Reds 2015

[Floggn']

Say what you want about Graham, but he recruited very well.
It wasn't at 10. We all knew we had Quade, with Duncan, JOC (James O'Connor), Hunt and McIntyre all as injury back ups. For a player who is only going to miss games if injured, and is your out and out starting player you cannot allocate huge funds to a back up who isn't a starter somewhere else.

Sorry you point would be valid if he actually put some off those players into those positions. Hunt into 10, JOC (James O'Connor) into 10, Duncan into 10 etc. BUT HE HASN'T. He has those players available throught out the season and has picked them in different positions and leaving a halfback in the number 10 jersery. This is why fans of the Reds have got the shits. It isn't just his lack of a complete game plan it is his continual bonehead selections.

Edit: There have obvioulsy been interuptions with injury and suspension but he still refuses to put a player who has played 10 into the flyhalf position.

 

[Braveheart81]

The most bizarre part of the situation is that Duncan Paia'aua hasn't really been given another opportunity since that trial game.

He looked poor in that game but in hindsight, his performance is a whole lot better when some of the other 10 performances are taken into account.

Frisby has improved as the season has worn on but will never be that great at 10 because it isn't his best position and he's unlikely to stay there long term.

What happens next year if Cooper does end up leaving which seems very likely?

 

[Train Without a Station]

Sorry you point would be valid if he actually put some off those players into those positions. Hunt into 10, JOC (James O'Connor) into 10, Duncan into 10 etc. BUT HE HASN'T. He has those players available throught out the season and has picked them in different positions and leaving a halfback in the number 10 jersery. This is why fans of the Reds have got the shits. It isn't just his lack of a complete game plan it is his continual bonehead selections.

He played Hunt and JOC (James O'Connor) at 10. Hunt in Round 1, JOC (James O'Connor) in Round 3. Frisby was in Round 2 when JOC (James O'Connor) was named and pulled out and Hunt was withdrawn.

After 3 rounds and 3 options used, Frisby actually looked like our best 10.

Duncan P was also unavailable after concussion off the bench in Round 1 I believe.

 

[Brendan Hume]

Yeah, both chieka and link were fired in France before immediately before winning super rugby titles I think, it's almost an indicator of quality for Australian coaches at this point.

So Tim Lane should be next in line?

 

[Floggn']

The most bizarre part of the situation is that Duncan Paia'aua hasn't really been given another opportunity since that trial game.

He looked poor in that game but in hindsight, his performance is a whole lot better when some of the other 10 performances are taken into account.

Frisby has improved as the season has worn on but will never be that great at 10 because it isn't his best position and he's unlikely to stay there long term.

What happens next year if Cooper does end up leaving which seems very likely?

He will just find another halfback to fill in the 10 jersey. Problem solved! He only needs to win 3 games out 10 to beat his current record so he could play a prop there and he should still be able to keep that great record going with the Reds.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Serious question. Does Graham have a successful track record as a coach, at any level of the game? If so, for whom, and when?

The Oracle that is Wikipedia says this under Coaching Career:
Richard Graham began his professional coaching career with the Bath RFC in the English Premiership under former Wallaby hooker Michael Foley. In his 4 seasons with the club, he also worked under John Connolly (former Wallaby coach) and Brian Ashton (former England coach). Graham then moved to Saracens RFC where he worked under Eddie Jones (former Wallaby coach) before finishing as Head Coach in 2009.[1]
In June 2009 Graham joined Robbie Deans as Skills Coach of the National team.[1] While in this role he also accepted a position of Assistant Coach to former All Blacks coach John Mitchell at the Western Force. When Mitchell unexpectedly joined the Lions in Johannesburg in September 2010 Graham was promoted Head Coach a year earlier than anticipated.[2][3][4][5]
In 16 April 2012 Graham quit as coach of the Western Force to join the Reds.[6]
The Western Force won just 7 of 24 matches under his coaching, whilst the Queensland Reds have won just 5 out of 16 matches in the 2014 season resulting in a win/loss ratio of just 30% in Super Rugby.

On that basis he has been head coach at Saracens in 2009 before joining ARU under Dingo in June 2009, and from September 2010 he was Head Coach at the Force until April 2012 where he moved to the Reds initially as working under Link (Director of Rugby) before being cut loose in 201 as Head Coach with no Link overlooking his shoulder.

 

[Train Without a Station]

The Brumbies are starting to see the same issues as we have with their first choice 10 injured.

At first the thought is, oh, just move Lilo, he's a great 10 anyway. Problem is now with Lilo at 10 the backline has shuffled around and they have seen that Lilo isn't as great a 10 when he has lesser options at 12 and 13 outside of him. Rather than mitigating the problem by moving Lilo, they have actually just moved the massive hole to 12, which really isn't helping them much.

Likewise I can understand Graham's logic. JOC (James O'Connor) can play 10. But you weaken 10 when he goes there, and weaken wing or fullback. With Frisby, yes Frisby isn't great, but you don't further weaken any other positions outside you.

The fact of the matter is you have limited money and limited spots. There's always going to be positions where you have next to no depth, or a big drop from your best option. The Brumbies have just recently seen there's is at 10/12 with poor back up outside their preferred pairing. We have it at 10, with minimal back up that doesn't disrupt the whole backline.

Most importantly, what position have we overstocked at the expense of 10?

Some thought we were heavy on loosies. This weekend we have 4 fit loosies to choose from for 4 positions. Perhaps centres having Fainga'a, Kerevi, Tapuai and CFS. But again we have looked outside the 32 for a reserve backs in Sam Johnson and Thomas Banks

 

[Wilson]

So Tim Lane should be next in line?

That's what I'm saying.

 

[Train Without a Station]

That's what I'm saying.

He obviously hasn't performed spectacularly last year at Bayonne to get the bullet. What's he done of note beyond that Wilson?

 

[Floggn']

He played Hunt and JOC (James O'Connor) at 10. Hunt in Round 1, JOC (James O'Connor) in Round 3. Frisby was in Round 2 when JOC (James O'Connor) was named and pulled out and Hunt was withdrawn.

After 3 rounds and 3 options used, Frisby actually looked like our best 10.

Duncan P was also unavailable after concussion off the bench in Round 1 I believe.

I thought JOC (James O'Connor) was pretty good in his first game back against a very good Highlanders team. It all started when RG tried to be smart and trick NSW in thinking he was playing JOC (James O'Connor) at 10 then he put Frisby there last minuter. Pride got in the way and he left him there irrespective if he played well or not.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I wonder how much training with the team JOC (James O'Connor) has been able to do. Hes certainly missed a few games.

Perhaps Frisby has been the only option at Ballynore during the week for most of the season so he plays 10 by default

 

[RugbyReg]

And I am afraid that after attending all games this year in the hope of revival, that I too will not be renewing membership. I have stuck it out as a devout Reds fan but I can't stand the head in the sand approach. Some of the excuses (do they employ someone) are annoying me, no accountability. More interested in marketing than results!Recruitment results have been underwhelming and yet no-one has accepted responsibility. To think we will have RG again! Oh the pain!

gees I hate comments like that. Fine, don't buy another membership. That's your right.

But a comment like the bolded one is just ignorance. They have a marketing department whose job it is to market the team and game.

They have a high performance department whose job it is to prepare the team.

Just because one area of the business isn't performing does not mean the other one should cop flack. What, you want the graphic design team in the team meetings helping them come up with strategies to beat the Crusaders? Perhaps the Finance team should be out on the field holding tackle bags for the boys?

Unfunny comments such as "they'd probably do a better job" expected, but not appreciated.

 

[RugbyReg]

Brian Smith Maybe?

who has he coached and what success has he had, any ideas?

 

[RugbyReg]

The most bizarre part of the situation is that Duncan Paia'aua hasn't really been given another opportunity since that trial game.

he hasn't been wonderful at club level. In fact he's not even playing 10 there. Was tried there, then fullback and I think most recently at 12.

I'd consider him fairly low on out flyhalf totem pole at the moment. More a project player for 2016 (hopefully)

 

[Strewthcobber]

And another thought, I wonder how much influence Cheika has has on where JOC (James O'Connor) plays. He'd certainly want him up to speed at wing.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Smith_(rugby)

A good recordi think considering how shitty London Irish is.

 

[No4918]

General tone of this says Cooper is gone.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/q...rites-jim-tucker/story-e6frf4pu-1227323277389

Cheika is persuasive and stirring in his Wallabies vision but it’s hard to see him having a miracle that can work on Cooper.

 

[gel]

If there is no viable replacement, what action can they take going forward? I read somebody post an off the cuff remark that they should just let Quade coach. At the time I thought, "hey, can't do any worse and probably will work better". But then I thought further. Who's going to management the squad and the recruitment for 2016? That's the issue. Say what you want about Graham, but he recruited very well..

I was under the impression that Cordingley was also instrumental in the recruitment. It certainly wasn't all Richard Graham by himself, so attributing it solely to him is spurious. I am fine to give him some credit for it (and did so earlier in this thread) - but not all the credit.

Saying something along the lines of "we must keep Richard Graham or else x,y or z could happen - or who else will do x,y or z" is just an argument from adverse consequences.

Fact: Richard Graham's success rate with the reds is approx 28%

Unknown: Alternative coach success rate with the reds. It could be worse or it could be better

Maths: Given the low level of Richard Graham's win % and performance, it is significantly probable that another coach with experience coaching elite rugby teams would achieve greater success than the reds have under Richard Graham.

Other than that bit, I agree with just about everything else you have said in these few pages.

 

[Floggn']

gees I hate comments like that. Fine, don't buy another membership. That's your right.

But a comment like the bolded one is just ignorance. They have a marketing department whose job it is to market the team and game.
Just because one area of the business isn't performing does not mean the other one should cop flack. What, you want the graphic design team in the team meetings helping them come up with strategies to beat the Crusaders? Perhaps the Finance team should be out on the field holding tackle bags for the boys?

Don't disagree with most of what you have said Reg however there are many people who are disillusioned with Queensland rugby right now. The marketing section of the QRU are weekly asking for our hard earned yet they choose not to listen or respond to members or even ex players when they send an email or a facebook post. I remember a while ago in this thread that Reds marketing department had deleted a players thoughts who had played for them what 90 times! The marketing department are the face of the QRU so its only obvious that they will cop the full force of members sprays. It is their job to try and settle those opinions down rather than just dismiss them or delete them which to me is just as ignorant.

 

[Wilson]

He obviously hasn't performed spectacularly last year at Bayonne to get the bullet. What's he done of note beyond that Wilson?

Was Lyon he got fired from.

An overview of his record:

-Head coach at Manly in the SS, undefeated premiership in his first year (1997)
-Joined the Wallabies as backs coach for 98-99 wining Bledisloe, Tri-Nations and the World Cup
-Took over Clermont in the top 14 in 2000 taking them to the final
-Coached the Cats (Lions) in 03, poor record here wining the wooden spoon (they came second last the season before and last the season after)
-Head coach at Ricoh in Japan (Not sure of dates or results but they were generally in the bottom half of the table in the possible period)
-Was with Italy at some point, not sure of the role or the dates, don't think it was as head coach
-Won a French d2 championship with Toulon, earning them promotion (07-08)
-Head coach of Georgia for a while (don't have much info here, I think he went through to the world cup in 11)
-Won a French d2 championship with Lyon, earning them promotion (13-14)
-Lyon were second from the bottom in their first season up when he got sacked. (After ~20 rounds)

I think there's some other stints I've missed over this period as well.

A mixed record, but there is plenty of success there with a decent chunk of it after his short lived super rugby gig. Certainly more experience and success as a head coach then Graham. Not saying he'll be a silver bullet but he has a record that makes him look worth taking a punt on. I seem to remember him being close to getting the tahs job when they thought they wouldn't get Chieka, so I imagine he's pretty keen to coach super rugby.

At the end of the day he's just one option, but I think it's pretty clear they're out there and if the reason we're sticking it out with Graham is because we can't lure anyone else in then we may as well burn it all down and start again.

I just don't think RG is up to it. There's every chance he may one day be a super rugby quality head coach, he's reasonably young to have the experience he does, but I think he needs to coach down a level or 2 at this point, refine his skills (particularly the head coach/managerial ones), and work his way back up. He doesn't appear to be improving atm and it may well be because the gig (at a super side) is too much for him at this stage in his career.