Queensland Reds 2024

[TSR]

Agree.

I’m happy with Nonggorr and personally I am not convinced he had as much trouble in the scrums at the World Cup as it was made out. Or at least I feel like others contributed more to that. That theory will get tested soon enough and he definitely faces a big challenge this weekend (if he does start). I’m sure he’s relishing it.

 

[Adam84]

Scrummaging also reflects the statement that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Analysing a props performance in isolation without consideration to the rest of the forward back doesn’t necessarily reflect performance.

 

[Wilson]

Also doesn't hurt having two weeks to review and prepare before revisiting the same opponent. It should be a good opportunity to correct the most glaring issues and plan to offset them, whether that's a change in technique for Nonggorr or a change in selection. That's the particular advantage of being tested in a trial and the one thing that has me worried about how easy the rest of that game against the tahs was for the Reds.

 

[Derpus]

Scrums are a performative dance routine performed by 16 men, the predominant theme of which is nonsense.

 

[PhilClinton]

What I really want to see from the Reds this year is having players in their optimal positions as much as possible. It's something which the whole of rugby in Australia needs to get better at.

I think Lynagh, Creighton and HMP are all pure 10s and should be selected that way. I don't see much point in carrying one of them on the bench when we have guys like JOC (James O'Connor) and Jock who are able to cover flyhalf if desperate. Let someone start and the others get plenty of time at 10 for their club, it's the only way you get better at game management which is a huge part of that role.

Same with Petaia, time to figure out if he's going to be a winger/fullback or a centre. I think a lot of our backs mediocrity is because we have too many players who aren't given the opportunity to get comfortable in a single position.

 

[SouthernX]

What I really want to see from the Reds this year is having players in their optimal positions as much as possible. It's something which the whole of rugby in Australia needs to get better at.

I think Lynagh, Creighton and HMP are all pure 10s and should be selected that way. I don't see much point in carrying one of them on the bench when we have guys like JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and Jock who are able to cover flyhalf if desperate. Let someone start and the others get plenty of time at 10 for their club, it's the only way you get better at game management which is a huge part of that role.

Same with Petaia, time to figure out if he's going to be a winger/fullback or a centre. I think a lot of our backs mediocrity is because we have too many players who aren't given the opportunity to get comfortable in a single position.

agree - with the backs on a 5-3 or 6-2 split you need some versatility from utilities.
Creighton, Henry and Petaia are all solid options to be utilitys and finishers for the reds.

 

[Yoda]

What I really want to see from the Reds this year is having players in their optimal positions as much as possible. It's something which the whole of rugby in Australia needs to get better at.

I think Lynagh, Creighton and HMP are all pure 10s and should be selected that way. I don't see much point in carrying one of them on the bench when we have guys like JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and Jock who are able to cover flyhalf if desperate. Let someone start and the others get plenty of time at 10 for their club, it's the only way you get better at game management which is a huge part of that role.

Same with Petaia, time to figure out if he's going to be a winger/fullback or a centre. I think a lot of our backs mediocrity is because we have too many players who aren't given the opportunity to get comfortable in a single position.

Couldn’t agree more Phil.

 

[Wilson]

What I really want to see from the Reds this year is having players in their optimal positions as much as possible. It's something which the whole of rugby in Australia needs to get better at.

I think Lynagh, Creighton and HMP are all pure 10s and should be selected that way. I don't see much point in carrying one of them on the bench when we have guys like JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and Jock who are able to cover flyhalf if desperate. Let someone start and the others get plenty of time at 10 for their club, it's the only way you get better at game management which is a huge part of that role.

I agree with this for the bulk of the season, but in the first month or so of games before the club comp starts I'd like to see whoever is not starting out of McLaughlin-Phillips and Lynagh get a chance for the bench, even if it means a bit of time at fullback/wing. I think it's important you give these guys that exposure to this level before sending them back to club, so they know just how high they have to be aiming. Otherwise it can be too easy for them to fall back to what works at club level without pushing themselves further.

I also probably wouldn't rely on Campbell as 10 coverage unless there's a full on injury crisis, we have too many better suited options and there's no need to be replacing back 3 players as standard, so if we run a 6-2 I'd rather one of the 2 is either O'Connor, Creighton, Lynagh or McLaughlin-Phillips, unless 2 of them are already starting.

 

[Dctarget]

O'Connor will miss the first four games so lots of time then for your young guns

 

[TSR]

What I really want to see from the Reds this year is having players in their optimal positions as much as possible. It's something which the whole of rugby in Australia needs to get better at.

I think Lynagh, Creighton and HMP are all pure 10s and should be selected that way. I don't see much point in carrying one of them on the bench when we have guys like JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and Jock who are able to cover flyhalf if desperate. Let someone start and the others get plenty of time at 10 for their club, it's the only way you get better at game management which is a huge part of that role.

Same with Petaia, time to figure out if he's going to be a winger/fullback or a centre. I think a lot of our backs mediocrity is because we have too many players who aren't given the opportunity to get comfortable in a single position.

Agree with the general statement - although your bench players need to be able to cover multiple spots and Kiss said as much in an interview the other day.

Disagree on Creighton. From what I’ve seen at super level he is a genuine utility it has been mentioned he has been training in multiple spots. For him I feel that is his best option to be a regular super rugby player. As a specialist 10 I feel he will fall down the pecking order.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Same with Petaia, time to figure out if he's going to be a winger/fullback or a centre. I think a lot of our backs mediocrity is because we have too many players who aren't given the opportunity to get comfortable in a single position.

What do we do if Schmidt decides Petaia's best role for the Wallabies is at fullback, and wants him playing there but Kiss wants to maximise his team's performance - assessing that the Reds are stronger with Petaia in the centres and JOC (James O'Connor) at fullback?

Who gets to decide?

 

[SouthernX]

What do we do if Schmidt decides Petaia's best role for the Wallabies is at fullback, and wants him playing there but Kiss wants to maximise his team's performance - assessing that the Reds are stronger with Petaia in the centres and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) at fullback?

Who gets to decide?

guessing Kiss has first right of call until centralisation model is implemented

 

[Wilson]

What do we do if Schmidt decides Petaia's best role for the Wallabies is at fullback, and wants him playing there but Kiss wants to maximise his team's performance - assessing that the Reds are stronger with Petaia in the centres and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) at fullback?

Who gets to decide?

Les Kiss gets to decide, but in practice he'll work it out with Petaia (who will probably be influenced by what the wallabies coach wants). Schmidt can ask nicely, but that's really it at the moment. Either way I don't expect Schmidt would be delivering edicts like that, at least this year. Given Campbell's form there's every chance he'll be well in the reckoning for wallabies full back anyway.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Les Kiss gets to decide, but in practice he'll work it out with Petaia (who will probably be influenced by what the wallabies coach wants). Schmidt can ask nicely, but that's really it at the moment. Either way I don't expect Schmidt would be delivering edicts like that, at least this year. Given Campbell's form there's every chance he'll be well in the reckoning for wallabies full back anyway.

Surely Kiss has the last say however I'd say Horne & Schmidt would have a conversation.

 

[PhilClinton]

What do we do if Schmidt decides Petaia's best role for the Wallabies is at fullback, and wants him playing there but Kiss wants to maximise his team's performance - assessing that the Reds are stronger with Petaia in the centres and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) at fullback?

Who gets to decide?

Probably Kiss you'd think - particularly if RA are serious about making Super Rugby a product that people want to watch and support. Those coaches need to be empowered to select the best teams.

What you've pointed out is the crux of the issue I think for many rugby fans here in Australia - we need the Wallabies to be winning again and our Super Rugby players are the heart of that team. But if playing someone 'out of position' is at the detriment to their own Super Rugby team, we end up with an inferior product.

I don't know if there is a right answer actually to be honest.

 

[Wilson]

Good interview with O'Connor by James Marshall on his What a Lad podcast:

James O'Connor- What a Lad

What a Lad · Episode

open.spotify.com

Always great to hear the journey he's been on and how he's turned it around. Speaks a fair bit about mentoring and coaching going forward - he seems pretty interested in coaching in particular and aside from the work with Curchie at the moment it sounds like he's got some coaching work lined up with QLD and Australia under 20s later in the year.

 

[Adam84]

Schmidt unlikely to be requesting specific positions for players at this point of the season Id think. A new national coach would likely just want to see all player in form. Hasn’t even started the job yet or had direct one on one experience with the players to make that assessment.

 

[Ignoto]

Always great to hear the journey he's been on and how he's turned it around.

Cheers for the link, I'll have to give it a listen.

Its been pretty interesting to see how two out of the three amigos have been able to stablise their lives and are actively contributing to the furtherment of the game.

Definitely something I never thought we'd see 10-15 years ago!

 

[dillyboy]

Exciting announcement imminent. Maybe as soon as Monday.

Any update on this?

 

[PhilClinton]

Any update on this?

It was P!nk - her shows were such a hit that Suncorp have hired her to perform before all Reds games this season