Thomas always looks great after time away but then slowly reverts back to a habit of taking ages to pry the ball out of the ruck and not putting any speed on his delivery. It's like he gets into his own head.Some great things happening at the Reds in terms of recruitment, squad development, fringe players putting their hands up etc
My only concern at this stage is there seems a bunch of key players who aren’t confirmed for next year. Despite all the positivity we still only ended 5th this year and there was still a big gap between the top 4 and the rest when it came to fhe
Not unusual or unexpected but still a major ‘to do’ is to lock down some of these players.
I’m conscious that the list on page 1 isn’t up to date and I haven’t gone back through the pages but some of the key signings I’d like to see -
- Liam Wright - yeah, or depth looks great but he’s still our best 6 IMO and gives us the type of depth to push forward
- Petaia - sounds like this one is not going to happen but, for all the good things about our backline, we lack size and power
- Fa’agase & De Lutiis (Ravai was great this year but I assume we won’t be allowed to resign him with the recruitment of Gibbon - and fair enough)
- Werchon - a bit more of a speculative pick but Thomas has never really kicked on and Werchon has looked pretty good v Wales & Tonga. Would give us genuine 1-2 punch at 9
- Tim Ryan & Taj Annan - Ryan after a breakout season and Annan a more measured introduction. Both guys young enough to be the basis of the Reds future but also (Ryan in particular) key players right now.
- Isaac Henry - might get pushed out with some of the other signings and with injuries hampering his progress - but has looked good in the limited opportunities he’s had.
Agree 100% with thisThomas always looks great after time away but then slowly reverts back to a habit of taking ages to pry the ball out of the ruck and not putting any speed on his delivery. It's like he gets into his own head.
Big loss for the Reds, he's been consistently immense - but as you say, I'm glad this is the outcome.Not too surprising given the signing of Gibbon and Rebels player movement, but Peni Ravai has signed with the Drua:
Sad to see him go, but a great pickup for the Drua and great for Peni to get to represent them.
We have four international props at both Loose Head and Tight Head; Hodgman, Gibbon, JTA and Zane.So where is our prop depth/stocks with Ravai gone?
We’ve added Gibbon… is there any further rebels to make a play on? How about schoolboy rugby - any names worth watching?
Loosehead - Hodgman, Gibbon, Fa'agase, BlakeSo where is our prop depth/stocks with Ravai gone?
We’ve added Gibbon… is there any further rebels to make a play on? How about schoolboy rugby - any names worth watching?
Only time I can remember something similar was around 2011-2013; Slipper, Daly, Greg Holmes and Guy Shepherdson.I don’t think we’ve ever had better depth at prop, have we. On top of the four with test experience I thought last year was Fa’agese’s best year I can recall him playing and De Lutiis seems to be coming along nicely.
Well - he’s big.Isnt De Lutiis the next big thing at prop?
surely it's Lukhan right? it's been rumoured for weeks.So we got a members email today saying "At 10am tomorrow morning, a BIG new signing will be officially announced to join our 2025 Queensland Reds Super Rugby Pacific squad."
Odd timing to do any type of announcement, a Saturday morning.
Any ideas?
and tomorrow he'll be (officially) in Bris with the wallabies squad, good timing for a photo in the reds kit?surely it's Lukhan right? it's been rumoured for weeks.
So we got a members email today saying "At 10am tomorrow morning, a BIG new signing will be officially announced to join our 2025 Queensland Reds Super Rugby Pacific squad."
Odd timing to do any type of announcement, a Saturday morning.
Any ideas?