Queensland Reds 2025

[TSR]

Agree they need to maximise it Dru. I think it’s inevitable there will be a fair bit of turnover of the squad at the end of next season. Depth can be a double edged sword.

You’d assume Toomaga-Allen will definitely go at the end of the year and I fear the problem with our depth is that guys are looking for opportunity. The only way I can see us keeping guys like Brial, Bryant,
Canham and Anderson is if the force their way into the starting team or if some of the older guys move on.

I will say that whilst Toomaga-Allen has been great I’m really happy with the young guys at THP. Nonggorr should be primed to take over, De Lutiis seems to be making excellent progress and as a CQ boy I’m loving watching Trevor King’s career progressing.

 

[dru]

Agree they need to maximise it Dru. I think it’s inevitable there will be a fair bit of turnover of the squad at the end of next season. Depth can be a double edged sword.

You’d assume Toomaga-Allen will definitely go at the end of the year and I fear the problem with our depth is that guys are looking for opportunity. The only way I can see us keeping guys like Brial, Bryant,
Canham and Anderson is if the force their way into the starting team or if some of the older guys move on.

I will say that whilst Toomaga-Allen has been great I’m really happy with the young guys at THP. Nonggorr should be primed to take over, De Lutiis seems to be making excellent progress and as a CQ boy I’m loving watching Trevor King’s career progressing.

Yep. I actually really dislike the demise of the Rebels and the way the follow up has been handled. We are stronger but we necessarily lost some Queenslanders that would have had the chance otherwise. I'm not bitchin, it is just reality. But the flip side of the coin is that I feel I am entitled to expect performance from the Reds in 2025.

Is that harsh? If not, Get on with it Reds.

 

[TSR]

Don’t think it’s harsh at all Dru. I think pro sporting teams often have small windows of
opportunity to be successful. Next year is definitely an opportunity the Reds next to maximise on.

But they won’t have it easy. The Kiwis will set the standard again. NSW suddenly have a stacked roster - aside from lock - and a much better coaching roster. Western Force also looking much stronger. I do think the Brumbies are looking the most vulnerable they have been for some time but they have always excelled at developing players and I expect them to be very competitive.

 

[Sully]

Without the Rebel's demise, this would have been the year Kiss went from coaching the team he inherited to building his team. Instead, he's kind of, had players forced on him. Would he have gone for another mid 90 kg back who "plays above his weight" if Daugunu hadn't needed a home? The Reds backline is crying out for a big bopper but is filled with light weights. The Red's other backs recruit, Lachie Anderson, is one of the biggest backs and is still under 100 kgs. We all saw the mayhem the chiefs produced in the quarter final this year when they decided the way to beat us was to use their weight and "play heavy".

Picking up LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Canham as messed up our forwards balance as well. we have locks and notters and backrowers coming out of our arses and sure as I'm a grumpy old fart someone is going to get pissed off at the amount of game time their getting. kiss and his team has experience in balancing game time in a squad but over a longer season, so this will be interesting.

As for where the Reds go from here? I think there have been major improvements in some players on this northern tour. Harry Wilson has found his groove again. Nongoor seems to continued his slow progress. Uru looks great, and McReight is McReight. In the Backs Lynagh has improved, but McDermott seems to be the same.

 

[TSR]

I think that’s all fair Sully - but I doubt Kiss will have too many complaints with the cards dealt to him.

Locks win titles and having 4 quality ones - even if it ends up being only for a season - is definitely a blessing not a curse.

The biggest two issues (IMO) is the lack of size in the backs and the lack of proven match winning qualify in the halves.

I’m hoping that the second issue resolves itself this year with the progress of Lynagh and/or HMP.

Size in our backs may yet prove to be our Achilles heel but I am hopeful that this shortcoming can be overcome by playing a very up tempo style.