I must say I'm pretty happy Horwill and Cooper are staying home this year. A full preseason for both will be awesome
Former Rebels prop Jono Owen is the 30th contracted player
Apparently Taumata might still be in the ARU group. Danny Routledge is training in the "Reds Academy" though.I expect Malouf, Browning and Placid will be involved in some form next year. Maybe a couple of other uni forwards as well. In the club rugby thread people are mentioning Rex Tapuai, Dion Taumata and Nigal Ah Wong as well.
What is the point of having an ARU academy in brisbane if the reds have a separate academy. They might as well close it down and split the money between melbourne, perth and canberra.
Stronger?
The NTS focuses on the 17-20yr old bracket almost exclusively, in many circumstances these aren't the players you want coming into an injury depleted super rugby team.. A 24yr old with premier rugby experience, physical and mental maturity who has been training with the squad is a much "stronger" candidate..
So pre-season starts today and we still don't know the fulll squad.