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Queensland Reds 2025

The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
PhilClinton said:
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.
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He's a no.2 but they are paying him no.1 guy money. If he was the five-eight outside a good half the team would be awesome but they have it ass about.
 
Wilson

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
Ignoto said:
Lachlan Maranta would probably take the cake. Bennett is his Godfather and still booted him from the Broncos.
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He wasn't exactly expensive though. Definitely not a move that came off but he came on a base contract (~$70k I think?) and didn't show much. Not really any different to a club guy who gets a single season call up but doesn't cut it.
 
Ignoto

Ignoto

Peter Sullivan (51)
Wilson said:
He wasn't exactly expensive though. Definitely not a move that came off but he came on a base contract (~$70k I think?) and didn't show much. Not really any different to a club guy who gets a single season call up but doesn't cut it.
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You're completely right, but if we're talking about complete failures, he is/was up there!

Vunivalu has been more a disappointment. He's had his good moment but every good game was just a false dawn for us. I really thought he was going to kick on this year when we saw him being used more and more as a crash baller and he would consistently get over the adv line.
 
The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
Disappointment is the right term. I think we all hoped he'd be Lote 2.0 but it never really got started.

He's a physical specimen but staying on the field and getting involved seemed impossible. I think the NH leagues expect a lot from outside backs as well and Japan seems appropriate for a guy like this to score a try every couple of games and look the part.
 
PhilClinton

PhilClinton

Mark Loane (55)
Strewthcobber said:
I know it's not quite the same, but all I'm doing reading these names is thinking "He's no Goromoru"
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Yeh I considered whether the Big Gozza should be included in this group.

But at least he provided a level of genuine overseas hype, and I am sure the Reds sold more than a couple of their 'Goromaru Memberships' to Japanese fans which probably paid for the end of year Christmas party.
 
Spamnoodle

Spamnoodle

Ted Fahey (11)
SamoanNo8 said:
You’re kidding?
Nabuli would have been the Reds’ best outside back over ~3 years, and was duly rewarded with Test selection as a consequence.
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Yea I thought Eto went okay, he also had a bit of cult following at games with a bit of a cheer of expectation whenever he got involved in attack.
Maybe not the best but I recall some good touches.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
He had his moments but both his discipline and his effort on kick chase were pretty lacking at times.

He actually reminds me of Suli - I was always waiting for him to tear it up with his obvious athletic gifts and if never really happened.
 
Wilson

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
Knee looking good for Isaac Henry:
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TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
So, where do we see the improvement coming from for next year that is going to propel us up the ladder? I’m cautiously optimistic, but I feel im also realistic that there is a big difference between improvement on paper and improvement on the field.

A couple of key things for me
- the coaching team demonstrated they can definitely add value at this level. 2nd year should see more fruits of the foundation set this year
- I think we’ll get a lot of value out of the tour matches played/being played in January
- of the players who moved on guys like Petaia, O’Connor & Vunivalu either weren’t sighted at all or were out of the frame in the back half. Off the top of my head Peni Ravai was the only regular member of the 23 who moved on. Hopefully the addition of Gibbon offsets for his loss. If Fa’agase continues his form from this year that will help
- big additions of Canham & Salakai-Loto in the second row along with (hopefully) a fit Blyth. Blyth, Canham & Smith’s involvement in the Wallaby & Australia A squads can’t have hurt. Uru was great but this group should give us genuine grunt which we lacked at times
- Daugunu will add some needed physicality to our back line
- I’m hopefully some consistent selection will help Campbell get back to his best
- it’s very difficult to win without depth and we have the best depth (particularly in our back 5 forwards) as I think we’ve ever had

Otherwise the improvement needs to come from the maturing of the squad with guys like Lynagh, McLaughlin Phillips and Thomas/Werchon. McDermott is a proven performer at super level but our halves are otherwise promising not proven talent.
 
dru

dru

David Wilson (68)
@TSR We've been boosted by the Rebel demise, and largely we did this ahead of all other franchises in Australia. It is a candy-hit and we need to make use of it. I think Kiss is on it, the only disaster I can see is if Les was called into the WBs. Guys like Nonggorr are building in a way we couldn't do here in Qld. Less so guys like Flook but same-same.

We are beefed up with coaching that Super Rugby was taking notice of. This next season needs to be big. And it should be.
 
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