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F
formeropenside
Guest
Scotty said:
If we have a more or less injury free season, mid table is possible if not likely. We are due a dose of luck on the injury front.
spectator
Bob Davidson (42)
As I've stated previously, a top half of the draw finish in 09 would be a bonus, but 2010 is really the year to look for big improvements. Apart from the invaluable experience a few of the rookies will get we could even see the return of the likes of Chapman and Mitchell. Hopefully Braid will also still be around.
By the way, forgot Daley as another rookie prop.
By the way, forgot Daley as another rookie prop.
spectator
Bob Davidson (42)
And now for the backs....
Halfback
Lucas and Genia in the squad is a solid duo, with Lucas to push for higher honours in 2010. Brothers half McKibben was the club player of the year, went on tour, and is at Saracens for a few months, so looms as a good replacement option. Rounding out halfback stocks will be Swanepoel, Aussie Schools two years in a row and is I think in the Academy with McKibben.
Five -eighth - Not a lot of depth here with Cooper the starter and Barnes as backup. Ben Lucas is another option. Teenager Jonno Lance went on tour and will be in the Academy but is a few years away. Anthony Fainga'a would be the emergency option.
No 12.
Barnes to start and interchangeable with Cooper. Fainga'a, Fetoai and Tapuai from the Academy are the replacement options.
Outside centre
Another position that looks skinny. Turinui to start the season and no obvious replacement. Consideration might be given to turning Fetoai or Vaalu into a 13. Other options would be Connor and Tapuai but both are untried at this level.
Wingers
Plenty of stock. Ioane, Hynes and Vaalu have proven S14 ability with one of the latter two maybe in line to start as 15. Connor and Morahan from the Academy provide backup as do the fullbacks.
Fullback
It may be that Vaalu or Hynes gets first crack at this spot due to S14 experience with Mclinden a possibility because of his 'professional' experience. Davies and Toua have potential but no experience and are good long term considerations.
In summary, it will be the most inexperienced of the OZ S14 teams but on the upside there is tons of pace , possibly the fastest of the OZ squads and a 9-10-12 combination that I think has plenty of merit.
Halfback
Lucas and Genia in the squad is a solid duo, with Lucas to push for higher honours in 2010. Brothers half McKibben was the club player of the year, went on tour, and is at Saracens for a few months, so looms as a good replacement option. Rounding out halfback stocks will be Swanepoel, Aussie Schools two years in a row and is I think in the Academy with McKibben.
Five -eighth - Not a lot of depth here with Cooper the starter and Barnes as backup. Ben Lucas is another option. Teenager Jonno Lance went on tour and will be in the Academy but is a few years away. Anthony Fainga'a would be the emergency option.
No 12.
Barnes to start and interchangeable with Cooper. Fainga'a, Fetoai and Tapuai from the Academy are the replacement options.
Outside centre
Another position that looks skinny. Turinui to start the season and no obvious replacement. Consideration might be given to turning Fetoai or Vaalu into a 13. Other options would be Connor and Tapuai but both are untried at this level.
Wingers
Plenty of stock. Ioane, Hynes and Vaalu have proven S14 ability with one of the latter two maybe in line to start as 15. Connor and Morahan from the Academy provide backup as do the fullbacks.
Fullback
It may be that Vaalu or Hynes gets first crack at this spot due to S14 experience with Mclinden a possibility because of his 'professional' experience. Davies and Toua have potential but no experience and are good long term considerations.
In summary, it will be the most inexperienced of the OZ S14 teams but on the upside there is tons of pace , possibly the fastest of the OZ squads and a 9-10-12 combination that I think has plenty of merit.
T
TOCC
Guest
nice summary there, whilst the Reds do have a lot of young talent they dont have the maturity needed to control a game and will see many slip out of there hands in 2009. Especially if they need to have players like Toua and Fainga'a in the starting lineup, i think the NH trip will do Cooper a massive boost to game development, but his still a good season away from being a controlling flyhalf.
Im interested to see the development of Lucas as a halfback, but i think he might have a fight on his hands for the starting position with a fullyfit Genia back in the squad.
Hopefully they stick with there game style they had towards the end of the 2008 season, it was quite exciting and fun to watch, came very close to some upsets against the higer ranked sides.
Im interested to see the development of Lucas as a halfback, but i think he might have a fight on his hands for the starting position with a fullyfit Genia back in the squad.
Hopefully they stick with there game style they had towards the end of the 2008 season, it was quite exciting and fun to watch, came very close to some upsets against the higer ranked sides.
T
TOCC
Guest
The new Reds
Daniel Braid
Adam Byrnes
Rodney Davies
Anthony Fainga'a
James Hanson
Aidan Toua
There the only ones they have updated so far
Daniel Braid
Adam Byrnes
Rodney Davies
Anthony Fainga'a
James Hanson
Aidan Toua
There the only ones they have updated so far
T
TOCC
Guest
i wonder if the QLD Reds will still be chasing Karmichael Hunt after the sex scandal recently, IMO he is still worth it, he is a bit of a party boy but he has shown remorse and the Reds/ARU might be able to pick him up for cheaper now that his image in the NRL has being tainted slightly.
By the time he does join the Reds this whole ordeal will be old news as well
By the time he does join the Reds this whole ordeal will be old news as well
TOCC, interestingly the BRoncos were planning on relying on 3rd party payments to keep him at the club. The feeling now, after this incident, is that the third parties won't want to associated with him, meaning he is likely to leave the Broncs. Where to? Who knows.
Apparently he has a massive attitude problem, as well as another problem ala Dell Sailor. Talented player, but still a risk.
Apparently he has a massive attitude problem, as well as another problem ala Dell Sailor. Talented player, but still a risk.
Ash
Michael Lynagh (62)
Does Toua's selection in the 7s team in any way reflect on his standing at the Reds? (i.e. behind Davies and MacLindon.)
I would assume that a definite first choice S14 player wouldn't be chosen in the 7s team. But that's not stopping from a S14 team stopping their 7s selection if they are required, correct?
I would assume that a definite first choice S14 player wouldn't be chosen in the 7s team. But that's not stopping from a S14 team stopping their 7s selection if they are required, correct?
Ash said:
correct. There are a number of S14 contracted players (2 per state) so its interesting to see who is selected. It will be good development for these lads to play 7s under Snoz. Interestingly that Daruda is there, might say something about his standing at the Force?
Its Higginbottham and Tou from the Reds.
Mowen and Batger (injured) from the Tahs.
Zipper and Betham from the Brums
And Daruda and D H-P from the 4s.
R
Rugby Rat
Guest
Still can't fathom the Reds having to sign Braid. Anyways, I am hoping for a finals appearance in 2009.
R
Rugby Rat
Guest
No idea Lee. That's the problem.
Just don't know what's up with Qld Rugby ATM.
Just don't know what's up with Qld Rugby ATM.
F
formeropenside
Guest
Rugby Rat said:
Well, a few years back Pocock got poached. Then McVerry left to go to Japan, AJ Gilbert never stepped up (and to be fair was never really given the chance, ie behind Abram the 4th reserve hooker and backrower) and when Croft quit to make a spot for Pocock, Pocock refused to return home. So we were left with Luafutu, who is not a pure fetcher, and young up and comers like Andrew Shaw, who is not ready for prime time yet (if ever).
Braid is probably the best acquisition of a 7 we could have made, although I will be interested to see how US openside Todd Clever does for the SA team he has signed up for. Hopefully Braid has one season and by then a local Qld boy is suitably trained up.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Rugby Rat,
I misread your post - you were asking why the Reds didn't have local talent and had to recruit Braid from across the ditch.
Good question. The only thing I know is that there hasn't been any Queensland Schools fetcher of note in the last 5 years, apart from Pocock.
During that time NSW Schools have produced Beau Robinson, Coridas and two young future stars (this year) - Ale and Hooper.
Things go like that in a 5 year period for any position and in the next 5 years it's just as likely that there will be a surfeit for Queensland.
Maybe it's not all doom and gloom for the Reds. The IRB protocols enjoining players to stay on their feet and not to kill the ball may make fetcher specialisation less important - similar to how it was in amateur days - and the current version of the ELVs (which don't have the ARC hands in permission) may see more merit in 7s who can run with the pill.
Maybe not also.
And let's all list the best Springbok fetchers since they won their 1st RWC in 1995 - not just guys who play on the open side but ball sniffers.
You're right - not many. Without Braid the Reds would have had to come up with a game plan to do without a specialist. They would have to look to what the Boks do and that includes bashing opponent 7s off the pill.
If Braid is unavailable during the S14 it's exactly what they'll have to do.
I misread your post - you were asking why the Reds didn't have local talent and had to recruit Braid from across the ditch.
Good question. The only thing I know is that there hasn't been any Queensland Schools fetcher of note in the last 5 years, apart from Pocock.
During that time NSW Schools have produced Beau Robinson, Coridas and two young future stars (this year) - Ale and Hooper.
Things go like that in a 5 year period for any position and in the next 5 years it's just as likely that there will be a surfeit for Queensland.
Maybe it's not all doom and gloom for the Reds. The IRB protocols enjoining players to stay on their feet and not to kill the ball may make fetcher specialisation less important - similar to how it was in amateur days - and the current version of the ELVs (which don't have the ARC hands in permission) may see more merit in 7s who can run with the pill.
Maybe not also.
And let's all list the best Springbok fetchers since they won their 1st RWC in 1995 - not just guys who play on the open side but ball sniffers.
You're right - not many. Without Braid the Reds would have had to come up with a game plan to do without a specialist. They would have to look to what the Boks do and that includes bashing opponent 7s off the pill.
If Braid is unavailable during the S14 it's exactly what they'll have to do.
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