Queensland Reds 2025

[Adam84]

Broken down by position;

Props
George Blake
Massimo De Lutis
Sef Fa'Agase
*Matt Gibbon(Rebels)
Alex Hodgman
*Trevor King(Reds Academy)
Zane Nonggorr
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen

Hooker
Richie Asiata
Max Craig
Matt Faessler
Josh Nasser

Locks
Angus Blyth
*Josh Canham (Rebels)
*Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
Ryan Smith
Connor Vest

Backrow
Joe Brial
John Bryant
Fraser McReight
Seru Uru
Harry Wilson
Liam Wright

Halfback
Tate McDermott
Kalani Thomas
Louis Werchon

Fly-Half
Tom Lynagh
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips

Centre
Josh Flook
Frankie Goldsbrough
Isaac Henry
Hunter Paisami
*Dre Pakeho(Reds Academy)

Wing
*Lachie Anderson(Rebels)
*Filipo Daugunu(Rebels)
*Will McCulloch(Reds Academy)
Tim Ryan

Fullback
Jock Campbell

Utility
*Jude Gibbs(Northern Suburbs)
*Mason Gordon(Rebels)

 

[Wilson]

I thought McCulloch was more of a fullback than a wing?

 

[Sword of Justice]

Strong squad but looking light at 10 and 15. JOC (James O'Connor) filled a lot of holes for us, not least an experience gap.

 

[Dctarget]

talent up front, that forward pack is way better than the backs.

 

[Adam84]

I thought McCulloch was more of a fullback than a wing?

fullback-winger.. I think we would see Gibbs and Gordon play fullback before Will, at least in his first season

 

[MungoMan]

He's signed for one year, perhaps one or both of Anderson look to move on at the end of 2025, in which case there's probably room for him for 2026? I'd imagine joining a Queensland Cup side is just him looking for a paid gig considering he wasn't picked up for the Reds?

Wait, what - did the Reds snare the 2for1 deal? Shrewd work by the buyers.

 

[Wilson]

It's really great how many of these "new arrivals" have already had significant time playing and training with the squad. At this stage it's only Gibbs and some of the age grade guys who haven't been capped yet, and with the pre-season tour at least Gibbs should get a couple of games under his belt before the season proper. Some of the Rebels players coming in like Canham and Gordon will have had 5 or so games with the squad by the start of next season, and a hell of a lot of time training and learning the systems. Should be really well placed to hit the ground running.

 

[Ignoto]

talent up front, that forward pack is way better than the backs.

What I'm hearing is, the game plan is a Brumby one, kick for the 5 metre line and maul it for a try!

 

[dillyboy]

Strong squad but looking light at 10 and 15. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) filled a lot of holes for us, not least an experience gap.

He lacks the experience, but Mason will likely fill that 10/15 cover

 

[Ras]

First thoughts are the forward pack is RED hot. Second thought is we do lack a lot of size in flyhalf and centres. Albeit hunter and Flook are great defenders you'd expect to see a lot of Daugunu taking first phase hit ups in attack. My team list is below, keen to know how others would build the squad.

1. Hodgman
2. Faessler
3. Nonggorr
4. Canham
5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Wright
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. McDermott
10. Lynagh
11. Ryan
12. Paisami
13. Flook
14. Daugunu
15. Campbell

16. Nasser
17. Fa'Agase/Gibbon
18. JTA
19. Smith
20. Uru
21.Thomas
22. HMP
23.Anderson/Gordon

 

[Brumby Runner]

What I'm hearing is, the game plan is a Brumby one, kick for the 5 metre line and maul it for a try!

Just like the U19s. Wonder how that went in the end?

 

[Ignoto]

Broken down by position;

Centre
Josh Flook
Frankie Goldsbrough
Isaac Henry
Hunter Paisami
*Dre Pakeho(Reds Academy)

Wing
*Lachie Anderson(Rebels)
*Filipo Daugunu(Rebels)
*Will McCulloch(Reds Academy)
Tim Ryan

Fullback
Jock Campbell

Utility
*Jude Gibbs(Northern Suburbs)
*Mason Gordon(Rebels)

So, no Jordan Petaia, but surprisingly, no Vunivalu!?

 

[Ras]

So, no Jordan Petaia, but surprisingly, no Vunivalu!?

To be fair we never really had them last year through injury or suspension.

 

[noknowledgeatall]

I'd be very pleased to see this happening, but where do you think the funds come from?

Where every sports gets their funds

1. TV Rights - make a product that can be sold
2. Sponsors - rattle the can in the so called rugby heartland of the "big End of Town".
3. Pokies - Sunnybank took them in years ago and became flush - now the others need to at least look at the option.
4. Off farm businesses - look for cash flow from non traditional avenues - ie clubs can own business outside rugby.
5. Game day revenue - gate (Sydney is $20 admission), drinks and food sales.
6. Club memberships - some have them and some don't but all have a huge number of past players and supporters who might be happy to stay engaged.

This is all of course dependent upon the back room having business minded people in the right chairs. Just cause you played for the wallabies or reds does not mean you make a good executive.
Time to think outside the square, look for improvement and grow the game in Brisbane. Potential expansion to growth corridors (Ipswich, Caboolture, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast) could round out a 9-team comp to 10 or 12 and bring a new bunch of people in.

Funny old saying
If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.

 

[Wilson]

First thoughts are the forward pack is RED hot. Second thought is we do lack a lot of size in flyhalf and centres. Albeit hunter and Flook are great defenders you'd expect to see a lot of Daugunu taking first phase hit ups in attack. My team list is below, keen to know how others would build the squad.

1. Hodgman
2. Faessler
3. Nonggorr
4. Canham
5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Wright
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. McDermott
10. Lynagh
11. Ryan
12. Paisami
13. Flook
14. Daugunu
15. Campbell

16. Nasser
17. Fa'Agase/Gibbon
18. JTA
19. Smith
20. Uru
21.Thomas
22. HMP
23.Anderson/Gordon

I'd be starting Smith in the locks alongside either of Canham or Salakaia-Loto more often than not (probably with a bit of rotation for them). He's super reliable as an 80 minute player, particularly defensively and I think you can get more out of the Rebels pair by bomb squading them.

 

[dillyboy]

So, no Jordan Petaia, but surprisingly, no Vunivalu!?

Petaia already announced as trialing for the NFL - if he misses out it was implied we'd have a spot for him.

Vunivalu was the shock omission given no official farewell but not overly surprising given being left home from tour and definitely seen as on the outer after the brain farts last season

 

[Ras]

I'd be starting Smith in the locks alongside either of Canham or Salakaia-Loto more often than not (probably with a bit of rotation for them). He's super reliable as an 80 minute player, particularly defensively and I think you can get more out of the Rebels pair by bomb squading them.

Agreed, Uru also probably in the Lock rotation so Bryant and Brial get a run as well for me. Blyth - the wallaby - spending more time in QPR for me

 

[scrans21]

First XV for me:

1. Hodgman
2. Faesslar
3. Nonggorr
4. Smith
5. Salakai-Loto
6. Wright (cc)
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. McDermott (cc)
10. Lynagh
11. Daugunu
12. Paisami/Henry
13. Flook
14. Ryan
15. Campbell

16. Nasser
17. Gibbon
18. Toomaga-Allen
19. Canham
20. Uru
21. Werchon
22. McLaughlin-Phillips
23. Goldsbrough

I can see us implementing a rotation for stacked positions similar to the Brumbies so guys like Blyth, Vest, Bryant, Brial, Fa'agase, De Luttiss, Thomas, Anderson and Gordon can all get some gametime. Plus with the inevitable injuries I wouldn't be surprised to see a few of them push into the first team. Fuck it feels good to actually have some serious depth again, especially in the forwards.

 

[Wilson]

A lot of coverage amongst those backs too, could see us look to run 6-2 a bit more often to take advantage of the full lock and backrow group we've got. Would just rely on either Mason Gordon/Campbell covering 10, Mclaughlin-Phillips/Lynagh getting up to speed at fullback/wing or using Gibbs in the 23 jersey.

 

[Adam84]

Where every sports gets their funds

1. TV Rights - make a product that can be sold
2. Sponsors - rattle the can in the so called rugby heartland of the "big End of Town".
3. Pokies - Sunnybank took them in years ago and became flush - now the others need to at least look at the option.
4. Off farm businesses - look for cash flow from non traditional avenues - ie clubs can own business outside rugby.
5. Game day revenue - gate (Sydney is $20 admission), drinks and food sales.
6. Club memberships - some have them and some don't but all have a huge number of past players and supporters who might be happy to stay engaged.

email this list out to the QPR clubs...