TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
First Maddocks, now you want LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). Shame NSW is reliant on poaching other teams players and doesn’t develop their own.
Reds 2020
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Finsbury Girl
Trevor Allan (34)
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is in no mans land. I have a massive issues with his work rate to be honest.
Micheal
Alan Cameron (40)
I've always found this argument curious.
What do you think developed Maddocks and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)'s game more?
The 2-4 years that they spent playing at the Rebels and Reds?
Or the 18-21 years they spent playing in NSW systems?
Or the Wallaby environment? That's not attributable to those teams either.
I feel like TSR was being a little bit facetious with his comment.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
He literally just re-signed with the Reds, I’m sure they were in his ear before he re-signed as well, evidentially he preferred to stay
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
No, it's only in your best interest. The Reds have 5 blokes listed as Locks: Rodda, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Hockings, Blyth and Woods. The Waratahs also have 5 listed; Hanigan, Holloway, McCauley, Simmons and Staniforth.
If LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) wants to head back down south, that's not a problem. But, if we do, I'd suggest we need to start adopting a player transfer fee as the Reds have spent time and money developing LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). Why should you down South reap the rewards?
S
Show-n-go
Guest
Does anyone actually know if LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)'s family still lives in Sydney?
The concept that he might want to "return home" might not actually be accurate if they aren't actually in Sydney anymore.
Then I believe he also has a spouse and potentially a young family. In that situation his spouse's family might all be in SEQ and as such moving to Sydney would be moving away from them.
The concept that he might want to "return home" might not actually be accurate if they aren't actually in Sydney anymore.
Then I believe he also has a spouse and potentially a young family. In that situation his spouse's family might all be in SEQ and as such moving to Sydney would be moving away from them.
Silverado
Dick Tooth (41)
Totally agree. In the lock position you have Rodda a a lock (excuse the pun) and Hockings and Blythe as genuine contenders. The back row is a log jam of amazing talent with quite a few possibilities with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) not being one of them
he started playing rugby in 2014. He signed with the Reds in 2015....
So I'd say QUeensland Rugby.
RoffsChoice
Jim Lenehan (48)
The whole thing is nonsense anyway. Most Australian players have benefited from exposure to rugby in different cities, states, and territories. Our players benefit from a wide range of experiences, not from being stuck in one system because "they developed their game more".
B
Bobby Sands
Guest
Hilarious.
S
Show-n-go
Guest
^^^ go on
BDA
Jim Lenehan (48)
Excited about what a new season will bring. Coming off a world cup year could give us a bit of an advantage. With such a young team last year, the large majority of the squad seems relatively unaffected. Most of the other squads seem to have taken pretty significant hits in terms of losing experienced players who were core to their starting side in 2019. The only big loss for Qld is Kerevi, but I think the injection of Petaia, O’Connor and Speight to the side, along with the additional year of experience for our halves probably makes it a slightly stronger back line. The forward pack is largely the same and a number of the guys now have some test rugby experience under their belt. I really think we have a good opportunity of catching a few sides off guard early in the season, starting with a win in Canberra in the first round.
I’m still a little bit concerned that we lack some grey hair in the squad. Our squad’s average age might somehow be younger than last year. It’s a tad concerning when a 22 year old is leading any group of individuals.
All in all, I can’t see us going further than the first week of the final, but I’d like to think we can get there and then make a genuine title tilt next year.
I’m still a little bit concerned that we lack some grey hair in the squad. Our squad’s average age might somehow be younger than last year. It’s a tad concerning when a 22 year old is leading any group of individuals.
All in all, I can’t see us going further than the first week of the final, but I’d like to think we can get there and then make a genuine title tilt next year.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Isn’t the best thing for LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to play for the team he wants to?
Isn’t the best thing for Australian Rugby for the Tahs to improve their recruitment and development of junior locks given they’ve done poorly at it the last 5 years?
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Jokes aside, teams need depth and experience. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is a test player at both lock & 6 and, even at his young age, is one of the most experienced guys we have. He is also the incumbent. For all the promise these young guys have LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) would start ahead of them in the pecking order and it is up to one of those young guys to take his spot.
He clearly has a bond with Thorn too and is a guy who has previously been impacted by issues peripheral to onfield performance. I’d imagine being in an environment which he knows supports him is very important (not saying the Tahs wouldn’t - just that he would already have support structures in place at the Reds).
I can see the argument for the spread of talent in some circumstances - but I don’t presume it is in either Lukhan or the Reds (and therefore Australian Rugby’s) best interests for him to go.
In any case the Tahs have Simmons, Holloway, Wells, Dempsey, Hanigan, Swinton, Tafa, Harris & Hooper. There is enough talent in that group for a competitive back 5.
He clearly has a bond with Thorn too and is a guy who has previously been impacted by issues peripheral to onfield performance. I’d imagine being in an environment which he knows supports him is very important (not saying the Tahs wouldn’t - just that he would already have support structures in place at the Reds).
I can see the argument for the spread of talent in some circumstances - but I don’t presume it is in either Lukhan or the Reds (and therefore Australian Rugby’s) best interests for him to go.
In any case the Tahs have Simmons, Holloway, Wells, Dempsey, Hanigan, Swinton, Tafa, Harris & Hooper. There is enough talent in that group for a competitive back 5.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Show-n-go, there were a number of excellent locks who left the Western Force after their collapse. If NSW was serious about fixing their depth, why didn’t they bring any of them into the squad.
This is also not a new area that NSW has suddenly had a short coming in. The organisation has had ample time to find players to fill any holes they think is required.
This is also not a new area that NSW has suddenly had a short coming in. The organisation has had ample time to find players to fill any holes they think is required.
S
Show-n-go
Guest
was a bit silly chucking this on the reds forum wasn't it, not gonna get many people looking for the betterment of aus rugby
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Precisely.. It’s been a glaring weakness for years for the Tahs and they’ve seemingly made little effort to recruit or develop the next generation of locks like the other teams have despite having the greatest junior base to work from.
Reds have developed LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Rodda, Hockings, Blyth(x2) and Wood in recent years for the 2nd row. It’s clearly a position which Thorn places a lot of emphasis on and has spent a lot of time to develop depth.
Tahs for the ‘betterment’ of Australian Rugby should learn to identify and develop second row talent better, this didn’t happen overnight, its been years in the making.