Queensland Reds 2025

[Adam84]

I read today that Vaihu has signed with the broncos.

Yeah Glen has, was referring to his younger brother David who is equally talented.

 

[PhilClinton]

Vunivalu goes down as one of the great failures.

Gotta give Kiss credit, he gave him a crack even though he was handed a shit sandwich. I think the early divorce will be best for both parties.

As someone who watches a fair bit of NRL, I am genuinely surprised Vunivalu never made it. I was pretty vocal on here when he was signed that he would be good.

Although I guess the old Craig Bellamy theory rings true, he doesn’t really let go of players that he knows are truly exceptional. The best players at the Storm over the last 20 years have essentially been Storm lifers. Cronk (I still consider him 90% Storm), Inglis and Folau being main exceptions. The rest of them haven’t been as good after leaving.

 

[LeCheese]

Vunivalu goes down as one of the great failures.

Gotta give Kiss credit, he gave him a crack even though he was handed a shit sandwich. I think the early divorce will be best for both parties.

As someone who watches a fair bit of NRL, I am genuinely surprised Vunivalu never made it. I was pretty vocal on here when he was signed that he would be good.

Although I guess the old Craig Bellamy theory rings true, he doesn’t really let go of players that he knows are truly exceptional. The best players at the Storm over the last 20 years have essentially been Storm lifers. Cronk (I still consider him 90% Storm), Inglis and Folau being main exceptions. The rest of them haven’t been as good after leaving.

Who knows what could've been if his hammies had held up - even when he wasn't sidelined, he never looked like he had full confidence in them. I also imagine it would've been tricky to get a proper feel for the 15 man game when he was really only able to play a few games in a row. He did always look better, and like he had a clearer understanding of his role, after stringing games together. C'est la vie.

 

[Wilson]

Vunivalu goes down as one of the great failures.

Gotta give Kiss credit, he gave him a crack even though he was handed a shit sandwich. I think the early divorce will be best for both parties.

As someone who watches a fair bit of NRL, I am genuinely surprised Vunivalu never made it. I was pretty vocal on here when he was signed that he would be good.

Although I guess the old Craig Bellamy theory rings true, he doesn’t really let go of players that he knows are truly exceptional. The best players at the Storm over the last 20 years have essentially been Storm lifers. Cronk (I still consider him 90% Storm), Inglis and Folau being main exceptions. The rest of them haven’t been as good after leaving.

Aside from the injuries, covid wrought havoc on the transition plans for him - no NRC for extra game time to get up to speed or first up EOYT for him to get that leg up like Koroibete. I don't think he even had the chance to play club rugby in the first year of his change over with squad bubbles still in place.

That's not to say it wasn't a failure overall and he isn't at least partially responsible for that, but for all the talk of how much was spent in him (often overblown, conflating full control value with per year), it's been far from the worst showing by a convert.

I do wonder how much better the Reds would be at bringing someone over now - better structure under Les Kiss, a full off season schedule, a lot more stability in the game and a stronger squad overall that would help ease and manage players through. That's not to say they should be throwing money at league players now, but looking at the difference in environment between now and what Vunivalu came into really speaks to the progress they've made as an organisation.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Vunivalu goes down as one of the great failures.

Gotta give Kiss credit, he gave him a crack even though he was handed a shit sandwich. I think the early divorce will be best for both parties.

As someone who watches a fair bit of NRL, I am genuinely surprised Vunivalu never made it. I was pretty vocal on here when he was signed that he would be good.

Although I guess the old Craig Bellamy theory rings true, he doesn’t really let go of players that he knows are truly exceptional. The best players at the Storm over the last 20 years have essentially been Storm lifers. Cronk (I still consider him 90% Storm), Inglis and Folau being main exceptions. The rest of them haven’t been as good after leaving.

I really don't recall Greg Inglis ever turning out in the real game, ie rugby. Am I missing something?

 

[PhilClinton]

That's not to say it wasn't a failure overall and he isn't at least partially responsible for that, but for all the talk of how much was spent in him (often overblown, conflating full control value with per year), it's been far from the worst showing by a convert.

I could be wrong but even with the over reported salaries, wasn’t he one of RA’s highest paid outside backs initially?

It may be recency bias but I think he would be up there with one of the more poor signing overall from league, particularly odd I thought that they re-signed him (on a reported much lower deal). I think when you weigh up his league resume, money paid for him and impact for the Reds/Wallabies he would be up there with most disappointing in Australia at least.

From memory Timana Tahu sucked balls, maybe Ryan Cross also?

 

[PhilClinton]

I really don't recall Greg Inglis ever turning out in the real game, ie rugby. Am I missing something?

Sorry maybe I wasn’t clear, I meant just generally leaving the Storm. Don’t think Inglis ever played any rugby or at least professional rugby.

Lots of guys who have been overpaid when leaving that system (Hynes, Brandon Smith, Vuni are of recent note) and don’t have the same impact.

 

[Wilson]

I could be wrong but even with the over reported salaries, wasn’t he one of RA’s highest paid outside backs initially?

It may be recency bias but I think he would be up there with one of the more poor signing overall from league, particularly odd I thought that they re-signed him (on a reported much lower deal). I think when you weigh up his league resume, money paid for him and impact for the Reds/Wallabies he would be up there with most disappointing in Australia at least.

From memory Timana Tahu sucked balls, maybe Ryan Cross also?

He had a 2 year deal worth around $700k when he first came over (so $350k per year). It's hard to find detail of contracts, particularly below the big earners, but my understanding (all from memory, can't find the sources I remember seeing at the time) is that Wright and Daugunu had contracts around $400k per year around that time, Tom Banks and Petaia were probably on more. With Koroibete leaving there weren't many well established wallaby back 3 players contracted in Australia at that point.

It's a few years later, but Jorgensen has signed a contract worth significantly more - $1.6m over 3 years ($533k a year, though it's likely smaller at the start and bigger at the end).

 

[upthereds#!]

I could be wrong but even with the over reported salaries, wasn’t he one of RA’s highest paid outside backs initially?

It may be recency bias but I think he would be up there with one of the more poor signing overall from league, particularly odd I thought that they re-signed him (on a reported much lower deal). I think when you weigh up his league resume, money paid for him and impact for the Reds/Wallabies he would be up there with most disappointing in Australia at least.

From memory Timana Tahu sucked balls, maybe Ryan Cross also?

Tahu was lucky to get Gold - he was average. Singed on 500k a year for 4 years but didnt finish it.

Will Chambers was our pickup and thought it would be huge. Unfortunately he struggled at 13 in Rugby Union especially with defensive positioning - and a bit slow for wing. He was not offered a contract in 2012 after a shit 2011. Did well when back in league and used union to extend his career.

Cross was the best centre convert - played fast and hard and decent nous. Over 60 Super Rugby games and 20 test caps. Went to france instead of back to league.

 

[PhilClinton]

Doing some quick Wikipediaing and the Reds have pretty much had at least one of their key backline signings come from league for the last 20 odd years.

Big Dell (2002-2005)
Clinton S (2006-2008)
Berrick Barnes (2006-2009)
Chambers (2010-2011)
Eto Nabuli (2016-2019)
Vuni (2021-2024)

I think Vuni is easily the worst of that bunch in terms of value and impact on the field. Even Chambers was there for the 2011 premiership at least.

 

[NCT]

I think it is on Vunivalu, assuming the coaching was there ( had to have been) but when a wing doesn't turn around and run hard to chase a player, when a big man can't stay on his feet when tackled and fold immediately, when he can't tackle apart from grabbing the shoulders and slinging them to the ground...that shows a player who can't learn.

Oppositions targeted him in defence and he just looked lost. Sure, close to the line he had power to get over but it's just like the big kid in junior rugby who the opposition is scared of when they walk on the field and is hard to stop a couple of metres out but doesn't offer much anywhere else and the other team works it out quickly.

League players can be good athletes but don't necessarily make good rugby players.

 

[Wilson]

Doing some quick Wikipediaing and the Reds have pretty much had at least one of their key backline signings come from league for the last 20 odd years.

Big Dell (2002-2005)
Clinton S (2006-2008)
Berrick Barnes (2006-2009)
Chambers (2010-2011)
Eto Nabuli (2016-2019)
Vuni (2021-2024)

I think Vuni is easily the worst of that bunch in terms of value and impact on the field. Even Chambers was there for the 2011 premiership at least.

Is Vunivalu really "easily worse" then Eto Nabuli? I can't remember Nabuli ever having a game as good as some of Vunivalu's best. In terms of value he might have been cheaper overall, but given the RA component of Vunivalu's deal I doubt he would've been significantly cheaper from a QLD perspective.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Yeah I have seen every single reds game of the years listed above by Phil and I had to google Nabuli because I couldn’t even remember what he looked like.

 

[Lindommer]

Forgot Willie Carne?

 

[PhilClinton]

Forgot Willie Carne?

I said last 20 years - I think if we go back much further to the early professional days it would increase the number of the blow-ins who tried code hoping.

 

[PhilClinton]

Is Vunivalu really "easily worse" then Eto Nabuli? I can't remember Nabuli ever having a game as good as some of Vunivalu's best. In terms of value he might have been cheaper overall, but given the RA component of Vunivalu's deal I doubt he would've been significantly cheaper from a QLD perspective.

Yep that is fair and also funnily enough if Wiki stats are accurate, both played the same number of games for the Reds but Vuni actually scored a couple more tries.

They are both equally not good.

 

[hituplover]

Sorry maybe I wasn’t clear, I meant just generally leaving the Storm. Don’t think Inglis ever played any rugby or at least professional rugby.

Lots of guys who have been overpaid when leaving that system (Hynes, Brandon Smith, Vuni are of recent note) and don’t have the same impact.

geez tough on hynes he won the dally m the year he left and has made the sharks contenders in 3 years

 

[PhilClinton]

geez tough on hynes he won the dally m the year he left and has made the sharks contenders in 3 years

Nah - he's on $1M a year. Sharks haven't really looked like making a Grand Final, he's played like shit in State of Origin and there is talk he may even move positions.

I didn't say he was terrible - but I think he's overpaid for what he is bringing to the Sharkies.

 

[Ignoto]

I said last 20 years - I think if we go back much further to the early professional days it would increase the number of the blow-ins who tried code hoping.

Lachlan Maranta would probably take the cake. Bennett is his Godfather and still booted him from the Broncos.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Tahu was lucky to get Gold - he was average. Singed on 500k a year for 4 years but didnt finish it.

Will Chambers was our pickup and thought it would be huge. Unfortunately he struggled at 13 in Rugby Union especially with defensive positioning - and a bit slow for wing. He was not offered a contract in 2012 after a shit 2011. Did well when back in league and used union to extend his career.

Cross was the best centre convert - played fast and hard and decent nous. Over 60 Super Rugby games and 20 test caps. Went to france instead of back to league.

Cross had a background in Rugby. Was an Australian Schoolboy out of Waverley. Wish we had him his entire career.

Lachlan Maranta would probably take the cake. Bennett is his Godfather and still booted him from the Broncos.

oh fuck. Bingo card winner on naming utterly awful outside backs.