis - Queensland Reds 2009

Adam Byrnes

S - Tall and big.
W - Punchy. For some reason, released (or not kept) by NSW when they have a lock shortage.
O - Horwill out injured early season, could impress off the bench.
T - Not (quite) as tall and big as Van, Horwill or Simmons.

He's 6 foot 8. He's not lacking in size. He doesn't lack fire either - he's feisty enough. He just lacks focus. He tends to drift in games and tends to be content to sleepwalk between lineouts. I keep waiting for him to step up but I reckon the intensity required at a higher level may be beyond him.

 

[formeropenside]

Re: SWOT analysis - Queensland Reds 2009

Adam Byrnes

S - Tall and big.
W - Punchy. For some reason, released (or not kept) by NSW when they have a lock shortage.
O - Horwill out injured early season, could impress off the bench.
T - Not (quite) as tall and big as Van, Horwill or Simmons.

He's 6 foot 8. He's not lacking in size. He doesn't lack fire either - he's feisty enough. He just lacks focus. He tends to drift in games and tends to be content to sleepwalk between lineouts. I keep waiting for him to step up but I reckon the intensity required at a higher level may be beyond him.

Thanks for that naza. Is it a fitness issue perhaps, or is he just lacking motivation?

Since I did that, according to the Reds page as updated he has grown 4cm from 197 to 201cm, and stayed at 116kg. So he is bigger than Simmons, now.

 

[TOCC]

most of the backrow and locks are bigger then the frontrow next year..

except dayna edwards who is the biggest player in the team at 122kg

i dont see how tasi luafutu could have ever played at openside, his 111kg...
smith, waugh and pocock are all around 101-103kg

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: SWOT analysis - Queensland Reds 2009

Thanks for that naza. Is it a fitness issue perhaps, or is he just lacking motivation?

Since I did that, according to the Reds page as updated he has grown 4cm from 197 to 201cm, and stayed at 116kg. So he is bigger than Simmons, now.

I think that naza is right about Byrnes and also think the same question mark applies to young Simmons - though I say that having seen him play only a little senior rugby - in the ARC.

We are all guilty of looking at this forward and that one, and crowing that somebody is 2cms taller or 5 kgs heavier and a few games later say "WTF?" It is the size of the ticker that is important, but it's not listed on the profiles of the players in the websites.

This is why players like Alistair Campbell and AWH were allowed to go offshore without a whimper, unlamented and soon to be forgotten. On the other hand a player like Van Humphries may not be the greatest Oz Super player of all time but he always has a dig.

I'm not saying that Byrnes and Simmons are going to be ball watching spectators; for they haven't had a chance at S14 rugby yet, but I fear it.

 

[Scotty]

I find it hard to believe that Tasi is that heavy.