Reds 2011

[Newb]

I am very happy with Shep. As Link says, they aint many THPs around and we needed one with Weeks going. And Shepherdson is very experienced and at peak age for a prop (supposedly). If anyone can get him back to his full potential it is Link.

so shep would be starting THP with daley at LHP correct? who is back up in the squad? slipper? PAE too far off?

 

[dbla]

Geez mate - just think if A. Finger is hurt.

Great to see Taps get a contract.

Of course then i'll be very glad to have him, I just think he deserves to start at s15 level which I imagine he would have at the rebels

 

[Newb]

Taps signing for the Reds pretty much means there is 0 chance of any Victorians playing for the Rebels. Sigh. Unless his brother Rex or someone similar gets an academy contract.

Maybe Horua could somehow tape himself together and play another professional season but I doubt it.

that is sad if it turns out that way. not only cuz i'd like there to be some tradition built in from the start but because of marketing and crowd interest.

 

[en_force_er]

Yeah. My optimistic theory is the reason that they have so many older players in they have a succession plan to get many Victorians through the Academy and into the S14 squad in the next 5 years or so.

A man can hope.

 

[Slim 293]

I am very happy with Shep. As Link says, they aint many THPs around and we needed one with Weeks going. And Shepherdson is very experienced and at peak age for a prop (supposedly). If anyone can get him back to his full potential it is Link.

Shep has had a huge fall from grace the past year...

Last year I thought he was close to getting another Wallaby recall with a pretty good year for the Brumbies... this year he could barely get on the field and word is he's not exactly impressing folks playing club rugby either...

Hopefully Link can sort him out...

 

[RugbyReg]

Would you please do a list of the new contracted players and which 2010 contracted players they are replacing, or you think they are.

Ok:

Radike Samo for Adam Byrnes (to Melbourne Rebels)
Dom Shipperley for Blair Connor (to France)
Kimani Sitauati for Brando Vaaulu (to France)
Liam Gill for Daniel Braid (to NZL)
Guy Shepherdson for Laurie Weeks (to Melbourne Rebels)
Albert Anae for Sean Hardman (retired)
Ed Quirk for Tasi Luafutu (likely to be cut)
Ben Tapuai for Morgan Turinui (likely to be cut)
James Slipper for Danya Edwards (likely to be cut)
Jake Schatz for Ezra Taylor (likely to be cut)

Also a 2nd list of others whose contracts expire in 2010 and should be cut and who is likely to replace them - or at least who you would like to replace them, and is available.

That's a little more complicated. As you can see above I reckon Morgan, Tasi, Edwards and Taylor are likely to be cut. Jack Kennedy is a chance too and we haven't yet cover Kingi's departure.

If you do your trick of putting them into positions then we have:

Fullback: Hynes, Morahan
Wing: Davies, Kimani, Shipperley
OC: Digby, Chambers
IC: Fainga'a, Tapuai
FH:
SH: Genia, Lucas
8: Houston, Schatz
OS: Gill, Tomeki
BS: Higgers, Quirk
Lock: Horwill, Simmons, Radiki, Van the Man
THP: Shepherdson, Holmes
LHP: Daley, Slipper
Hooker: Fainga'a, Hanson, Anae

We have Cooper's contract up in the air (incidentally there was a par in the paper today suggesting he may plead guilty to down graded charges to avoid jail time) which if the court case sorts itself out would see him stay at the Reds I reckon. Lucas can obviously cover 10, but I reckon inside back cover would be handy.

For Kingi I'd try to bring Stannard or McKibbon home, understanding Nick Berry has recently signed a new contract. Jono Lance would be worth considering as flyhalf back up (behind Lucas and possibly Fiangaa).

Then we probably still need a 5th prop, so perhaps Kennedy will stay put? Or would Fainga'anuku be a better option? Who knows!

So its the above 28 + Cooper +Lance + Stannard/McKibbon + a Kennedy/Ofa. Meaning 32, which is probably a fairly manageable squad size.

 

[Lee Grant]

Good work Nod - it clears things up nicely for me.

PS Edit

If Cooper re-signs it should be a better team eventually though Braid and Weeks will be big losses, and it will take a while for the young blokes to get to their levels.

If you get McKibbin back, or Stannard, it will enable Lucas to be thought of as a specialist flyhalf - by himself as well.

I guess you should have Hanson in the list of new contracted players - or is he just pro academy for the first year?

Ofa would be a good get as a reserve LHP. He's been around the Tahs stable for a long time and is a serious hard head. Don't know why the Rebels didn't pick him frankly.

 

[Ruggo]

This is great news. We are shaping ver nicely for next year.

 

[daz]

Ok:

We have Cooper's contract up in the air (incidentally there was a par in the paper today suggesting he may plead guilty to down graded charges to avoid jail time) which if the court case sorts itself out would see him stay at the Reds I reckon.

If jail really is a possibility, this can't be good for a clear-headed focus come Test time, especially as he is expected to be the on-field General....

I hope I am wrong, but if it was me, I'd be shitting building blocks at an enormous rate.

 

[tranquility]

Okay, only just saw the signing and I couldn't be more excited. This is the best Reds list in a long time.

Tapuai is a very exciting player, not only do I think he has the ability to push A.Finger he is also a very good fly-half with a good left footed kicking game.

I like the logic behind the Shepp signing and truth be told we did need a TH (why Lawrie, why?) but I fear his best may be an after thought. Radike is a good signing as an experienced bit part player that will allow Rob Simmonds another year to grow.

Shatz is immense and I really expect him to dominate at the U20s. Great to get his signature.

The most exciting thing about the 2011 drive is that we have not lost any of our fantastic young talent, that I as well as alot of other feared would be pillaged by the Rebels. All the ingredients are now in Queensland to win a super title. We are just lacking one vital one, experience.

 

[RugbyReg]

yep, I think its fair to say the success of the Reds this year has somewhat curtailed the abilities of the Rebels to sign the team they wanted. I think if it was same again for the Reds then the likes of Davies, Cooper, Hynes, Tapuai, etc may have walked this year.

 

[AussieDominance]

Cooper may still walk ha

 

[tranquility]

I hope there is room for Aidan Toua on the books as well. Would love it if we brought back Mckibbin back. He is as good as any of the 9s in Aus barring Genia.

 

[TOCC]

looks like no room for Toua, the squad sizes are been reduced to 30 in 2011, Reds have already signed 28, Quade Cooper will fill the 29th positin and im assuming a inside back/halfback will fill the 30th position, however no one really stands out at the moment

 

[waratahjesus]

there was talk of the squads beking further reduced to 28, not sure on the time frame though.

 

[David]

there was talk of the squads beking further reduced to 28, not sure on the time frame though.

You'd have to assume that this would not kick in until 2012 or later if its true, couldn't just cut people from the team.

 

[Sully]

Surely more games would require bigger squads.

 

[tranquility]

If we only have one spot it would have to be for a halfback.

 

[en_force_er]

Surely more games would require bigger squads.

Or a ditching of the Rookie quoter and a higher reliance on Academy players.

 

[RugbyReg]

a little snipped in the paper today suggesting McKibbon will/may come home. Of course it was under a picture of Stephen Hoiles labeled as Guy Shepherdson so who knows?