Reds 2020

[Finsbury Girl]

Ponga was on a rugby league scholarship since he was 11. He played rugby for a couple of years at high school while on a Broncos scholarship and while playing rugby league for Easts in Brisbane. He signed a 4 year rugby league contract when he was 15.

He never got away. He was never "ours"

Ah I see, I only had heard about him playing proper footy @ Churchie.

I guess there's no accounting for taste.

And playing for Easts? He could've at least chosen a decent club like the mighty Devils!

EDIT: I should add, that I'm happy at least he's playing for the good guys

Surely a few Kangaroo caps await as well.

 

[VassMan]

Doesn't he want to do a Thorn and play for the All Blacks as well later on?

 

[Dctarget]

Angus Crichton is the one from last night that got away (not from the Reds though). Went to school with Jack Maddocks in the same year, grew up aspiring to be a Wallaby. Always whispers that he's eyeing a return, but he's now a regular for NSW in the SOO, so don't expect him back anytime soon.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

As an aside, I wonder how many potential players and spectators have turned away from our sport because they are called "mungos"

Ha ha, I played with heaps of blokes who played both, I've played both ; it's all a bit of harmless banter. I've been called worse from league peeps, that's for sure.

 

[Show-n-go]

Angus Crichton is the one from last night that got away (not from the Reds though). Went to school with Jack Maddocks in the same year, grew up aspiring to be a Wallaby. Always whispers that he's eyeing a return, but he's now a regular for NSW in the SOO, so don't expect him back anytime soon.

And Cameron Murray

 

[Strewthcobber]

If you go through it over the last few years I reckon we've picked up way more guys who started their career in league, then they have picked off genuinly union focused schoolboys.

Even Timu from a couple of posts above

 

[The Nomad]

Sadly you are correct VassMan, Ponga has been quoted as saying IF he switched to rugby it would be to play for the ABs.

Would imagine he would be pretty happy with how things are going for him at the moment.

From last night's SOO , Tyson Frizell is a former Aussie Schoolboy as well , played 12 I believe. His brother Shannon has had a run in Super Rugby for the Highlanders and has a couple of AB caps I think.

 

[RedsHappy]

As an aside, I wonder how many potential players and spectators have turned away from our sport because they are called "mungos"

That's a very astute comment.

I recall when I first come on to these boards in 2010, the patronising, condescending comments and general tone re League and 'the mungos' were nearly deafening. I didn't particularly like League but I didn't care for these attitudes and of course it's the NRL that's absolutely had the last laugh, its superior organisation, games format and far better holistic marketing has played a role (amongst many others) in virtually decimating Australian rugby which has been managed to far lower standards of competence and insight for decades.

If we look more deeply at this streak of patronising elitism in Australian rugby it was partly responsible for gifting League a foothold when League broke away from rugby here eons ago - the toffs of the amatuer code could not imagine League ever succeeding without their 'breeding' and 'innately superior' game. The rest, as they say, is history.

This deeply ingrained elitism - express and implied - at the unconscious heart of Australian rugby's governance still dominates the governing bodies of Australian rugby today, and it's crucial to understand this truth.

Witness: the love of 'senior well-connected bankers' like the hapless Clyne at RA and Davis at NSWRU to chair Australian rugby RUs (the trained-in arrogance and 'superiority' of which as a class was so expertly uncovered by Commissioner Hayne), the unspeakable elitist arrogance of, for example, the QRU board in forsaking fans' interests for their pet 'good mates' projects in the likes of R Graham as a profoundly failed HC of the Reds (and look at the horrendous consequences accruing today), the callous self-centred monetary greed of John O'Neill and the then ARU board's appalling indulgence of him at the expense of the game's financial needs, and so on.

The evidence of deeply ingrained attitudes of Australian rugby's supervisory elitism and self-designated superiority coupled with the years of manifest disdain for the 'lower' stakeholders of Australian rugby, is legion.

The tragic yet inexorable results of these embedded and self-repeating cultures are there, in 2019, for all to see.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Isn't Michael Wood a Lock wasn't that where he was playing in Under 20, he has some absolute drive through legs though

Wood, McReight, & Wilson all play together at Brothers.

Add in Faessler too who is a very good hooker.

The connection is strong in those men. Bodes well for the Red men.

 

[upthereds#!]

Wood is listed @ 192cm & 103kg
Wilson is listed @ 195cm & 106kg

Whilst Wood is playing lock, I think that this is only happening at this level as Wilson is preferred 6 with Harris at 8 (194cm) which still gets 3 tall guys plus giant Hosea. Wood is definitely a 6 if that really is his height. Tough for him behind ASY (Angus Scott-Young) and Wilson.

Must admit I won't be surprised to see Wood benched in u20 for new giant Brumbies (ex saders) lock Nick Frost. Even bench will be tough with big Rebel Haangana there also.

 

[Ignoto]

With Higgers and Timu leaving this season, who's playing 8? Would you say ASY (Angus Scott-Young) has first rights over it, it'd then allow LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to be pushed out to 6 with Rodda and Blyth/Hockings in the locks.

 

[Tomikin]

Wood is listed @ 192cm & 103kg
Wilson is listed @ 195cm & 106kg

Whilst Wood is playing lock, I think that this is only happening at this level as Wilson is preferred 6 with Harris at 8 (194cm) which still gets 3 tall guys plus giant Hosea. Wood is definitely a 6 if that really is his height. Tough for him behind ASY (Angus Scott-Young) and Wilson.

Must admit I won't be surprised to see Wood benched in u20 for new giant Brumbies (ex saders) lock Nick Frost. Even bench will be tough with big Rebel Haangana there also.

Yeah size rates as a 6 not a lock, but from the look of the chap in the 30 mins I watched, he was a damaging ball runner who always made meters after contact. Only thing I would think is Frost could add some weight in the scrum, which got belted.

 

[liquor box]

As an aside, I wonder how many potential players and spectators have turned away from our sport because they are called "mungos"

none, they cant read

I seriously don't think any would have turned away.

 

[The Nomad]

Think we have contributed to perception of losing young talent to league by the way our schools often chase talented young RL players to "compliment/ augment " their rugby programs. A lot of these lads who are "lost" to league after finishing school and completing their First XV commitments were never ours to lose in the first place.

In terms of crowds , I was at the game last night, great crowd, great atmosphere and what a cash cow for the NRL.

Can remember being at the Reds v Tahs game at Suncorp in the lead up the RWC in 2003 along with 42000 other people.

How things have changed.

 

[Adam84]

Isn't Michael Wood a Lock wasn't that where he was playing in Under 20, he has some absolute drive through legs though

Yeah he is playing lock, but I think we will see him shift towards the back row at some point.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Kerevi not giving too much away on rugby.com.au

Not sure who it's up to if not him though?

But his future is a topic that's off limits for now.

"I can't speak too much about it," he said.

"I'm just focused on this week and all that stuff will come in due time.

"It's not in my powers to be honest, it's not up to me."

 

[The Nomad]

Have heard he is gone.

Reds have topped out on payments , RA aren't prepared to add anymore ( or not enough ) to what he is already on. Effectively has him on a lower level/priority than Beale, which I certainly can't reconcile. Maybe he needs to be wearing sky blue to be rated that highly?

Sad thing for Reds and supporters is he would have stayed.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Have heard he is gone.

Reds have topped out on payments , RA aren't prepared to add anymore ( or not enough ) to what he is already on. Effectively has him on a lower level/priority than Beale, which I certainly can't reconcile. Maybe he needs to be wearing sky blue to be rated that highly?

Sad thing for Reds and supporters is he would have stayed.

His form is irresistible at the moment and he's the best Super Rugby player in the country but never quite done it at test level yet.

Wish these negotiations were happening in December. A great test season under his belt and RA would find the money

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Have heard he is gone.

Reds have topped out on payments , RA aren't prepared to add anymore ( or not enough ) to what he is already on. Effectively has him on a lower level/priority than Beale, which I certainly can't reconcile. Maybe he needs to be wearing sky blue to be rated that highly?

Sad thing for Reds and supporters is he would have stayed.

RA statement is based on what? Do you know the terms of his offer or KBs for that matter?

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Have heard he is gone.

Reds have topped out on payments , RA aren't prepared to add anymore ( or not enough ) to what he is already on. Effectively has him on a lower level/priority than Beale, which I certainly can't reconcile. Maybe he needs to be wearing sky blue to be rated that highly?

Sad thing for Reds and supporters is he would have stayed.

GG Raelene