Queensland Reds 2024

[Strewthcobber]

It's still a pretty good team, though maybe a bit thin at 4,5,6

slot in Fa'agase, Asiata, Vest, Anderson, Brial, Thomas, HMP/Creighton, Anan and Henry (edit) with JOC (James O'Connor) there too

Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, John Bryant, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lynagh, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Tim Ryan, Jock Campbell

RESERVES: Josh Nasser, Sef Fa'agase, Zane Nonggorr, Connor Vest, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Lawson Creighton, Taj Annan

 

[LeCheese]

Henry won't be available (out 'til ~November), and weren't there reports of an injury to JOC (James O'Connor)?

 

[Reds Rick]

Will also be interesting if they try to fast track any of the rumoured new signings

 

[The Whisperer]

I would assume something like this:

1. George Blake
2. Richie Asiata
3. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen
4. Seru Uru
5. Connor Vest
6. Connor Anderson
7. John Bryant
8. Joe Brial
9. Kalani Thomas
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
11. Tim Ryan
12. Lawson Creighton
13. Taj Annan
14. Suliasi Vunivalu
15. Jock Campbell

RESERVES
16. Max Craig
17. Sef Fa’agase
18. Massimo De Lutis
19. Taine Riori
20. Kohan Herbert
21. Louis Werchon
22. Floyd Aubrey
23. Mac Grealy

I know some of these have signed elsewhere so will be interested if they actually play

 

[Ignoto]

Kalani Thomas

I am 90% I saw Kalani on crutches and in bandages shopping with Floyd earlier last weekend.

 

[Slayer!]

You're assuming Joe Schmidt doesn't release some Reds to play Tier One opposition and uses his dirttrackers (ie Brumbies) to play Georgia.

 

[Wilson]

McLaughlin-Phillips will likely still be with the under 20s for this one.

The other factor is probably going to be any incoming Rebels. I imagine they'll come straight onto the books and start training. Integrating some of them into the matches against Wales and Tonga would be good, as long as they've had enough time with the team. It probably wouldn't be all of them but from the non-wallaby rebels rumoured I could see Canham or Gibbon coming straight into the 23.

 

[Strewthcobber]

A superb season for Turbo in maroon

Check out Lynagh's best bits from the season that was

Reds video post celebrating Lynagh re-signing. Good to see the initiative, but man those are some underwhelming highlights.

 

[Dctarget]

Yeah I thought the same.. He's got no pace at all. Just made me sad about Gordon.

 

[Wilson]

With Canham having signed for next year I expect he'll come straight into training and be available for the game against Wales. Depending on how many of Smith, Blyth, Wright and Wilson remain off with the Wallabies there should be plenty of room for him to slot straight into the 23 for that game.

 

[Ignoto]

Hopefully he can come straight in as with both Blyth and Rhino off, we're short on timber (I know we've got Uru, Cormac and Vest).

But, I would imagine you need Uru at 6, with Anderson at 8 and what, Bryant at 7? Or does Brial get 8 instead?

 

[Wilson]

I'd definitely have Brial over Anderson. They may want to play someone like Riori in the backrow to get a bit more size in though.

 

[scrans21]

6. Uru, 7. Bryant, 8. Brial, 20. Anderson

 

[Dctarget]

Canham’s highlights are better and looks like he’s faster too.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Worth remembering that Uru played 7 for the Baa Baas last year and handled the job quite nicely I thought. I think I even rated one of his games at the time as among the best No 7 performances from an Aussie in 2023.

 

[Wilson]

Squad update from Les Kiss for the Wales and Tonga games:

Cormac Daly out until Saitama games, Kalani Thomas out for 12-14 weeks away (foot surgery), Taj Annan out for 6 weeks (syndesmosis) and Suli Vinivalu out for 6 weeks (MCL).

Looking closely at Hospital's cup for call ups, will probably invite a couple in to train next week. Possibility Canham will be available, joins the squad for training next week. Some Wallalbies might be back, but it's wait and see who there.

 

[liquor box]

Unlucky for Thomas, I think he would have a decent shot at overtaking McDermott next season as a starter, he was looking pretty good when he was starting this season.

 

[LeCheese]

Great start of the season following his NPC jaunt, but I feel he regressed towards his usual criticisms as the season went on

 

[LeCheese]

So between Wallabies call-ups and injuries, who the hell do we have left in the centres for Wales? JOC (James O'Connor) (if not injured) and Creighton?

 

[Ignoto]

Les mentioned that there could be some Wallabies that come back for the Reds game depending on what Joe wants.

So it's possible the Flook may be back and maybe Flipo.

You might be looking at a backline of
9 - Werchon
10 - Creighton
11 - Grealy
12 - JOC (James O'Connor)
13 - Flook
14 - Daungunu
15 - Campbell

Which would be close to a backline we may have actually had last year?