The QR Reds have added a complete front row to the Queensland squad for next year’s 15 team Super Rugby competition.
Head coach Ewen McKenzie announced the signing of 2009 Australian Under 20 Player of the Year James Slipper, who made an impressive debut for the Reds at prop this year; 21-year old Reds hooker and Queensland University Premier Rugby captain James Hanson and QAS Reds Academy prop/hooker Albert Anae.
“These guys are emerging players in their positions and two of them (Slipper and Hanson) have already played their first games for the Reds this year,” McKenzie said.
“Slipper is still only 20 but he came off the bench for two games at tighthead prop and started for us at loosehead against the Highlanders in the last round and played very well. ‘Chibba’ (Hanson) didn’t get the same opportunities but he was there in the mix at the end and worked hard during the year as a member of the squad. Albert is also only 20 but he shows a lot of promise at both prop and hooker, so that’s another useful option for us.”
McKenzie said the three were already playing influential roles for their Premier club sides, the Gold Coast Breakers (Slipper), University (Hanson) and Sunnybank (Anae).
“These three all make a difference when they play for their clubs, which is what you want to see from younger Reds players; dominant performances against guys who have usually been around a lot longer than they have.”
Slipper said he was “over the moon” to be elevated to the senior squad and would now re-set his goals for 2011 after getting a taste of Super Rugby in 2010, including focusing on developing his ability to play on both sides of the front row if required.
“My goal now is to get as many games as I can in 2011, whether in the starting side or off the bench. I just want to be in the team,” Slipper said.
“I definitely also want to be a player who can play both sides (loosehead and tighthead prop).”
Slipper acknowledged the help he’d been given by former Breakers coach and renowned scrum doctor Alec Evans and said he was looking forward to working closely with him at the Reds, where Evans is a consultant coach.
Hanson, who captains University in the Premier competition, sees parallels between the Reds and his club side, who have won six of their first seven games in 2010 after a number of disappointing seasons.
“We’re both young sides who have struggled a bit in recent years but we’re now starting to show what we can do. It’s been great this year leading the boys around (in Premier),” he said.
Hanson said his goal now was to put in a “massive pre-season”, working hard and learning from forwards specialists McKenzie and Evans to give himself every chance of being selected for games in 2011.
“It’s very exciting to secure your future for the next two years with a young team on the rise like the Reds. Getting a taste of Super Rugby this year has made me even more hungry and determined to get into the team and play more games.”
With just two specialist hookers in the squad following the retirement of Sean Hardman, Anae could easily find himself picking up game time in 2011, but for now he’s happy to just be joining the senior squad.
“It’s an awesome feeling. My goal has always been to play for Queensland and wear the red jersey. Hopefully I’ll be lucky enough to get some time on the field next year but all I can do is work hard and see what happens.”
The 2008 Queensland Colt of the Year, Anae toured Ireland and France at the end of 2008 with a Reds development squad, where he was first thrust into the hooking role because of injuries. He is one of the strongest players in the Academy and Reds squads, lifting 175kg for one repetition in the Reds’ “King of the Gym” contest earlier this year. Anae returned to Ireland last year as a prop in the Australian Under 20 Junior World Cup side.
Asked whether he has a preference for hooker or prop, Anae said: “I don’t really mind. I’m still learning in both positions so we’ll see how it goes. I’m getting a lot of help from my club and from guys like (former Reds hooker) Olei Avei and (Reds prop) Greg Holmes which has been great for me.”
James Slipper
Position Prop
Date of Birth 6/6/1989
Place of Birth Gold Coast, Qld
Weight 113kg
Height 1.85m
Club Gold Coast Breakers
Junior Club Bond Pirates
School The Southport School
QLD Caps 3
Qld Debut Feb 2010 v NSW Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
James Hanson
Position Hooker
Date Of Birth 15/9/1988
Place of Birth Brisbane
Weight 102kg
Height 1.81m
Club University
Junior Club Wests
School Gregory Terrace
QLD Caps 1
Qld Debut Feb 2010 v Crusaders, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Albert Anae
Position Front Row - Prop, Hooker
Date Of Birth 21/6/1989
Place of Birth Wellington, New Zealand
Weight 112kg
Height 1.85m
Club Sunnybank
Junior Club Souths, Kenmore Bears
School Ipswich Grammar
