Queensland Reds 2025

[Derpus]

So a lot of it’s been covered on here but listening to this weeks Inside Line podcast and their mail on player movements - saying reds are looking good for Canham, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Daugunu and solid interest in Lancaster

Fuck me that's huge if true. Directly addresses two of their key deficiencies being a lack of depth in the outside backs and a lack of size/physicality in the pack.

Is Vunivalu still on some kind of contract for next year? Need to jettison that bloke asap.

 

[Reds Rick]

Fuck me that's huge if true. Directly addresses two of their key deficiencies being a lack of depth in the outside backs and a lack of size/physicality in the pack.

Is Vunivalu still on some kind of contract for next year? Need to jettison that bloke asap.

Yeah would be a pretty stacked squad if all comes to pass.
You’d think there’d be a fair bit of money tied up with vunivalu. It was also mentioned Petaia may not be sticking around too.

 

[Highlander35]

It's a group of moves which make sense based on the other rumours that were floating about. Not sure Reds is where I'd send Lancaster but all the teams seem... ok for wingers.

I also don't imagine the permission to re-sign Ravi will be forthcoming, so I envisage you seeking to add one of Gibbon and IAK to the squad too depending on how much faith/long term planning there is in Fa'agase and/or ETS Looseheads.

 

[Derpus]

I would put Lancaster only behind Petaia and roughly on the level with Ryan. He'd certainly be an upgrade on blokes like Grealy and Vunivalu. Daugunu also covers both wings and 13 so great depth option.

 

[Sully]

The "problem" is see with signing Daugunu is that he is another lighter back to go with all our other lighter backs. The Reds are crying out for a good big body in their backline and playing above your weight just doesn't cut it when you're playing against guys 10-15 kgs heavier than you. Like ALB last weekend.

 

[Sword of Justice]

The "problem" is see with signing Daugunu is that he is another lighter back to go with all our other lighter backs. The Reds are crying out for a good big body in their backline and playing above your weight just doesn't cut it when you're playing against guys 10-15 kgs heavier than you. Like ALB last weekend.

True but Ardie Savea is technically pretty light and doesn’t seem it. Whilst Daugunu is not Savea but he does play heavier. He is probably the best back I have personally ever seen at the breakdown, without hyperbole.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I would put Lancaster only behind Petaia and roughly on the level with Ryan. He'd certainly be an upgrade on blokes like Grealy and Vunivalu. Daugunu also covers both wings and 13 so great depth option.

Grealy has done enough that he won't be out of a starting job somewhere. Nice contrast style on the field if you have the big athlete on the other.

Reds have to juggle how many outside backs can fill up a squad and cause issues elsewhere. A lot depends on Petaia still. Lancaster is a big unit at almost 6'3 and 95kg and the scope to carry a bit more weight. He was tracked in the same speed metrics as Toole at the 7s program which is pretty impressive given he'd have 10kg on Ryan and Toole.

Henry is the other question mark in the squad.

 

[Ignoto]

The "problem" is see with signing Daugunu is that he is another lighter back to go with all our other lighter backs. The Reds are crying out for a good big body in their backline and playing above your weight just doesn't cut it when you're playing against guys 10-15 kgs heavier than you. Like ALB last weekend.

I dunno about that one Sully. Flipio has definitely put some size on him in the last year or two, to the point where outside of Vunivalu and Petaia, Flipio would be the "biggest" in the Reds back line for the 25 season.

Flipio and Flook both cover that 13/14/11 position which we struggled with covering when Flook went down.

Henry is the only one built solidly enough, but he just can't string the games together.

 

[Brumby Runner]

True but Ardie Savea is technically pretty light and doesn’t seem it. Whilst Daugunu is not Savea but he does play heavier. He is probably the best back I have personally ever seen at the breakdown, without hyperbole.

He's good at the breakdown. Up there with Henry Speight.

 

[Sword of Justice]

He's good at the breakdown. Up there with Henry Speight.

Two of my favourite Reds past or present

 

[Dctarget]

Darby is up there, 6'2 and 95kg.

 

[Homer]

So a lot of it’s been covered on here but listening to this weeks Inside Line podcast and their mail on player movements - saying reds are looking good for Canham, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Daugunu and solid interest in Lancaster

so who gets punted from the current 2nd row? Players wont stick around if they arent playing.

 

[Adam84]

Assuming Uru plays backrow, i rate the current locks in the below order, however out of those only Daly and Rori haven't re-signed for 2025 so not so clean-cut.

Smith
Blyth
Daly
Vest
Rori

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

He's good at the breakdown. Up there with Henry Speight.

Two dads was the Wallabies best for years.

 

[scrans21]

so who gets punted from the current 2nd row? Players wont stick around if they arent playing.

Uru to the backrow and Smith and Blyth can swap in and out with Salakai-Loto and Canham depending on the opposition, similar to what the Brumbies have done all year.

 

[upthereds#!]

Can’t see them letting Wright go anywhere. Co-captain, starting 6 all season up there playing the most minutes, important link to a strong back row and line out caller. Not sure why that changes next year with the acquisition of a few locks? If cuts need to be made it would be the current back up locks like Daley et all

Just looking at those off contract this year and how they make room without changes to the squad size allowance/how the reds offer him what he would be worth when those extra players are coming in. It's less about 'letting' Wright go, and more about, what can we offer someone of his value to the Reds, when his value to RA may be less and may not get a top up. He is great mates with Angus Scott Young so there may be greener pastures.

In my note, I had already cut Daley and Roiri.

 

[Yoda]

You would think the Reds would want Carter Gordon surely? He’s better than Lynagh and young HMP and wanted to return to Queensland. Apparently he was told he had to go to the Waratahs. Why in God’s name would he want to do that? They came last, everyone is leaving and they can’t get a coach! Talk about pushing a young talented bloke out the door. He could have gone OS playing rugby sure but it seems he wanted to head home to Queensland.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Apparently he was told he had to go to the Waratahs. Why in God’s name would he want to do that? They came last, everyone is leaving and they can’t get a coach! Talk about pushing a young talented bloke out the door. He could have gone OS playing rugby sure but it seems he wanted to head home to Queensland.

We are all guessing here, but I'm guessing he was told there was a position at the Tahs if he wanted one, and none of the other Super Rugby teams were interested in making the offer, including Queensland.

Both Lynagh and MHP have contracts already for 2025

 

[liquor box]

Just looking at those off contract this year and how they make room without changes to the squad size allowance/how the reds offer him what he would be worth when those extra players are coming in. It's less about 'letting' Wright go, and more about, what can we offer someone of his value to the Reds, when his value to RA may be less and may not get a top up. He is great mates with Angus Scott Young so there may be greener pastures.

In my note, I had already cut Daley and Roiri.

I think Wright should be about the highest paid player in the team, a lot of the players coming in have good stats in one or two categories, Wright has great stats in just about everything.

He appears to be a great leader of men, is not grubby and seems to be the type of player that the younger players should aim to be like. (I have never met him and I may be wrong)

 

[Strewthcobber]

I think Wright should be about the highest paid player in the team, a lot of the players coming in have good stats in one or two categories, Wright has great stats in just about everything.

He appears to be a great leader of men, is not grubby and seems to be the type of player that the younger players should aim to be like. (I have never met him and I may be wrong)

This is Wright's issue though. The highest paid Red's player will be getting vastly under paid to what Japan and Europe offer.

And I don't think they can afford to offer overs, because the already have Uru, McReight and Wilson signed up and on the books.

Unless he can earn himself a Wallaby top-up over the next 4(?) months, I think he will probably head OS to make coin.