Reds 2014

[Gnostic]

Higginbotham and Ioane both left because of pay.

And what are two things the Reds are currently missing, a ball running back rower and a outside back who can get across the advantage line.

Salary cap pressure isn't purely about retention either, it also impedes on recruitment.

Ioane was always going to leave I think you will find. He had already almost gone twice before being convinced to stay at the last minute.

Higgers I think you will find was lured for more than just the cash.

Morahan ?

Hynes & SAMO - retired.

These five players were well known and telegraphed losses and what strategic actions was taken to address the loss of skill sets that these players offered.

This week Graham admitted that he took his eye off the ball regarding defence because they had concentrated on the attack of the game over the past few weeks. That is hilarious because I asked the question regarding the Reds defensive issues during the trial matches this year and received the answer from some posters here that all was good because the Reds had one of the best defences last year. Do you see the issue? Round 13 and the issues identified by an amateur in the trials are admitted with some spin.

TOCC you are half way there, the game does evolve and change every year a part of a good coach and management is to change and evolve the side to stay ahead of the curve. It is how the Crusaders, Blues, Bulls and now the Chiefs maintained their dominant periods. It is how Australia dominated between 1991-1994 and 1998-2002.

That is precisely the argument here, the side has not evolved and adapted forsignificant losses in management staff and players, which are always going to happen.

I was at the 2011 Reds end of year dinner and there was a lot of talk and hope for a Reds Dynasty, and even after the 2012 injury shocker I thought they would evolve to give it a real go, but they haven't.

 

[TOCC]

And?

There is no argument, the reds are going poorly this year.. The point is this a professional competition, there will always be losers due to a wide range of variables be it through their own making or external forces. That's the beauty about sport, someone always loses and someone always wins.. It's why we get so emotionally involved to start with.

I think there is a slightly narcissistic attitude on here from people who are too absorbed in pointing out deficiencies they identified in the Reds system 6,12 or 24 months ago rather then contributing constructively to the conversation.

Rather then throwing out broad comments like "broken systems" and "sack RG", try contribute to the forum in a positive manner by identifying the issue and then offering a solution..

I don't know how some of you conduct debriefs in your workplace, but for every fault we identify we present a fix.. It's stops the debrief turning into a bitch and whinge fest and ensures that some positivity is taken out of what could have been a shit performance.

 

[Ash]

Issue: Richard Graham.
Solution: Find a new coach, sack Graham.

How's that?

 

[qwerty51]

Who are the options available? Maybe one of the NRC coaches would be worth looking at depending on their success.

 

[Ash]

They need a caretaker for a year if there are no good options. They should tell all three of them, thanks, but your services aren't required next year.

Reds were a solid team. You don't turn to shit like that with even a decent coaching staff.

If the board chooses Graham over the players, than the fan base will plummet. Another 2000s era is looming right now for the Reds.

 

[Pfitzy]

Watching a couple of those tries, its clear there is something utterly fisted with the Reds defence - hard and dry too. Not numbering up, young wingers look like they're either not communicating or not being listened to, and some laziness going on.

 

[Thinker]

Watching a couple of those tries, its clear there is something utterly fisted with the Reds defence - hard and dry too. Not numbering up, young wingers look like they're either not communicating or not being listened to, and some laziness going on.

RG is our defensive guru. I remember at the national conference he said attacking sides have had it too easy as defence hasn't changed in a decade. How's that change working for us hey RG?

Serious Q: would Graham have ever been QLD coach if Chris White wasn't on the board?

How can Graham actually believe he is the right man to lead the ship, given his track record?

I've been beating this drum for months now, but failure to sack Graham will have a major financial impact for the Reds next year.

Sack RG tonight, Stiles caretaker until years end and find the right coach. Won't change anything this year but a symbol that this isn't good enough and might keep members around next year (crowd starting to leave at 60 mins wasn't a good look).

There were bad loses in all 3 years of Links reign but at least there was hope. There is none under an RG led team. The casual QLD fan is fickle and will disappear. Plus not to mention the Reds game day has always been on of the most amatuer productions getting around, but it's more tolerable when winning. 9 years to PA announcers who know less about rugby than a Himalayan housewife is starting to get very tiring.

 

[vidiot]

It was vaguely humorous when the announcer told us that Saia Fainga'a (who was at the bottom of a collapsed scrum at the time) had been replaced by Ben Lucas. More versatile than I had imagined. He'd come on for Harris, who as usual tried gamely.

 

[lewisr]

Horwill sounding lost in the post-game interview...

Seems to me that the culture Link had built has gone down the drain and the team are lacking trust in eachother and confidence in eachother.

THis is ultimately the same nucleas that won us the 2011 title and got us into the last two finals series. The only variable here is the coach and its time the QRU board cut their losses and started sorting shit out for next year. We cant let the last 4 years of rebuilding get thrown out the door.

 

[tranquility]

Was Browning the best forward out there today? Must have been close.

 

[RedsHappy]

And?

There is no argument, the reds are going poorly this year.. The point is this a professional competition, there will always be losers due to a wide range of variables be it through their own making or external forces. That's the beauty about sport, someone always loses and someone always wins.. It's why we get so emotionally involved to start with.

I think there is a slightly narcissistic attitude on here from people who are too absorbed in pointing out deficiencies they identified in the Reds system 6,12 or 24 months ago rather then contributing constructively to the conversation.

Rather then throwing out broad comments like "broken systems" and "sack RG", try contribute to the forum in a positive manner by identifying the issue and then offering a solution..

I don't know how some of you conduct debriefs in your workplace, but for every fault we identify we present a fix.. It's stops the debrief turning into a bitch and whinge fest and ensures that some positivity is taken out of what could have been a shit performance.

Many of us here since early 2012 have advanced all manner of constructive solutions and suggestions as to what's needed within the QRU's senior processes re attaining and appointing the right Head Coach for the Reds, for example:

- ensure an objective, competently resourced QRU Board and related skills committee to secure a genuinely world-class coach after an open, careful and reasonably transparent coach selection process

- seek a Head Coach with demonstrated success and a verifiable track record over time

- adopt a very similar process for all Reds' Assistant coaches, as these positions can be as critical, or even more so, than that of HC

- take adequate time to ensure the above processes are of the highest quality and objectivity and transparency so that the Reds community is as engaged as is practical

- when important players depart, ensure that a objective external recruitment process is adopted to seek balancing or similar replacements are reasonably quickly found vs, for example, relying on the highly dubious, rather arrogant view that 'home grown timber will surely suffice'.

..........and so on.

But the point remains: the choice of Super teams HC is a major and highly strategic one for any franchise. The jury on that is 100% in. Use the wrong process and make the wrong call and the consequences can be disastrous for that franchise's future.

For myself, once it's clear that entirely the wrong process has been followed to recruit the right kind of coach for the post-Link Reds, it's thus very hard to find 'positive's and 'helpful suggestions' when we witnessed tonight a fan-destroying debacle long in the making that in its full implications may well have many negative consequences for Australian rugby as whole....just watch and wait, sadly.

 

[Gnostic]

And?

There is no argument, the reds are going poorly this year.. The point is this a professional competition, there will always be losers due to a wide range of variables be it through their own making or external forces. That's the beauty about sport, someone always loses and someone always wins.. It's why we get so emotionally involved to start with.

I think there is a slightly narcissistic attitude on here from people who are too absorbed in pointing out deficiencies they identified in the Reds system 6,12 or 24 months ago rather then contributing constructively to the conversation.

Rather then throwing out broad comments like "broken systems" and "sack RG", try contribute to the forum in a positive manner by identifying the issue and then offering a solution..

I don't know how some of you conduct debriefs in your workplace, but for every fault we identify we present a fix.. It's stops the debrief turning into a bitch and whinge fest and ensures that some positivity is taken out of what could have been a shit performance.

WTF?

What Redshappy has been on about since 2012 is the systems and identifying the problems. That is the biggest part of any management battle to stay in front of the evolution in any industry. Identify the problem or anticipate possible ones. Then you can examine a range of solutions to it.

Lets not go back that far. In the game threads of the trials I commented that the Reds defence had some serious holes. I was told to get back in my box because the Reds last year had one of the best defences in the comp. and Graham was defence coach then as well, so trial form meant nothing. Well what did you say TOCC? Identify the problem... what do you think the solution is?

How is it narcissistic to point out the problems before the season starts, or at any time for that matter?

As you say the point of a de-brief is to not only identify the problems, but also find the fixes. First step......

Any evidence to say the management team has taken that?

 

[tigerland12]

This is definatly a coaching issue, no way around it.

Good teams with good players can fuck up and play poorly for a season (see Waratahs a few years back), but to see us implode like that was just out of the ordinary. And it has happened for the better part of the season.

I can cop us have a shit year, it happens, but I cannot cop the way we are playing, the horrific defence and what seems to be poor character amongst the squad.......this is a coaching issue and RG needs to go ASAP

 

[SouthernX]

It's definitely a coaching issue.

Compare the Reds & the Brumbies.

Both lose Top Tier coaches (Link & White) Both teams promote guys internally from within.

Both teams were legit contenders last year.
This year one team looks like it's headed back to the postseason, the other team is the laughingstock of Australian Rugby.

 

[Gnostic]

Who are the options available? Maybe one of the NRC coaches would be worth looking at depending on their success.

Lauden, Johnson, Lane just off the top of my head. How about instead of a closed doors selection of a single candidate have an open all comers competitive selection for Head Coach and then the same for all the support positions, or perhaps make the HC position selection criteria to have a full support crew proposal ready to go. They have 6 months to do it. RG can reapply and we will see if he is the best available.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Senior Players AND Coaches should work TOGETHER to maintain or create a "culture" that encourages the young blokes to excel - being a part of the group.

Responsibility should be taken by all.

How to fix it ?? Fucked if I know but I hope someone does and does it quickly....

 

[Train Without a Station]

To lay it solely at the feet of the coach would be absolving a few senior players who have seemingly thrown their toys out of the cot rather than providing the leadership that would be expected of players of their stature.

Still, the more time goes on, the worse Graham looks and further untenable his position appears.

 

[diomac]

So this is my first season as a Reds member, my former wife hated Rugby but the new one loves it

I have watched plenty of vision from the previous years where the Reds actually attacked with the ball and I note in the first half yesterday that's what they were doing more of, in fact it's probably the first time we've gone into the sheds with the possession being split 50/50.

It's like RG told them to stop what they were doing in the first half and go back to his game plan of poor defence and kicking the ball away.

It's like the trust has been coached out of this team. I actually think the forwards have been doing quite well this year with a number of positives, but it's clear to me the back line has very little respect or trust for them thinking they need to kick away possession in order to get up the field and I think that comes from RG.

I think we have room to move in the squad, with some positional changes. Chibba should be the starting Hooker no question in my mind, Saia just doesn't do anything for me atm. No 8 is a problem, Schatz doesn't seem to be providing the influence I feel a good 8 man should.
We also need a fullback, Mike Harris needs to be back in the centers with some tarzan grip on his hands to help the ball stick.

For me Beau Robinson has been a standout this year, his work ethic is great. He needs to be a starting Flanker.

Overall though I think RG is trying to implement a style of play not suited to this playing group. I believe Link also tried this and soon realised it wouldn't work and adapted a program around his players strengths.

Not sure sacking RG is the answer at this point, well it is if he refuses to adapt to the playing group he has and let them play running Rugby. We need some squad changes, but what I think we need most is a change in mindset and attitude.
​

 

[Juan Cote]

RG stated last week that the team was going to focus on defence and we had 57 points scored against us! This catastrophic failure proves that RG is not able to get his point across to the team or that the team simply aren't interested in what he has to say.
Either way, RG cannot be left in charge as the damage will only continue. Each week the same mistakes are made and there is no decernable improvement.
Well functioning organisations take decisive action when it is clear that there are problems. Poor organisations make nothing statements about 'trying harder' and 'just having to keep going' as the body-count increasaes each week.
Reports from the press conference say Horwill paused for an eternity when asked what was wrong with the team before delivering the ususal pre-programmed response.
I can't help but wonder what response he was evaluating during the pause? That's the response I want to hear because it would be the honest one.

 

[Troy]

We just put 4 tries on the Crusaders. Given how our season has been going id say that's a step forward!

Last year with RG AD defence coach we went well if we can sort that out ..