Reds 2018

[dru]

I can't see the Aru releasing Quade to play for a super rugby non Aussie club. If they have to top up a contract to benefit Auckland it would be to hard for even the spin doctors at Au to justify.

I can't see it having anything to do with the spin doctors. There is a contract, period. Then there are general obligations. If Quade wants to go to the Blues, or anywhere, Super Rugby or Japan or Europe, the ARU and QRU end up arguing over fair value compensation. That argument has been well and truly compromised by the extremely amateurish and incompetent Brad and his unnecessary swinging dick competition.

And no, neither the QRU nor the ARU are going to find a justification other than "well, we were fucked over by Brad".

 

[duckbill]

From Instagram it looks like Quade is back home enjoying his renovated digs.

Still can't get over the stupidity of it all, and with the KHunt situation it makes perfect sense for people back at the QRU to grow the f##k up and get QC (Quade Cooper) back on board. Somehow I don't think that will happen though...

 

[gel]

If there were super rugby quality players running around in Brisbane premier rugby, the Brumbies would have already identified them and signed them up.

 

[Rugrat]

I can't see it having anything to do with the spin doctors. There is a contract, period. Then there are general obligations. If Quade wants to go to the Blues, or anywhere, Super Rugby or Japan or Europe, the ARU and QRU end up arguing over fair value compensation. That argument has been well and truly compromised by the extremely amateurish and incompetent Brad and his unnecessary swinging dick competition.

And no, neither the QRU nor the ARU are going to find a justification other than "well, we were fucked over by Brad".

Totally agree contracts need to be honored but no way would Auckland or anyone else in Super rugby pay full rate of Quades current contract so Aru Qru would have to and should pay the balance and release him. Doubt they will is my point unless they get out of paying, reckon it's one big shit fight. Quade at Souths training tonight maybe and waiting on the call from Big tough Brad ( definitely my key board warrior comment moment cause he scares the shit out of me)

 

[Rugrat]

If there were super rugby quality players running around in Brisbane premier rugby, the Brumbies would have already identified them and signed
Yep but still going to need backs anyway.

 

[Rugrat]

Is he also the most experienced (period) player on the team list? Technically he can't be the most experienced anything in the SQUAD. It is a squad that he is not in, for Christ's sake.

Smith might have him by a few years

 

[dru]

Smith might have him by a few years

Is Smith playing?

 

[Rugrat]

Is Smith playing?[/quote
For what it's worth Smith still listed in squad, no announcement from club or player so yes at this stage. As he returned from Japan injured I would have thought he would have to pass a medical to have contract valid but in the land of oz rugby management probably not.

 

[RugbyReg]

He’s in the midst of a contract. So it’s already valid.

As for people asking about Daugunu’s fullback credentials. He’s played there for Wests (as well as 13).

He’s got a decent boot. We saw it a few times in the nrc. He kicked a few goals, so that eye foot coordination is there. Plus he’s formally a ‘high level’ soccer player and not just in the goal as reported. He was a striker of some ability too.

 

[Rugrat]

He’s in the midst of a contract. So it’s already valid.

As for people asking about Daugunu’s fullback credentials. He’s played there for Wests (as well as 13).

He’s got a decent boot. We saw it a few times in the nrc. He kicked a few goals, so that eye foot coordination is there. Plus he’s formally a ‘high level’ soccer player and not just in the goal as reported. He was a striker of some ability too.

In a commercial context I would have thought that if a player under contract was released/approved to play other competition a medical on return would or should be still required. If not in Smiths contract it should have been.

 

[TOCC]

In a commercial context I would have thought that if a player under contract was released/approved to play other competition a medical on return would or should be still required. If not in Smiths contract it should have been.

Reds are fully aware of Smiths injury

 

[Simon.]

Is he also the most experienced (period) player on the team list? Technically he can't be the most experienced anything in the SQUAD. It is a squad that he is not in, for Christ's sake.

In the backs, definitely - he's probably got more Super caps than the rest of them put together. Smith has more experience in the forwards, and Higgers would run Cooper a close third. But it's one thing to be the most experienced player in your position - to also be the most experienced player in a team in another jersey number you've never worn for that club is pretty extraordinary. To be both of those things and also kicked off the team is just bizarre.

 

[Simon.]

If the Reds lose Hunt and free up salary, with Hendrik Tui gone they are eligible for a marquee player, right? Perhaps someone coming off the European season? There must be a few good fullbacks in Europe coming off contract.

 

[Rebels3]

Can't think of any backs that would be available or willing to come. But you could tell Quade he can pay for the Blues, cut Hunt, let Frisby go to anyone willing to pay a portion of his wage and the money remaining from Tui gone. Bring back McMahon and lure Luke Jones back, at least then you'd have one hell of a pack to lay a platform

Slipper, Readdy, Tupou
Rodda, Tui
Jones, Smith, Higgers

 

[Scoey]

Matt Giteau? He will be free after this weekend won't he? I thought he only signed with Suntory for the one season.

 

[Ben Smith]

The depth in the backs does seem deeply concerning which leads me to believe that Quade will play for the Reds this season. Without being officially released and now with the suspension of Hunt, all it's going to take is a few injuries to stretch the resources thin.

I am interested to hear what thoughts there are on the style of rugby the Reds will play under Thorn. He is obviously short of professional coaching experience so there isn't any tape to go off. I saw one of the Reds u20s matches under his watch that showed a very basic, methodical, forward orientated gameplan with majority phases off 9. Low-risk (no offloading, tips etc between pods), conservative play relying on clinical handling and physicality. Bashing the opponent into submission through forward runners. This is kinda what you would expect of Thorn though.

Over the whole RG, Stiles/MOC, Stiles era, I believe one of the things that was a pitfall off of the Reds play is the lack of intent to run strike plays off scrums. Especially under the RG era, the scrum at all times was used to milk penalties for territory, trapping the ball at 8's feet. And this at times backfired, conceding penalties. This strategy starved the backs of using the extra space you get from the scrum. Another common play used was to have a winger or midfielder truck it up from first receiver and reset phase structure - really mundane play.

Although this is just one aspect, I hope this changes as the lack of innovation in the Australian game has crept in more and more. One good thing Thorn has done is putting an end to Frisby's box kicking already.

 

[wamberal]

A really interesting post. Given your prediction as to how the team will approach things under Thorn, it is almost impossible to imagine Quade in the mix!!

 

[TOCC]

Another option for fullback is Paddy James, I sung his praise during the NRC and he is training with the Reds. No nonsense and fairy safe, not sure if he is up for super rugby but he could be worth a shot in the trials.

Nick Jooste is also in the squad, so he could be an option for fly half or fullback depth.

 

[RugbyReg]

Hard to judge a coach on one under 20 game. There’s plenty of Nrc highlight videos on the web. Worth searching for Qld country in 2017 and looking at their play.

By no means methodical nor forward oriented.

 

[TOCC]

I am interested to hear what thoughts there are on the style of rugby the Reds will play under Thorn. He is obviously short of professional coaching experience so there isn't any tape to go off. I saw one of the Reds u20s matches under his watch that showed a very basic, methodical, forward orientated gameplan with majority phases off 9. Low-risk (no offloading, tips etc between pods), conservative play relying on clinical handling and physicality. Bashing the opponent into submission through forward runners. This is kinda what you would expect of Thorn though.

NRC would probably be a better indication of the style he may coach, but then again the style of the NRC is a reflection of the short pre-seasons the teams have, you can’t go too in-depth when you only have a 2 week per-season.

But on your comment of offloads, QCountry ranked 2nd in the NRC only to Fiji and their backs were heavily involved, I’d argue the game plan revolved around the interchange of the back row and the big backline runners more then anything. QCountry has a relatively young and experienced tight 5 who weren’t used to bash the opposition.

But again, how much of that was based around the variables or relative strengths of the team? Nabuli, Feauai-Sautia, Timu and Tupou are all massive units who can get across the advantage line with other guys supporting them. They won’t have that comparative size advantage in Super Rugby so the game plan will need to change.

One thing which did stand out for me, was that QLD County were happy to kick deep and play a bit of field position, relying on their defence for turnovers, Queensland Country had a quick defensive line and very physical defence, that was probably what set them apart from the other teams In the comp.