Queensland Reds 2009

[formeropenside]

well if Disco's happy, I'm happy.

LoJo! :lmao: nice.

One of the Browns? Caleb or Andrew?

One's got dodgy hammyies and the other is eating sushi. Mind you, I understand Andrew Brown left becase he had the absolute shits with E. Jones. Maybe he'd come back.

 

[TOCC]

well Rocky Elsom will be returning home to Australia later this year, apparently he has had talks with the Reds about a possible return to QLD..

Would be fantastic if he does, makes me wonder who he is going to push out though, i would imagine Ezra Taylor, not sure if he signed for 1 or 2 years though. It might also be a contingency if McMenimen decides to leave, it would be good to see a McMenimen-Horwill-Eslom-Houston-Braid forward pack though..

 

[RugbyReg]

Or one of Higgers, Rocky or MMM playing 8. In saying that Leroy is up with Higgers as our best performed forward. Nothing wrong with depth I guess. Jake Schatz and Ed Quirk coming through too.

 

[TOCC]

yeah thought about one of those moving to 8, but like you said Houston has been one of the better performing forwards so far, and i like the big heavy physique that Houston provides..


I wonder how this will also effect the rumours of one or two of the ACT players returning home to QLD, i assumed it would have been Chapman, Chisolm or Moore

 

[Scotty]

I'd take Moore back, and maybe Chisholm, but don't see why we'd need Chapman. Scotty H and 3M are much better players.

 

[TOCC]

if we get Rocky, i dont think we need Chisolm, i am confient with Simmons coming through, although there is always room for depth i think it would be unlikely that Chisolm would risk losing a starting position.

 

[fatprop]

well Rocky Elsom will be returning home to Australia later this year, apparently he has had talks with the Reds about a possible return to QLD..

Would be fantastic if he does, makes me wonder who he is going to push out though, i would imagine Ezra Taylor, not sure if he signed for 1 or 2 years though. It might also be a contingency if McMenimen decides to leave, it would be good to see a McMenimen-Horwill-Eslom-Houston-Braid forward pack though..

Elsom's girlfriend apparently is going to uni in Brisbane, hopefully the Tahs just get her a place at Sydney Uni on a nice scholarship.

 

[RugbyReg]

I'd love to see him back but can't see why Moore would come back. Wasn't he having tiffs with Mooney or Bell? I'd happily lose Bell for Moore.

 

[formeropenside]

Always nice to see a Queenslander come home.

 

[Sully]

I was thinking "just another lost Queensland season" until I had a look at the Ladder and the Draw and I started to get a bit excited! We are 3 points off 5th and 5 points out of the top 4! and we have played 3 of the top 4 sides and have already been to South Africa. And we have a captain and several other important players just about to return. I know it would be a dream run, but a dream run wouldn't be beyond these guys would it!

 

[RugbyReg]

I was thinking "just another lost Queensland season" until I had a look at the Ladder and the Draw and I started to get a bit excited! We are 3 points off 5th and 5 points out of the top 4! and we have played 3 of the top 4 sides and have already been to South Africa. And we have a captain and several other important players just about to return. I know it would be a dream run, but a dream run wouldn't be beyond these guys would it!

has Berrick said, we won our first game last year, and then thrashed the Bulls and looked how we ended. We need to build from here. The draw is still tough:

QR Reds v Chiefs Suncorp Stadium - very winnable, we should get a big lift from Kev off the bench, but who will play 9?
Western Force v QR Reds Perth - winnable as well. More winnable than playing them at Suncorp probably.
Highlanders v QR Reds Invercargill - tough away game.
QR Reds v Lions Suncorp Stadium - bonus point win.
Auckland Blues v QR Reds North Harbour, Auckland - bloody tough away game.
QR Reds v ACT Brumbies Suncorp Stadium - bloody tough home game. Season defining moment.
Canterbury Crusaders v QR Reds Christchurch - bloody tough away game, but winnable.
QR Reds v Hurricanes Suncorp Stadium - tough one to finish with.

So summary? All tough (as is the Super 14 season) but winnable?

 

[Ash]

I think that if they manage to pull off 3 - 4 wins, including a bonus point v the Lions and 2 - 3 bonus point losses then it will be a very positive season for the Reds, and a deserved mid table finish. That would give the Reds somewhere around 27 - 30 points. Don't think we can ask much more than that.

Games the Reds could really target are the Chiefs, Force, Brumbies and Crusaders - these are the ones they need to win 2 or 3 out of. Not sure that the Reds could beat the Blues away or Canes at home. Lions should be a gimme.

Brumbies is the one game I'd really like the Reds to win. The Brumbies have had the wood over the Reds for, well, forever really. It'd be nice to see the Reds get one back at home.

At least the crowd of about 20,500 at Suncorp wasn't too bad, even if the Sharks are probably the best team in the comp. In contrast, though, the Broncos got 45,000 the night before (in rainy conditions too?). It'd be nice to see the Reds getting an average of 30k+ at home in the GFC.

 

[Spook]

Moore has signed with the Brumbies till 2011. Chapman could be on the way back as he has been passed over.

 

[naza]

At least the crowd of about 20,500 at Suncorp wasn't too bad, even if the Sharks are probably the best team in the comp. In contrast, though, the Broncos got 45,000 the night before (in rainy conditions too?).

Brisbane, the new Melbourne ? :lmao:

 

[formeropenside]

QR Reds' rookies rise to Sharks challenge

Monday, 16 March 2009
A posse of QR Reds rookies helped deliver a long awaited victory against a previously unbeaten Sharks outfit on Saturday night.

After a horror run with injuries, former Highlander Ezra Taylor finally got to wear the QR Reds jersey for the first time, as did fellow 2009 Reds recruit, tighthead prop Jack Kennedy.

Prop Ben Daley entered the match with only 10 minutes of previous Investec Super 14 action to his name, while livewire Blair Connor was called into the starting side following three brief stints off the bench.

An impressive second-half cameo from Taylor was just reward for two years of setbacks, most recently an ankle injury that ruled him out of the first month of the tournament.

?To get out there and be part of the team was awesome,? Taylor said.

?It was really exciting, especially in the change rooms afterwards. Everyone was really buzzing and I got handed my first player's tie. That was pretty awesome."

But soon after taking the field early in the second half, it had looked like d?j? vu when Taylor lay on the ground clutching his shoulder following a brutal collision, and the big backrower feared the worst.

"I thought I?d dislocated it at first,? he said.

?But it was just a stinger, (where) I lost all feeling down my arm.?

Daley, whose previous experience came in 2008 against the Crusaders, was expected to be chewed up and spat out by the Sharks' Springbok front-row. But like Kennedy, Taylor and Connor, he rose to the challenge - despite the Sharks rotating his opposing props to try to find a weakness.

?I ended up packing against John Smit, Deon Carstens - who?s an ex-Springbok - and Jannie Du Plessis,? Daley said.

?They're all Springboks, so it was a great experience and something I?ll learn from and something that will give me confidence.?

Daley produced a fine 80 minute effort in a victory that has kept the Reds within striking distance of the top four.

?I know it?s a clich?, but it?s a really sweet victory against a more fancied opposition,? he said.

?Especially us as forwards. We went into the game knowing we weren?t given much of a chance."

Blair Connor was also explosive in his personal battle against Springbok winger JP Pietersen.

At only 82kg, the player dubbed by his coach as being like a "fly in a bottle? admitted to a case of pre-match butterflies.

?I was alright for the whole day and about 10 minutes before you go on there were a lot of butterflies in the stomach ? more excitement than anything,? Connor said.

?The boys were a lot bigger than I expected. I definitely felt like a ?fly in the bottle?.?

But Connor left any reservations he may have had in the dressing sheds as he continually torpedoed his small frame into the defence.

In an early touch Connor attracted three defenders, but still managed to get over the advantage line and on the ensuing play, scrumhalf Ben Lucas darted down the blindside before linking up with Adam Byrnes for the Reds? first try.

He seemed destined to score one of his own later in the half, but was narrowly pulled down close to the line, before popping the ball to Will Genia.

?I was shattered about that,? Connor joked of his chance to score his maiden try in Super rugby.

?All I wanted to do was score a try, but I saw Willie, so I popped it up to him.?

In a show of faith, coach Phil Mooney sent Kennedy onto the field late in the match with the game still in the balance.

Kennedy?s first taste of action came in a scrum - partnered by Daley - and just as the Reds? tight five had done all game, the rookie tighthead never flinched.

Only minutes later, Digby Ioane sealed the 25-13 victory with a smartly worked try.

I was not happy when I saw Fainga'a come on with time for him to still stuff it up. Kennedy did OK though, and Daley was solid, whereas last year he was in trouble at scrumtime.

I dont think Rod Davies made it on though, which is a shame for him, but who would you take off?

Byrnes can feel a bit hard done by: he has looked the good so far, but will likely be watching from the stands for the Chiefs game after the bye with Van back, MMM likely the other lock, and Horwill on the bench. Would you have Ezra Taylor on the bench as well to cover the backrow, and hope that Braid does not get hurt, or run a 5-2 bench?

All in all though, its a nice dilemma for Mooney to have, after the Reds have had injury worries. Halfback is still a potential problem and I wonder if Dayna Edwards can claw his way back into the starting side.

 

[RugbyReg]

I know what you're saying about Fainga'a. I am not as 100% against him as you though. Although he was awful v the Tahs, but I thought Sean Hardman was fantastic. Lineouts were all but perfect weren't they? He did a lot of running and it was largely effective, as in ground made and ball retained. He'll never be a Moore or TPN style runner, but he did his job.

Team will be interesting. Assuming all available, bar the 2 scrummies and Morgan T.

15 Mark McLinden
14 Peter Hynes
13 Digby Ione
12 Berrick Barnes
11 Blair Connor
10 Quade Cooper
9 Brendan McKibbon
8 Leroy Houston
7 Daniel Braid
6 Scott Higginbottham
5 Hugh McMeniman
4 Van Humphries
3 Laurie Weekes
2 Sean Hardman
1 Greg Holmes

16 Saia Fainga'a
17 Ben Daley (Greg can cover THP?)
18 James Horwill
19 Ezra Taylor
20 ??? Swanepoel isn't listed in the Academy? I thought he was? Could it be Curtis Franks?
21 Anthony Fainga'a
22 Rodney Davies.

I would have Luafutu over Taylor on the bench, but I find it interesting that Tasi hasn't got much game time. I guess I'd be happy with MMM playing openside for the last 20 mins if needed. If it was longer though, it would be tough. Perhaps Fainga'a could play there?

 

[formeropenside]

Noddy - Swanepoel used to be Academy for sure, I remember seeing his photo. Maybe he got cut for disciplinary or personal reasons.

I like Hardman's work because its understated but always there. Solid lineout throwing, and adds a lot at scrumtime apparently. He's not a demon around the park, but he had pulled off a few big hits - remember he crunched Matfield in the Bulls game.

I've yet to see Fainga'a play well, and I have an instinctive distrust of a tight five player mainly lauded for playing like an extra backrower. Thats fine, if you do your tight five work well. TPN has always been a pretty strong scrummager, and his lineout is improving, so he could finally live up the promise.

I have also noticed Luafutu not getting a lot of time off the bench - he can even run on at 8 remember, or Higgs move to 8.

Houston is good, but does look to have a belly and is only lasting just past halftime, it seems.

 

[RugbyReg]

it'd be a fairly decent lineout, with plenty of mobility still, if it was:

8 Higgers
7 Braid
6 MMM
5 Horwill
4 Van the Man.

 

[Ash]

I am still of the mind that Lucas may take a needle to at least be on the bench.

Yeah, Byrnes has really impressed me, as has Higgenbotham. And McMeniman (would like to see him lower his body height though, like Elsom he tends to hold his body height a little higher and tends to grab on defence, but he's better in contact that Elsom is). I'd actually be comfortable with either Humphries or Byrnes lining up in the locking position with 3M vs the Chiefs.

Think that in the end, Van will fall to the bench once Horwill is back. But I'd expect that Horwill should come off the bench for the next two or so games, with increasing game time, each time.

 

[Scotty]

Houston off the bench could really cause some damage, but he deserves to be starting still.

I was thinking "just another lost Queensland season" until I had a look at the Ladder and the Draw and I started to get a bit excited! We are 3 points off 5th and 5 points out of the top 4! and we have played 3 of the top 4 sides and have already been to South Africa. And we have a captain and several other important players just about to return. I know it would be a dream run, but a dream run wouldn't be beyond these guys would it!

Missing the 4 try bonus point may in the last game may bite us. Would have moved to 8th and only 4 pts from 4th.