Reds 2016

[gel]

I think some consistency is needed in the selections in order to gain some basic strategies and confidence in them.

It will take a long time to undo the incredible amount of damage that RG has done to these guys, and swapping and changing players around isn't going to help speed up the process.

We won't get decent crowds back this season though.

 

[Waterboyrugby]

Its a bit hard blaming the backline performance on McIntyre. He is a 21 year old with no backline structures outside him after first phase. What is he going to do? He sets up a number of breaks and nobody runs supports lines and then they turnover or knock the ball on. He has good skills and can take the ball to the line himself. The total lack of anything past first phase is the problem. It has been for two years and will be for the rest of this year, but it is improving. Some of the Reds backs also do not have the handling skills to play a high tempo running game and certainly fitness is a significant issue as in the last 10 minutes of each half the were struggling badly.

As a 10, he is supposed to be the organiser. Any lack of backline structures is an indication of a) he's not saying anything or b) no one is listening to him. Can we please stop using age as an excuse for this guy? Damien McKenzie is 20 years old and is one of the best players in the competition. This is his first season of regular starts.

"He sets up a number of breaks" - I haven't seen the Blues game, but in all other games I have seen 0 line breaks created by JM.

"He has good ball skills and can take the line on himself" - A number of JM's passes are way off the mark, either behind the player or lollipop lobs. A few times this season (including yesterday), the pass has missed everyone and gone over the sideline. This area of his game is not consistent enough.

More often than not when he takes the line on he gets pilfered and the ball is turned over, he hasn't made a linebreak other than the try in Round 1, which was created by the preceding forward play.

In fairness to JM, the service from 9 is too slow. Frisby has "Meehan" tendencies.. holding on to the ball at the base of the ruck for half a second before passing, not to mention he's not at the ruck fast enough. A number of other players are making poor handling errors. He is not solely to blame by any means, but the things he is responsible for are not showing signs of improvement. How much 'development' time do you give?

The Reds biggest weakness right now is the attack. They go backwards due to static & deep ball runners, slow recycles and lack of fitness and often make poor handling errors. They quality of opposition has been poor resulting in close scorelines which has the illusion of "improvement'. (2 non-rugby states, the worst NZ side and a declining Tahs).

Right now, the Reds have to try and win games through set piece dominance to make up for their inability to use the ball. Well guess what? That ain't going to happen and it isnt a long term success strategy either. Changes are required. The 9 and 10 channel are integral to attacking play and right now the attack is toothless.

 

[Ash]

I'd just like to see the forwards working harder around the corner, backline moves closer to the advantage line, less indecision and less static play from the 10, and finally more sensible crash balls than an isolated Fainga'a 4 channels wide.

Just going the same way around the corner to the forwards seems beyond them, and it's really basic stuff.

 

[Strewthcobber]

The scary thing so far is the Reds have probably had the easiest draw of any side in the comp and we're still coming stone cold last.

 

[Strewthcobber]

In unrelated news, looks like Knuckles has got himself a new gig

http://qldvotes.lgaq.asn.au/electionResults_Sunshine Coast_C_Division 4.html

 

[I like to watch]

I'd just like to see the forwards working harder around the corner, backline moves closer to the advantage line, less indecision and less static play from the 10, and finally more sensible crash balls than an isolated Fainga'a 4 channels wide.

Just going the same way around the corner to the forwards seems beyond them, and it's really basic stuff.

the backs don't have the skill set to execute moves closer to the advantage line.
if they can't catch & pass with precision well before the line,they are no chance doing it at the line.
If the Highlanders play to their current standard next week,it's going to be ugly.

 

[Brumby Runner]

As a 10, he is supposed to be the organiser. Any lack of backline structures is an indication of a) he's not saying anything or b) no one is listening to him. Can we please stop using age as an excuse for this guy? Damien McKenzie is 20 years old and is one of the best players in the competition. This is his first season of regular starts.

"He sets up a number of breaks" - I haven't seen the Blues game, but in all other games I have seen 0 line breaks created by JM.

"He has good ball skills and can take the line on himself" - A number of JM's passes are way off the mark, either behind the player or lollipop lobs. A few times this season (including yesterday), the pass has missed everyone and gone over the sideline. This area of his game is not consistent enough.

More often than not when he takes the line on he gets pilfered and the ball is turned over, he hasn't made a linebreak other than the try in Round 1, which was created by the preceding forward play.

In fairness to JM, the service from 9 is too slow. Frisby has "Meehan" tendencies.. holding on to the ball at the base of the ruck for half a second before passing, not to mention he's not at the ruck fast enough. A number of other players are making poor handling errors. He is not solely to blame by any means, but the things he is responsible for are not showing signs of improvement. How much 'development' time do you give?

The Reds biggest weakness right now is the attack. They go backwards due to static & deep ball runners, slow recycles and lack of fitness and often make poor handling errors. They quality of opposition has been poor resulting in close scorelines which has the illusion of "improvement'. (2 non-rugby states, the worst NZ side and a declining Tahs).

Right now, the Reds have to try and win games through set piece dominance to make up for their inability to use the ball. Well guess what? That ain't going to happen and it isnt a long term success strategy either. Changes are required. The 9 and 10 channel are integral to attacking play and right now the attack is toothless.

This is a very realistic look at the Reds atm, especially in relation to both Frisby and McIntyre. Their core skills are very poor and are major contributing factors to the poor performances of the Reds. However, the biggest problem really looks to be the hangover of RG's woeful coaching efforts over a protracted period.

 

[I like to watch]

The biggest hangover from Graham's tenure is the composition of the squad.
Until there is a pretty comprehensive clean out, don't expect things to change that much.
I just cant fathom what might be a winning style with the current personnel.
You might squeek out one or two wins against the weakest teams playing 9/10 man rugby,but that's about it.
The current backline playing expansively,is just planning to turnover possession.

 

[TOCC]

I don't think a clean out of the squad is at all necessary..
I think the biggest issue is they lack cohesion and any kind of offensive structure.

They could certainly use more experienced players in a few of the key positions, but clearing the players out who are there now won't achieve anything unless there are suitable replacements.

 

[I like to watch]

What offensive structure can you use with the current personnel?
How many Reds backs would get run on positions in other teams?
It appears to me that they have decided that Hunt is not the answer at 12,which should automatically mean that they need to revisit their selection @ 10.

 

[pjm]

All RG did was recruit one dimensional islanders and has been's or never were's like Hunt, Goromaru, O'Connor. There isn't a rugby brain in the entire backline.

There's a glut of polynesian names but they all play the same.

 

[dru]

Can we please stop using age as an excuse for this guy? Damien McKenzie is 20 years old and is one of the best players in the competition. This is his first season of regular starts.

MacIntyre has come from Brisbane club rugby via NRC. When they took representative teams from the NRC they played NZ Homelands, not an ITM rep team, which gives an idea as to comparitive quality levels.

Mac background from the Reds site is "Provincial Caps 3; Super Rugby caps 3". I'm guessing it needs updating, but then so would the Chiefs site.

McKenzies background from the Chiefs site is "Provincial Caps 20; Super Rugby Caps 16". And he came out of ITM, a completely different step than from NRC. That is a world of difference in terms of experience, especially early in a career. Apply the comparison of McKenxie now, and MacIntyre at the end of the season.

Biggest difference though is Garaham v Rennie.

Notwithstanding the above "apples v oranges" nothing should take away from McKenzie who has future great stamped all over him. With respect though, I suspect his advancement might have been slower had it been via the Reds. And McIntyre might have been quicker via ITM and the Chiefs.

We need to give McIntyre time. Along with the rest of the team. I wouldnt mind more exposure to Greene, but its ridiculous to dump this on our 10.

 

[I like to watch]

McIntyre would never have been picked up by the Chiefs.

They would have replaced Fainga'a a contract extension ago,they have a thousand guys that can do what Hunt does, CFS would also be a distant memory there,ditto Kerevi.
That's the difference.

 

[dru]

McIntyre would never have been picked up by the Chiefs.

They would have replaced Fainga'a a contract extension ago,they have a thousand guys that can do what Hunt does, CFS would also be a distant memory there,ditto Kerevi.
That's the difference.

Not quite. The Chiefs would not have picked him up because they would not have had to. The options in Qld were somewhat limited. Unable to attract an international or national you must select from the local Premier comp. who in that comp would have been selected by the Chiefs over McIntyre?

These comparisons are shallow. We live with what we have, and actually Qld does OK in its talent development over time.

 

[I like to watch]

Nope, your initial post was inferring that the only difference between the 2 10's was experience.clearly that's not the case,you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

The comparisons are valid. The current squad is below par.

You don't live with what you have,most of the best performed QLD juniors are currently playing for other franchises.

 

[gel]

You don't live with what you have,most of the best performed QLD juniors are currently playing for other franchises.

I think this is true.

We seem to be able to create talented players, but seem to have a pretty long history in either not recognising it or not developing it further.

QRU (and Auckland Blues for that matter) are pretty ordinary organisations it would seem.

 

[Happy to Chat]

What offensive structure can you use with the current personnel?
How many Reds backs would get run on positions in other teams?
It appears to me that they have decided that Hunt is not the answer at 12,which should automatically mean that they need to revisit their selection @ 10.

They need to give Magnay a shot at 12, he seems to be running well in u20's.

 

[wamberal]

Ben Volavola was not really wanted by the Tahs, now he is a first choice Crusader.

Coaching is something the Keewees do a whole better than us.

 

[dru]

Nope, your initial post was inferring that the only difference between the 2 10's was experience.clearly that's not the case,you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

The comparisons are valid. The current squad is below par.

You don't live with what you have,most of the best performed QLD juniors are currently playing for other franchises.

So now we start to get to the actual issue. Not the incumbant 10, but selection, coaching, retention, talent spotting.

Bugger all is resolved by dropping MacIntyre. Re ent events at HC and the board have addressed, if only partially some of the issue going forward. But it needs tocycle through to a more permanent answer to head coach and probably a couple of seasons of selection and development.

 

[Simon.]

They need to give Magnay a shot at 12, he seems to be running well in u20's.

And if they gave Magnay a shot, he'd run into the same problems the current players are, and everyone here would be going on about how Magnay is crap and would never make it in NZ and we should put the next guy in.

Because the problem is bigger than any individual players. They look worse because they are in a beaten team with big structural, coaching, selection and morale problems. If you took any one of McIntyre, Kerevi, Hunt, Nabuli, Frisby etc and slotted them into the Brumbies they'd look like much better players because they'd be getting good ball and have solid players either side.

Likewise if you took Kuridrani, or Speight, or Tomane, or To'omua and slotted them into the Reds people would be calling for them to be dropped too, particularly the wingers. They'd be getting flat-foot ball from well behind the ad line in the face of a well-organised defence and they'd go nowhere.