Reds 2021

[emuarse]

The Western Force are now in the Super AU competition for 2021, and they have Twiggy $$ to play with. So players such as CFS, Wood & co are going to be attractive to the west.
Expect some losses of younger players from the Reds clinic as well.

 

[Bobby Sands]

The Western Force are now in the Super AU competition for 2021, and they have Twiggy $$ to play with. So players such as CFS, Wood & co are going to be attractive to the west.
Expect some losses of younger players from the Reds clinic as well.

What’s new?

 

[Cancelled Account]

I reckon Suatia is one of the most under rated Super Rugby players..he is awesome and been in good form and only injury stopped seeing more of him

He is a priority. I like Paisami but you would think CFS would be gifted a contract first. Who knows anymore with some outright stupid contract decisions.

 

[Cancelled Account]

do you both with Hardy when you have Mac Grealy and Dion Samuela coming through the system?

Yep. I’m expecting to see a bit of Grealy in 2021. Another priority signing.

 

[Cancelled Account]

If I were to approach your list pragmatically;

Scott Maloula --> Likely won't be re-signed, not aus eligible
Moses Sorovi --> 50/50, talent and flair up to his eyeballs but hasn't improved the core skills part of his game that much in the years he's been with the Reds
JP Smith -> Ruan is back, would be weird to now not re-sign JP but with Zander and Hoopert is their room for another experienced player?
Sean Farrell --> If Nasser is now a hooker, then Farell (who's heaps talented) won't get a gig. Maybe the Rebels or Force would be a good sport for him
Tom Kibble -> Sounds like a terrible shoulder problem, hopefully the young man comes good but unlikely to be resigned
Josh Nasser -> Apparently now signed as 3rd hooker
Michael Wood -> How do you keep him? If you have Wright, ASY (Angus Scott-Young), LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) who are all more likely to play 6. If he's a lock at Super Rugby level that may help him
David Feao -> Hasn't been seen, and if Ruan Smith is back then I don't see how he could be kept
Tuaina Taii Tualima -> Had some good moments, is probably competing for 1 contract with Wood and Ryan Smith
Jack Hardy -> Failed to impress (and I worry for his knee, I've seen him play live and he starts the game running gingerly)
Chris Feauai-Sautia -> When fit and happy is pretty damaging, will come down to what amount of money he would take to likely be competing with Daugunu and Vunivalu or wearing 23 alot

Yeah I think you’ve nailed it. With funds a bit tight and the first tier signings done across the country, I don’t think we’ll be hearing any more news on new contracts.

 

[Wilson]

He is a priority. I like Paisami but you would think CFS would be gifted a contract first. Who knows anymore with some outright stupid contract decisions.

Paisami has already been re-signed through 2022:

https://reds.rugby/news/2020/07/30/st-george-queensland-reds-re-sign-hunter-paisami-through-2022

 

[Cancelled Account]

I know. Just saying that CFS would have been my priority over Paisami.

 

[PhilClinton]

I hope CFS sticks around. I think he and the Reds have had a good relationship - I know I’d written him off injury wise a few seasons ago and he’s coming back to prove me wrong. The Reds stuck with him and now hopefully he sticks around even if it is for a bit less money, to be part of something good.

 

[PhilClinton]

I know. Just saying that CFS would have been my priority over Paisami.

Totally agree. In a fully fit Reds side in 2021, Paisami likely rides the bench or is even out of the 23 each week. CFS ability to cover 11,13,14 plays in his favour.

 

[The Nomad]

A fully fit and in form CFS is such a weapon , he’s just had limited time as such.

He has so much to offer , but not a decent run at it .

In my mind a higher ceiling than Hunter, just not there enough .

 

[TSR]

Hopefully we can keep both.

 

[Bobby Sands]

do you both with Hardy when you have Mac Grealy and Dion Samuela coming through the system?

I think so, and don't think they are in natural competition to be honest.

Hardy is a big, strong, match ready player - that is able to contribute today and is a very good professional.

He can play wing, fullback, and I assume 13 based on his body shape.

Mac/Samuela are super gifted albeit undersized and untried kids a year out of school who play fullback?

Hardy is also only 21, so he would be a weird one to let go.

But if he wanted to go back to Perth, then I would be for that as I like the idea of Perth producing it's own players.

 

[Adam84]

A fully fit and in form CFS is such a weapon , he’s just had limited time as such.

He has so much to offer , but not a decent run at it .

In my mind a higher ceiling than Hunter, just not there enough .

If he didn’t have the injury issues, he would have had multiple caps as a wallaby.. that’s unfortunately how it goes for some players though

 

[PhilClinton]

How long is Alex Mafi signed for? If Nasser is seen as a legitimate long term prospect then Mafi may find himself out of the 23. I really rate him but his lineout problems have been severe. I think his work rate is better than BPA around the field but if you aren’t hitting those throws then you’re a liability.

 

[Jets]

You'd think Hardy would be a key target for the Force. Local kid who could develop into a quality Super player.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

If he didn’t have the injury issues, he would have had multiple caps as a wallaby.. that’s unfortunately how it goes for some players though

He has a couple. Remember the cross kick pass from QC (Quade Cooper)?

 

[upthereds#!]

How long is Alex Mafi signed for? If Nasser is seen as a legitimate long term prospect then Mafi may find himself out of the 23. I really rate him but his lineout problems have been severe. I think his work rate is better than BPA around the field but if you aren’t hitting those throws then you’re a liability.

But at the end of the day, you need 3 full time professional Hookers in a squad.

With Nasser just starting to learn the trade, that only just gets us to 3 at a stretch. Saia Fainga'a has said he wants to come back to Reds or Brumbies. I'd take him (at the right price)- even at 33 (which is not that old). He would be better off the bench then Nasser or Mafi atm, plus they could all learn a thing or 2 off him

 

[The Nomad]

Think Nasser needs time playing Prem grade regardless of whether he plays prop or hooker.

The idea of playing a position like hooker for the first time in Super Rugby having never played it in senior footy seems a bit nuts , even in the crazy times we find ourselves in .

Packing scrums at training is not quite the same as getting worked over in actual games, same with throwing lineouts .

 

[TSR]

Mafi is too good a player to throw on the scrap heap. He’ll never be the player he could be if he doesn’t get his throwing right, but the rest of his game is right up there.

It’s obviously not as easy to improve as just throwing 1000 throws - you look at guys who go throw their whole professional career and continue to have issues with core skills like throwing, passing & kicking - but I would assume that if they iron out a few technique issues and get his confidence back he can improve a lot from where he is.

I do feel like a lot of it must be confidence and lack of cohesion with his jumpers. I don’t remember it being such a problem for him last year.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Mafi is too good a player to throw on the scrap heap. He’ll never be the player he could be if he doesn’t get his throwing right, but the rest of his game is right up there.

It’s obviously not as easy to improve as just throwing 1000 throws - you look at guys who go throw their whole professional career and continue to have issues with core skills like throwing, passing & kicking - but I would assume that if they iron out a few technique issues and get his confidence back he can improve a lot from where he is.

I do feel like a lot of it must be confidence and lack of cohesion with his jumpers. I don’t remember it being such a problem for him last year.

I feel like alot of our hookers throwing issues stem from an organisational lack of care about the lineout.

I am pretty sure we don't have a lineout coach. Thorn loves scrums, but you don't hear him talk too much about loving lineouts. It's not just lineouts either, the maul (as much as I hate it) is a shambles particularly on defence.

This is not necessarily a criticism, but we need to change this culture a bit.

Hire Ben Mowen as lineout coach in the offseason, and watch our lineout and throwing problems change in 6 months.