Sure, but that other team had a massively stronger squad than the Reds. I am not at all sure the Reds would have had a better season with Cooper wearing 10 instead of Hegarty and co.
Reds 2019
- Thread starter RugbyReg
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Sure, but that other team had a massively stronger squad than the Reds. I am not at all sure the Reds would have had a better season with Cooper wearing 10 instead of Hegarty and co.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Quade wasn’t the right player to take Queensland forward. He has never been the same player he was since the 2011 RWC injury to his knee, his game control falters and falls apart too often for someone of his experience. Did it last season for South during the QPR finals, and again this year for the Rebels.
Penguin
John Solomon (38)
As a keen follower of his progress since his infamous start in Red and an ardent supporter during his golden years, I couldn't agree more.
He couldn't dominate at Premier Rugby level when it really mattered last season. I hoped otherwise but doubted things would be any different this year.
Jimmy_Crouch
Peter Johnson (47)
But if that kick came off it could have been a different story. PS I rode that game so hard. I got Souths at $24 before the season stated and hit them hard knowing QC (Quade Cooper) would be playing. Should have cashed out after round 6.
Penguin
John Solomon (38)
That's the problem with Quade in a nutshell. Too many ifs buts and maybes.
Skills to burn, yet too many times it's the team that's burnt.
Finsbury Girl
Trevor Allan (34)
I think it was the correct decision. I understand that Quade pretty much ignored the game plan when he wanted to/disagreed with the gaffer. Fair enough you may say, however there is only 1 chief at the end of the day, you play his way or hit the highway.
And I say this as a massive fan of what QC (Quade Cooper) has done for QLD rugby in the past.
And I say this as a massive fan of what QC (Quade Cooper) has done for QLD rugby in the past.
dru
David Wilson (68)
Thorn did not let him go. Thorn crucified the guy.
No small part of Quade’s form this year is about where he had to play last year.
Thorn’s grubby fingerprints are all over it from start to finish. I honestly do not understand why the topic is being brought up when those fans unhappy with the issue were starting to wear down over it. Leaves me (again) reacquainted with my sincere distaste for some things the Reds have done. What a fucking debacle of a franchise.
I’m bowing out as it simply is circular, leaves a seriously nasty bitter taste for the Reds. ButI won’t let these references simply go through to the keeper.
Completely outrageous period of Red history, a stand out in a very thick field.
My issue is that we still aren't any clearer about who the 10 of the future is going to be. They mixed and matched so many options when sticking with one guy might have been a better option. I would have liked Stewart to play the majority of the season (could have played a bit more there in 2018 too) so we could see him develop or fail, at least we'd know if he's an option. After this season I think everyone has gone back in my estimations.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Gotta pick and stick with one. I'd be hesitant about Lucas being full time go to at 10. Let him ride the pine more, covering FB and 10. Stewart 10, Hegarty 15 for starters
gel
Ken Catchpole (46)
Some are just a bit more passionate about some things than others.
I personally am a long way off from where Dru sits - but I can understand why some people might think the way Dru does.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Hegarty is your best current option. For the future? you are about as fucked as the rest of the Aussie franchises.
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
I dont see any benefit in Hegarty playing 10, has he got room to improve? We will get the same results. I would start Lucas, he is young and needs to learn but he seems to have potential to pass Hegarty very quickly in skill level and value to the team.
I would stick with Stewart at 15
The Nomad
Bob Davidson (42)
I think the player you need playing 10 depends where the team is at, you can’t count on him to win you the comp or even slightly more than your fair share without the rest of the team ticking boxes.
Quade has not been the same player since his ACL injury in the 2011 RWC , but he also hasn’t had Digby looming as threat off his shoulder since then either, or Ant Fianga riding shotgun for him (making his tackles) .
This young Reds team, sorry don’t mention the Y word , won’t benefit from rocks or diamonds standing at 10. They all need to grow as a team together.
Quade has not been the same player since his ACL injury in the 2011 RWC , but he also hasn’t had Digby looming as threat off his shoulder since then either, or Ant Fianga riding shotgun for him (making his tackles) .
This young Reds team, sorry don’t mention the Y word , won’t benefit from rocks or diamonds standing at 10. They all need to grow as a team together.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Really?
With only some half baked ephemeral excuse of culture and going a different way one of the highest paid players is left out for the season, in fact not using him in any capacity even as a tackle bag or for opposed training. That is a very sound use of scarce funds.
Then a year later that same culture drive has the exiled three amigo welcomed back into the fold. I'm pretty firmly in the camp that Cooper has not been the same since the knee injury and indeed has been pretty poor in terms of form for most of the year, but this decision always seemed to me to be nothing more than a personal issue between Thorn and Cooper, and nothing has ever been said to challenge that view. Just a horrendous way to piss the contract money up the wall (Copyright RA acknowledgement for the phrase) with zero value, and at the same time achieve the results to justify the decision.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
LearningCurve
Bill Watson (15)
That is correct but a coach who inherits a squad should also make the most of the resources he inherits- look at how different players can be utilised. Thorn could have tapped into QC (Quade Cooper)'s knowledge for the benefit of younger players like Stewart and given him a development role instead of exiling him completely.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
As Thorn said with Hegarty, they hired him as a 15 so wanted him to play him there. Hence Mcgahan moved to 10 which is where they hired him for. I'd start Stewart at 10, then give Lucas the chance to eventually take one of their spots as starting.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Here's my wet blanket opinion on the matter of No 10 (just from an outsider's perspective).
Stewart had ample opportunity to show he could nail down the 10 spot but didn't ever look comfortable or very effective there. He has however been very solid at 15 and certainly a more consistent threat to the defence in that spot than he ever was at 10. I think he should either remain at 15 or be given an opportunity at 12 where he might prove to be the right replacement for Kerevi. Just hasn't shown that touch of creativity required at 10 to run the backline attack.
I really believe Lucas will be found out in 15s when he comes up regularly against the big boys. Certainly was impressive at U20s but mainly at full back. He has some good skills but will always struggle against players many kgs heavier than he is. I don't think he will be a long term option in Super rugby. (I fear the same will eventuate for Noah Lolesio at the Brumbies).
No 10 will continue to be a major concern for all Aussie teams in the near future.
Stewart had ample opportunity to show he could nail down the 10 spot but didn't ever look comfortable or very effective there. He has however been very solid at 15 and certainly a more consistent threat to the defence in that spot than he ever was at 10. I think he should either remain at 15 or be given an opportunity at 12 where he might prove to be the right replacement for Kerevi. Just hasn't shown that touch of creativity required at 10 to run the backline attack.
I really believe Lucas will be found out in 15s when he comes up regularly against the big boys. Certainly was impressive at U20s but mainly at full back. He has some good skills but will always struggle against players many kgs heavier than he is. I don't think he will be a long term option in Super rugby. (I fear the same will eventuate for Noah Lolesio at the Brumbies).
No 10 will continue to be a major concern for all Aussie teams in the near future.