Squad size is 30.
Signing Lote would an absolute waste of coin. Hasn't the Reds already been down the path of signing League has beens?
Jake Shatz got the Pilecki Medal, bit of a surprise over Gilly and Slipper, but deserved nevertheless, under rated player.
Curtis Browning got rookie, Jarrad Butler got Spirirt of Reds, Liam Gill got people's player of the year.
Surprised Ben Daley re-signed. He will be stuck for opportunities behind Holmes and Anae at loose head you'd think.
In breaking news Wendall Sailor is moving to Japan to start playing again
The Reds look a bit like a mid-table squad for next year. That forward pack looks light on, IMO.
In the backs, players like Ioane and Morahan are departing and (so far) only rookies arriving... Turner is a possible signing who appears unwanted by the Waratahs...
Some of the younger players are going to have to step it up if they are to have a hope of making the top six.
I think that starting side is fine, depth is the issue.I can't believe your perception re a 'mid-table squad'.
When you have, starting at the front row, the current Wallaby loose head prop & the current reserve wallaby hooker.
The locks are the Wallaby locks (and captain).
The No 8 Schatz wins the Reds player's player award, and Quirk's massive improvement in 2013. Also The Australian U20 captain in Curtis Browning.
You then have Ginea & Cooper, with Anthony Fainga'a, and probably Chris Feauai-Sautia as centres, plus rocket Rod Davies & Dom Shipperley on the wings.
Man-oh-man, Kiap, I'd love to know what your definition of a top-table squad is?
I'd like to be wrong, believe me. And that's not saying the players you've named aren't capable of playing good rugby.I can't believe your perception re a 'mid-table squad'.
When you have, starting at the front row, the current Wallaby loose head prop & the current reserve wallaby hooker.
The locks are the Wallaby locks (and captain).
The No 8 Schatz wins the Reds player's player award, and Quirk's massive improvement in 2013. Also The Australian U20 captain in Curtis Browning.
You then have Ginea & Cooper, with Anthony Fainga'a, and probably Chris Feauai-Sautia as centres, plus rocket Rod Davies & Dom Shipperley on the wings.
Man-oh-man, Kiap, I'd love to know what your definition of a top-table squad is?
I'd like to be wrong, believe me. And that's not saying the players you've named aren't capable of playing good rugby.
But I get the feeling the Reds may be behind the Brumbies and Tahs in overall strength of their squads. If the Reds finish behind those two teams in the Australian conference next year, then they'll likely miss the playoffs and be placed seventh or eighth. That's mid-table.
To avoid that, some of those younger players you mentioned need to step up and convert potential into results good enough to roll those teams over the full season. That includes Shipperley, Schatz (yes, even him), Browning, and Feauai-Sautia.
Good wildcard.I actually left out Gill before, but I'm throwing him in now as my wild card .
As he gets older, he's only going to get better. He's only just out of nappies.
My anxiety is not the players, but the ability of the coaching staff. Without McKenzie and Mackay who are with the Wallabies now, the Reds need to perform in that area. Only time will tell.
Does anyone know who the assistant coaches are for 2014?
Good wildcard.
Departures since the peak of 2011 including Higgers, Samo, Ioane, ...
Not at all. Some of the lower profile league converts have given great service to the Reds. The problem is that it has been at the back end of their careers. Schiftkoski (sorry about the spelling) and McKlindon gave very good value to the Reds.
Sailor couldn't be considered a has been. He was the first convert and at his prime when signed.
I really think Timana Tahu is the only absolute dud league convert rugby has had in the last 15 years.
Everyone else has been somewhere between reasonable and excellent. The reasonable ones have tended to have only been reasonable players in league as well.
What about Ryan McGoldrick? He was worse than Tahu.