Reds 2011

[RugbyReg]

yep to all that, but I also think the likes of Genia, Cooper and Diggers are three of the most marketable 'entities' in Oz rugby at the moment.

 

[TOCC]

yeah that was the other point i was supposed to mention

 

[Ruggo]

exactly noddy, ive said this a few times now, but the Reds are in a very good position to negotiate new sponsorships, aside from the 'good will' feeling towards the Reds in Brisbane at the moment, there is also the expanded Super Rugby series which stands to have Australian teams on australian prime time tv twice as much as in previous season, not to mention the potential of the Melbourne market opening up.

With neither the Broncos or Lions making the finals this year, it would be great if the Reds could come out of the blocks hard next year and take full advantage of us starting earlier in the year. Good chance to snatch some interest from our rivals.

TOCC that is a bloody well presented report.

 

[disco]

Sadly, I hear he is broken beyond repair.

What's the latest on MMM? I tried to Google search Kubota Spears & Japanese rugby but couldn't find any websites or footage.

 

[Sully]

June 5 seems to be his last game on a team list

 

[Red Rooster]

MMM is injured - tore his hammy off the bone and is back in Brisbane I am told - out for some time (again)

 

[TOCC]

NSW and ACT have offered Dion Taumata a academy position for 2011, but he is waiting out on making a decision to see if the Reds offer him a spot, which is his preference

 

[Blue]

Just had a quick look at the draw posted in the other thread.

Would have been nice to have skipped the Bulls or Stormers from the SA conference and the Crusaders from the NZ conference but c'est la vie (we skip the Highlanders and the Sharks instead).

I would be a LOT more worried about the Sharks next year. They are building very well in the CC and the Bulls will start to slip. The Brutes will be forced to use a lot of rotation and word is that their top guys won't even feature early on. I predict a very average season for the Champs.

The Sharks didn't have a first five in their squad this year. Next year they will have at least two and possibly three.

 

[spectator]

NSW and ACT have offered Dion Taumata a academy position for 2011, but he is waiting out on making a decision to see if the Reds offer him a spot, which is his preference

(Posted this in the Tah's thread but probably more appropriate here).

I've seen this kid play over the last few years and have been impressed, particularly as he has made it all the way to the top of the Schoolboy tree from CSS. It would be good if Qld could give him something but with Cooper and Lucas in the main squad and Lance and Murphy (I think) in the Academy, where is the spot for him? Can they keep non-school leavers in NTS and pay them a little money?

As I understand it the 2011 Academy will have Jonno Lance, Dallan Murphy(?), Aidan Toua, Ian Pryor and Dave McDuling (Sydney Uni). Have heard Ben Coridas' name mentioned as well. If that is the case I reckon he's a good pickup.

Does anyone, maybe TOCC or Reg, know who else is going to be there?

 

[Ruggo]

Taking in Lee's comment about needing a worker style tight head lock, transfering that into the 2011 reds thread makes for interesting thought. We have good depth in our lock stocks, lets see how the fit in.

Horwill - The grinder
Humphries - The mastermind and organiser.
Simmons - Still paving his path in this regard.
Samo - The impact off the bench (also cover 6)
Walace-Harrison - Trying to remember what he offered.

That is quite a good looking mix.

 

[liquor box]

Taking in Lee's comment about needing a worker style tight head lock, transfering that into the 2011 reds thread makes for interesting thought. We have good depth in our lock stocks, lets see how the fit in.

Horwill - The grinder
Humphries - The mastermind and organiser.
Simmons - Still paving his path in this regard.
Samo - The impact off the bench (also cover 6)
Walace-Harrison - Trying to remember what he offered.

That is quite a good looking mix.

I wonder if the team could function with Simmons making all of the calls with Humphries allowed to veto at any time. We have a great opportunity to mentor for the future.

 

[liquor box]

Walace-Harrison - Trying to remember what he offered.

A hyphonated name?

 

[TOCC]

yeah the Reds have quite good depth at lock now, the other position we have quite good depth is at prop

Greg Holmes
Guy Shepherdson
James Slipper
Ben Daley
Albert Anae

Having the ability to call on 4 Wallaby props within your squad is a pretty good issue to have, at least the scrummaging sessions would be fruitfell, it will also allow sufficient rotation throughout the season which will be critical.

Backrow is still the eary for concern, Higginbotham, Houston, Shatz, Quirk, Tomiki and Gill, whist Higgers and Houston stepped up in 2010 they really need to take it up another notch in 2011 with Braid departing. We might even see one of the locks filling in at blindside flanker throughout the season.

 

[DPK]

I wonder if the team could function with Simmons making all of the calls with Humphries allowed to veto at any time. We have a great opportunity to mentor for the future.

What is this, the fucking UN?

Samo - The impact off the bench (also cover 6)

And 8, too.

 

[tranquility]

yeah the Reds have quite good depth at lock now, the other position we have quite good depth is at prop

Greg Holmes
Guy Shepherdson
James Slipper
Ben Daley
Albert Anae

Having the ability to call on 4 Wallaby props within your squad is a pretty good issue to have, at least the scrummaging sessions would be fruitfell, it will also allow sufficient rotation throughout the season which will be critical.

Backrow is still the eary for concern, Higginbotham, Houston, Shatz, Quirk, Tomiki and Gill, whist Higgers and Houston stepped up in 2010 they really need to take it up another notch in 2011 with Braid departing. We might even see one of the locks filling in at blindside flanker throughout the season.

Regarding the backrow situation, it is all a bit of an unknown but the nucleus of talent is there to have an absolutely elite backrow. However it all falls back to getting the right chemistry between the starters and who plays the dogsbody off the bench. I actually hope that the rumours are true and that we have signed Ben Coridas who could help cover the 7 position while we groom the youngsters. I know that he isn't a natural 7 but he has been around the traps a while and is a tough character. I don't really like the idea of rotating Shatz and Quirk in the 7 position because they are just not opensides and it could be detrimental to their long term development (think Julian Salvi). However I rate both of them very, very highly and look forward to watching them both get plenty of game time this year. As for Gill, well anything he does over the next 24 months is just a bonus.

 

[TOCC]

Don't forget tomiki, I expect we will see a lot more of him in 2011, he had injury issues this year, but with that behind him we should see more

 

[tranquility]

I really hope so, I had such high hopes when he came back from France. But gee he looked average in the games I saw of him last year. Let hope it was a fitness issue and not a lack of attitude off the paddock which has been rumored to be the big fellas problem.

 

[disco]

The Brutes will be forced to use a lot of rotation and word is that their top guys won't even feature early on

I thought Sanzar banned teams from resting players in a RWC year after the 2007 debacle, with the AB players missing half of the super 14 & the Boks not sending thier best down under in the tri-nations.

Wasn't that part of the new broadcasting deal?

 

[Lee Grant]

I had high hopes too and he looked OK when I saw him play in the Top 14. Having not seen him since he came back to Oz I found it unaccountable that he couldn't crack it in the Super 14.

Let's all hope that he comes good.

 

[TOCC]

apparently a lingering calf injury was the reason behind his lack of time