Reds 2011

[Tiger]

I interpret the comment in that face of the other Queensland teams (winter) being based around Brisbane, Gold Coast, nth Queensland etc - not an attack on the rugby provinces - If it is Queensland reds they need to be out in Queensland

Ah. Well done. I hadn't thought of it like that at all but now it makes perfect sense.

 

[TOCC]

Just comparing some stats from earlier this year to the more recent ones, some decent size in the backs and good to see the forwards bulking up as well.

Gill was 86kg Feb this year, weighing in at 94kg now
Shipperly was 86kg, now 93.5kg
Sitauti was 90kg, now 96kg
Shatz was 103kg, now 109kg


Also been reading up on Michael Harris a bit more, seems to be some pretty big tabs on him coming from New Zealand, apparently the Rebels and Force both approached him earlier in the season but he turned them down, some Blues fans has disecnchanted he didnt earn a Super contract.

 

[tranquility]

Also been reading up on Michael Harris a bit more, seems to be some pretty big tabs on him coming from New Zealand, apparently the Rebels and Force both approached him earlier in the season but he turned them down, some Blues fans has disecnchanted he didnt earn a Super contract.

You beauty!

 

[Lee Grant]

That's good news about the weights and especially Gill. observer even had him weighing in daily at 100 kgs in Darwin before the Comm Games, though maybe they used a dodgy machine.

I was probably the first to mention, nearly 18 months ago, that Gill would be unlikely to grow to be a big enough man to play Super rugby, let alone anything above that. Even though he was very young then, his frame seemed a bit too slight to put on weight; so I am delighted to be proved wrong. I'm assuming that at 94 kgs now he will thicken naturally once he leaves his teens and get close to 100kgs as a senior player. You never know though: some players who bulk up have reported that they couldn't play as effectively when heavier - and some props have reported the opposite: that they weren't as good lighter. Let's watch this space on young Liam.

I haven't seen Shipperly playing senior rugby but I rated him as a schoolboy and that added weight will do him no harm if his speed is not compromised. Schatz plays hard and that extra weight will mean something more than it would to a ball watcher. I thought Situati was a tad small to be doing what he was doing: winning one on one contests with steps and fends, and not having top pace, but now 96 kgs is not to be sneezed at.

Maybe the Force should send McCalman over to the Reds for a bit of beefing up.


On Michael Harris: I wondered why the Force signed up Ripia instead of him but that's the first time I knew that they had approached him before they hired Ripia. As I have mentioned before: he'd be the best goal kicker in the squad and plays as well at 12 as he does at 10.

The Reds will see his value if either Cooper or A.Finger is injured or rested.

 

[I like to watch]

Does anyone know of shatz's background?
Are there any Saffa bloodlines there?

 

[liquor box]

Just comparing some stats from earlier this year to the more recent ones, some decent size in the backs and good to see the forwards bulking up as well.

Gill was 86kg Feb this year, weighing in at 94kg now
Shipperly was 86kg, now 93.5kg
Sitauti was 90kg, now 96kg
Shatz was 103kg, now 109kg


Also been reading up on Michael Harris a bit more, seems to be some pretty big tabs on him coming from New Zealand, apparently the Rebels and Force both approached him earlier in the season but he turned them down, some Blues fans has disecnchanted he didnt earn a Super contract.

I wonder if there is time for S Fainga'a to bulk up a bit? How long did it take for these guys to put on 6-7kg?

 

[Often Wrong]

Yeah, you pack in a wife and 2 or 3 teenage kids and it is no longer a $20 outing. And Truth was correct, pissing rain and you couldn't take in your umbrella.
That 2007 trail, again, it was a terrible game and frankly the coast gets bugger all support from the QRU and it is showing because people on the coast have had a gutfull. On top of that, they have their egular teams and there was no identification with the Aces - as was the case around the country - the whole ARC failed, not just on the coast so please don't use the coast as an isolated example when the crowds were not as expected everywhere and they were no worse here than anywhere else.
As for the trail matches, please come up with figures. I was there and the stands were packed, you couldn't park within cooey of the ground so I have no idea to what games you are referring, so please get facts as your assertion is crap.

OK it took me some time but here's some facts: according to the gold coast bulletin the crowd at both 2007 trial matches (v Samoa and v Highlanders) was about 3,500, which was pretty pathetic given the local islander and kiwi populations and the paucity of reds games played on the coast prior to 2007. no wonder the reds are prepared to give Cairns a crack next year.

I also went back and dug out my old membership form for the ARC and that was five games for $65 (concessions for FT students $40) - good value for "die hards" I'd reckon.. The $20 admission to the Aces games was for those fly-by-nighters who just wanted to cherry pick individual matches.

I don't know what support the QRU provides to the Gold Coast but I'm sure they're no worse off than anywhere else in this state. A lot of people are hurting at the moment because the whole game is doing it tough. Maybe the people on the coast who've "had a gutful" should get off their backsides and start supporting the game rather than grizzling and waiting for handouts. Given it's Australia's sixth largest city you'd think a go ahead local administration would be able to make something happen. Have a look at the Sunshine Coast - I reckon they're on the right track and will show the Gold Coast a clean pair of heels in future years.

 

[Jets]

Does anyone know of shatz's background?
Are there any Saffa bloodlines there?

Not sure if he has any Saffa background. His old man, Terry, used to tear it up in the Brisbane comp for Easts back in the 80's. Really nice kid from my involvement with him.

 

[I like to watch]

Cheers, then it's a no. I was thinking of a Shatz that played fullback in the CC for Natal?

 

[Ruggo]

I wonder if there is time for S Fainga'a to bulk up a bit? How long did it take for these guys to put on 6-7kg?

It would be great if he could get up to 110kg. He would be set then and still be able to be mobile.

 

[Lee Grant]

It is one thing for youngsters, especially teenagers, to put on weight, especially those who are still growing naturally, but it's another for a fellow who is closer to 24 than 23, and has been in professional strength and conditioning programmes for quite a while already.

It's unlikely that Fainga'a will be able to put on that much weight now - nor McCalman who I mentioned, tongue in cheek.

Does anybody have knowledge of a professional rugby player who has increased his weight by 10% starting from the age of about 23-24? I'm not talking about late bloomers who got into pro rugby as mature men, but someone like S.Finger who was in the academy right after leaving the school gates for the last time.

 

[en_force_er]

It would be great if he could get up to 110kg. He would be set then and still be able to be mobile.

With his frame he won't get over 105kg without losing mobility. He is already a chubby 103kg, and that's if you actually believe the published figures (he is also 6 foot 2 apparently).

 

[RugbyReg]

It is one thing for youngsters, especially teenagers, to put on weight, especially those who are still growing naturally, but it's another for a fellow who is closer to 24 than 23, and has been in professional strength and conditioning programmes for quite a while already.

It's unlikely that Fainga'a will be able to put on that much weight now - nor McCalman who I mentioned, tongue in cheek.

Does anybody have knowledge of a professional rugby player who has increased his weight by 10% starting from the age of about 23-24? I'm not talking about late bloomers who got into pro rugby as mature men, but someone like S.Finger who was in the academy right after leaving the school gates for the last time.

the 1999 RWC squad.

 

[en_force_er]

the 1999 RWC squad.

Sports science is advancing miles every year, I think you'd struggle to repeat a feat like that.

 

[Jets]

While I have never been in a pro rugby set up I managed to put on about 10% body weight when I was around that age. Bar hopping for 4 weeks around Ireland and the UK will do that though.

 

[Rothschild]

so lets see if I get this right,
You join GAGR in July, don't say a word for nearly 5 months and all you are concerned with is taking a stand on crowds at Gold Coast games nearly 4 years ago.
You really have too much time on your hands - what's your point.
So despite the stands being full, I'm obviously wrong and the GC bulletin, that fine tabloid of upstanding unbiased journalism is correct, move on, we all have.
Now, lets go watch the grass grow.

 

[RugbyReg]

so lets see if I get this right,
You join GAGR in July, don't say a word for nearly 5 months and all you are concerned with is taking a stand on crowds at Gold Coast games nearly 4 years ago.
You really have too much time on your hands - what's your point.
So despite the stands being full, I'm obviously wrong and the GC bulletin, that fine tabloid of upstanding unbiased journalism is correct, move on, we all have.
Now, lets go watch the grass grow.

I went to one of the trials a couple of years ago at Carrara. Was it v the Highlanders? Think Caleb Brown injured himself running out at the start of the game. Regardless it was far from a full house. Very very far.

 

[I like to watch]

It is one thing for youngsters, especially teenagers, to put on weight, especially those who are still growing naturally, but it's another for a fellow who is closer to 24 than 23, and has been in professional strength and conditioning programmes for quite a while already.

It's unlikely that Fainga'a will be able to put on that much weight now - nor McCalman who I mentioned, tongue in cheek.

Does anybody have knowledge of a professional rugby player who has increased his weight by 10% starting from the age of about 23-24? I'm not talking about late bloomers who got into pro rugby as mature men, but someone like S.Finger who was in the academy right after leaving the school gates for the last time.

You've hot the nail on the head, he is 4 or 5 years into a professional program, with the additional aid of dieticians etc,all this time.
Only if the goalposts have changed dramatically(and therefore his program & diet) would you expect an exponential increase in an offseason.

 

[TOCC]

A while ago I was thinking that the Reds should have play a game at Robina in 2011....but financial difficulties changed all that, it's a case of sorting out the Reds own backyard before they start this sort of trend...moving a Reds home game to the Gold Coast would be at ends with the new membership push by the QRU..

Whilst I dong whish to digress from the topic, I think it's only inevitable that the Gold Coast will host a Wallabies test match, maybe against one of the PI nations, I believe Canberra may have lost the privilege of hosting the second tier Wallaby matches.

 

[disco]

I think Schatz is a dark horse for the Wallabies RWC squad he really impressed me with his defence in the super 14 & his ability to play all 3 backrow positions. He may even knock off Reds team mate Higginbotham.