Reds 2018

[USARugger]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/9de798b7b54e68430358eb6483420dc6

Well at least we don't have to worry about Sanchez getting picked up by another Super side by the sound of it.

Not sure how it would be possible to bring him home considering our current contracting situation.

Also seriously doubt Stiles would be keen on the idea of managing Will's unique personality in the locker room either..

 

[RugbyReg]

absolute crap, the Reds don't even have an HR department.

Well they do now. Well not a "department" but they have HR.

 

[Moonrat]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Simmons recalled for Rugby Championship

I agree, the L Tui selection reeks of locking him into national selection so he can't go play for another nation. Not that I don't believe he doesn't have the potential, he in my opinion (which counts for nothing) is just not ready and arguably the better long term prospect is Rodda.

 

[upthereds#!]

I agree, the L Tui selection reeks of locking him into national selection so he can't go play for another nation. Not that I don't believe he doesn't have the potential, he in my opinion (which counts for nothing) is just not ready and arguably the better long term prospect is Rodda.

I think Nabuli is absolutely a locking ploy, as was cooper vuna and naiyaravoro. I also think Richie Arnold has got just as much to offer as Rory once exposed to the systems and has a few more runs on the board.

 

[upthereds#!]

Well they do now. Well not a "department" but they have HR.

Well that's good, I know a few staff members who have moved on in the last couple years and there was no such thing as someone they could talk to to manage their time, TOIL, overtime, workplace issues etc....they could only go to their supervisor who is just another accounting or marketing girl, who weren't trained nor hired to encompass those HR duties.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think Nabuli is absolutely a locking ploy, as was cooper vuna and naiyaravoro. I also think Richie Arnold has got just as much to offer as Rory once exposed to the systems and has a few more runs on the board.

It does look to be a bit of a pattern, Utr. Might also apply to Hardwick, I suppose.

 

[upthereds#!]

Hardwick has shown a bit more then Nabuli, but still both positions where it seems to be unncessary to desperately get them in.

Don't get me wrong, I like the cut of Hardwicks jib, but We will have pocock, hoops, mcmahon as 7s next year, if you are going to have a 4th why not a specialist? Then Timani and Higs as 8's though both are fine at 6. Then rookie Hanigan as a proper lineout/mongrel blindside, who I would have thought would be more realistically paired with RHP as another alternative and heirs to the throne of Fardy. But Cheika loves his 'utility' forwards in Hardwick and Dempsey who don't realllllly have a place in test rugby.

 

[USARugger]

Less cynically, this is the best shot in a long time that these guys are going to get at showing off their stuff without being thrown into the deepest of deep ends in Rugby.

Cheika probably just wants to get a sniff at his known unknowns.

 

[Brumby Runner]

The Wallabies have had problems in recent years with tests against supposed second tier sides. It won't look good at all if debatable team selections contribute to a loss against any of the sides we're playing this year. At face value, we need to be winning and winning well against all of these sides.

EDIT : Off topic sorry. Just responding to USAR's comment above.

 

[The torpedo]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/9de798b7b54e68430358eb6483420dc6

Well at least we don't have to worry about Sanchez getting picked up by another Super side by the sound of it.

Not sure how it would be possible to bring him home considering our current contracting situation.

Also seriously doubt Stiles would be keen on the idea of managing Will's unique personality in the locker room either..

I don't really want him (unless one of the current scum-half's are leaving, or most of the 2011 band is getting back together (inc. coaches) for a title run in 2019)

 

[USARugger]

I would take him if we can afford him. He's only 29 and on very recent performances is in an entirely different hemisphere of talent and ability than our current 9s.

Pretty sure he'd also tell Stiles to get stuffed if he was told to kick into the opposition 22 from our halfway.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Have you put every one of Genia's box kicks out of your mind USARugger?

 

[USARugger]

His box kicking was generally an issue for the Wallabies under past coaches and not the Reds so read into that however you choose to.

I also don't really recall it being much of an issue in his last series of test matches for Australia, either.

We can hang on to some bad kicks he made several years ago and seems to have removed from his game or we can recognize that we currently have 1/2 of a #9 that's up to Super Rugby right now (and it's not the guy that was supposed to be starting this year while the other two developed) and this effectively eliminates us from competing in any real way, regardless of other factors.

 

[The torpedo]

And - for this argument: here's what the score was @ the 60 min mark, compared to the final score (home team on left):

Round 1 - Reds 18 Sharks 26 (won 28-26)
Round 2 - Force 15 Reds 19 (lost 26-19)
Round 3 - Reds 20 Crusaders 7 (lost 20-22)
Round 4 - Lions 25 Reds 0 (lost 44-14)
Round 5 - Jaguares 22 Reds 8 (lost 22-8)
Round 6 - Reds 12 Hurricanes 19 (lost 15-34)
Round 7 - Brumbies 31 Reds 10 (lost 43-10)
Round 8 - Reds 47 Kings 17 (won 47-34)
Round 9 - Bye
Round 10 - Reds 26 Waratahs 20 (lost 26-29)
Round 11 - Chiefs 39 Reds 17 (lost 46-17)
Round 12 - Rebels 19 Reds 24 (won 24-29)
Round 13 - Bye
Round 14 - Reds 26 Force 21 (lost 26-40)

So overall, we were a) leading 6 games @ the 27-min mark (won 2), in contention (i.e. losing by 15 points or less @ the 60-min mark) in 3 games (won 1) and game is effectively over @ the 60-min mark in 3 games.

So if all our games finished @ the 60-min mark, we have 6 wins, 6 losses, 27 points & we are 2nd in the conference, 1 point behind the Brumbies

Round 15 - Blues 20 Reds 22 (lost 34-29)

Now it's 7 wins, 6 losses, 31 points & leading the conference

 

[Parse]

Liam Gill will be staying at Toulon for next season and is not moving on to Lyon or back home to Australia. Gill performed solidly in Toulon's grand final loss to Clermont (Score: 22-16) early this morning at Stade Francais. JOC (James O'Connor), surprisingly sporting the exact same hairstyle as in last weekends semi-final, again took one for team as he was hammered in a tackle both high and with a shoulder. Unfortunately, this week it only earned a yellow card rather then a red as was last week. Also unfortunate for Toulon was that Leigh Halfpenny is in NZ with the Lions and the missed penalties were the difference in the scoreline at the end. While not ex-Reds; Drew Mitchell has now played his last game, Git's also came on in the second half for his last European game.

 

[liquor box]

Liam Gill will be staying at Toulon for next season and is not moving on to Lyon or back home to Australia. Gill performed solidly in Toulon's grand final loss to Clermont (Score: 22-16) early this morning at Stade Francais. JOC (James O'Connor), surprisingly sporting the exact same hairstyle as in last weekends semi-final, again took one for team as he was hammered in a tackle both high and with a shoulder. Unfortunately, this week it only earned a yellow card rather then a red as was last week. Also unfortunate for Toulon was that Leigh Halfpenny is in NZ with the Lions and the missed penalties were the difference in the scoreline at the end. While not ex-Reds; Drew Mitchell has now played his last game, Git's also came on in the second half for his last European game.

There was an amazing amount of peroxide on the field during the game

 

[HJ Nelson]

QRU Statement on Rob Simmons and Leroy Houston

The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) confirms that Rob Simmons will not be re-signed with the St.George Queensland Reds for the 2018 Super Rugby season.
Reds Head Coach Nick Stiles said Simmons, who has played 112 Times for the Reds, has been an excellent servant to the state and the code in Queensland over the past nine years.
“These conversations are never easy, especially with players who have been with Queensland since they started and who have given their all for the State and the organisation,” Stiles said.
“However, we believe that the future lies with the players who started the game in Samoa last weekend and with other emerging second-row talent that has come through our under-20s program.
“The reality is that all Australian Super Rugby teams have to make decisions based on future priorities, as well as salary cap limitations. Rob will leave us at the end of the year with our best wishes and gratitude for the long service he has given Queensland.”
The QRU has also allowed loose forward Leroy Houston to be released from the second year of his Reds contract for personal reasons.
Nick Stiles said: “Leroy has been a great contributor to the squad this year and while he has had injury concerns to contend with through the middle part of the Super Rugby campaign, we agreed to his request for an early release on personal grounds.”

 

[RugbyReg]

Rob Simmons won't be offered a contract next year and Houston will be released for next year.

 

[Rebels3]

As much as i have bemoaned Simmons, he has been nothing but a pro and a servant to the game in Qld.

 

[TOCC]

Im a Simmons fan, but I said as much earlier in the season, that it was time for him to move on, Tui and Rodda are the future and Douglas is the senior lock to provide that guidance.