Reds 2017

[TheBigDog]

Magnay now has 12 Reds caps under this belt (albeit a few with limited minutes) and has been in the professional setup for a while now. I think that 2017 is really the year he needs to make his mark at the Reds.

I hope he's given an early opportunity in his preferred position.

 

[Simon.]

My first line pick is Paia'aua 12 and Kerevi 13, but it really depends what type of game they want to play outside Quade.

Paia'aua is very much a second playmaker and his running is more slippery than confrontational, he evades tackles rather than busts them. I think with Quade's ability to place a pass, and Kerevi outside drawing defenders, Paia'aua will find plenty of space to break the line.

I'd also be happy with Kerevi at 12 and Magnay or Perese at 13 which reverses the effect with the crash runner creating space outside him, but I think you get more options with two playmakers.

Another interesting question will be what they do if Quade gets injured, as he tends to do. Whether they go back to McIntyre or put Paia'aua to 10. Personally I'd opt for the latter, they both still have a fair way to go to be up to the standard of playing 10 at this level, but Paia'aua at least brings a genuine running game.

 

[TOCC]

Magnay now has 12 Reds caps under this belt (albeit a few with limited minutes) and has been in the professional setup for a while now. I think that 2017 is really the year he needs to make his mark at the Reds.

I hope he's given an early opportunity in his preferred position.

Magnay was signed when he was to keep him from the NRL, his physical attributes alone made him an attractive proposition for either code. He only just turned 20years old which is still a year or two before most players make their debut.

He just needs consistent game time, I'm not expecting him to be a starting super rugby player but a few games off the bench, some club rugby and then a full NRC season is what he needs.


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[Simon.]

Given that Magnay is unlikely to unseat Kerevi at 13 this season (barring injury), maybe he'd be worth giving a go on the wing? I haven't seen him kick but that doesn't seem to be a big requirement for a Reds winger - Nabuli and CFS are prime examples. Kicking from depth seems to fall pretty much entirely to the fullback. Come to think of it, maybe that's why we've been so comprehensively out-kicked the last two years...

He's certainly got the size and speed to make a good winger, and a height advantage in contesting high balls. And that massive wingspan of his seems to be well-suited for picking up chip kicks on the fly, as shown with his try against the Crusaders.

 

[No4918]

12. Kerevi
13. Magnay

Simples.

 

[TSR]

Tempting. I prefer Paia'aua & Kerevi be given a try first at this point, with Nabuli & Perese on the wings & Magnay off the bench.

But if the coaching staff go a different way - well, clearly their vantage point is superior to mine.

In any case, I like the look of Magnay and look forward to him getting some opportunities this year.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Tempting. I prefer Paia'aua & Kerevi be given a try first at this point, with Nabuli & Perese on the wings & Magnay off the bench.

But if the coaching staff go a different way - well, clearly their vantage point is superior to mine.

In any case, I like the look of Magnay and look forward to him getting some opportunities this year.

Am sure Magnay will get opportunities during the year.

The secret is that he has to take those opportunities with both hands. Whilst he's young he's got a dozen or so caps so he is not a debutant and there are no excuses for the lad.

Hope he plays the house down.

 

[Scoey]

I wouldn't say there are no excuses for the lad. He has only just turned 20. I hope he plays the house down too but he's going to have the odd shocker you'd expect.

EDIT: And just because everyone is chipping in their 2c.....

12 Paia-aua
13 Kerevi

 

[Sully]

I have always preferred my power centre at 12 so
Kerevi
Parese

Also I'd like to see Kerevi and Kuridrani in the centres for the wallabies after Kerevi has had a season at 12

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[Scoey]

How does this work usually? Do we start a twitter poll on the midfield combo and then once we have the popular vote, some one just texts it to Stilesy?

 

[Braveheart81]

How does this work usually? Do we start a twitter poll on the midfield combo and then once we have the popular vote, some one just texts it to Stilesy?

Yes.

We'll tell him that he has to select Kerevi at both 12 and 13 based on the results.

 

[TOCC]

I don't buy into this 'make or break season' for guys who have only just turned 20 years old either. Fans need to have realistic expectations about when a player is mature enough physically and mentally to handle the rigours of super rugby. Time in the system is only one factor.

There aren't many players out there who have become successful super rugby players before their 21st birthdays.

Samu Kerevi for example, on his debut at 20years old he was older then Magnay is currently.


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[TOCC]

How does this work usually? Do we start a twitter poll on the midfield combo and then once we have the popular vote, some one just texts it to Stilesy?

Stiles reads the forums, so as long as we come to a mutual consensus he will take it on board


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[TheBigDog]

I don't buy into this 'make or break season' for guys who have only just turned 20 years old either. Fans need to have realistic expectations about when a player is mature enough physically and mentally to handle the rigours of super rugby. Time in the system is only one factor

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I agree but I think it goes both ways.

In the modern age players are being identified earlier, signed to full-time contracts earlier and getting their training under way. Some of the training programs available to guys in schoolboy and age capped representative teams are far beyond anything we've seen before. If a bloke is going to be taking up a spot on the roster then they should be ready to take on full responsibility when called upon.

I'm not saying guys need to be thrown into the deep end and made to swim without a few lessons (ie club seasons, NRC etc) but there has to be an expectation that if young players are being signed by teams they should be ready to play and not just sit on a roster for 3-4 years with the hope they make it.

Also just for clarification I'm not referring to anyone in particular on the Reds roster here, just a general observation about the state of the game.

 

[Braveheart81]

I'm not saying guys need to be thrown into the deep end and made to swim without a few lessons (ie club seasons, NRC etc) but there has to be an expectation that if young players are being signed by teams they should be ready to play and not just sit on a roster for 3-4 years with the hope they make it.

Isn't it also a case of being able to firstly control their development and secondly to stop another team from signing that player?

I think all teams have young players signed up that they aren't expecting will be a core part of the matchday team for a couple of years and that is about planning for the future.

If they then need to select that player due to injuries I don't think that brings forward the date at which that player is expected to be a starting XV quality player.

A big part of list management is managing the compromise between the best squad for the current season and developing the players who will be core to your team in the future.

 

[TheBigDog]

Good points there Braveheart, it is definitely a case of managing both sides, the talent and the potential and there are other factors which can influence a signing.

I don't really want to keep pushing this subject in the thread so I'll finish by referring to the Reds specifically here as I believe there has been a bit too much compromise given to the nursing of young players into the squad in seasons past, with a hope of the future, rather than having the faith to utilize the guys they have signed at the expense of roster spots. We've seen a few quality players lost due to this in recent years.

It's almost as if they've done a complete back flip on that mentality for 2017 though by bringing in the veterans to bolster the stocks. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think the Reds carried too many injury prone players on their books for a number of years, particularly in the outside backs.

CFS, Toua and Taulagi spring to mind.

I'd bet the Reds have had to field more EPS and/or uncontracted players in recent years than the other Australian sides.

 

[dru]

I think the Reds carried too many injury prone players on their books for a number of years, particularly in the outside backs.

CFS, Toua and Taulagi spring to mind.

I'd bet the Reds have had to field more EPS and/or uncontracted players in recent years than the other Australian sides.

That's not necessarily a list management issue. Our injury rate has sometimes been unacceptable. A question at least in part for the coaching team and S&C.

 

[liquor box]

Stiles reads the forums, so as long as we come to a mutual consensus he will take it on board


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good to hear

12 Gill
13 Gill


make it happen coach

 

[dru]

good to hear

12 Gill
13 Gill


make it happen coach

Had to be one.