Reds 2023

[dru]

I’m not convinced that the result on Saturday was the disaster it first appears, although I still have plenty of concerns.

Putting on my red coloured glasses - I'd take the the first 30 and bank it. Add improvement on what followed, starting with keeping 15 blokes on the field.

 

[new recruit_ brisbane]

Isn't Paisami in this stable? Reds must have some contact I reckon. Think it is more a case of The Big Agent uses the reds as back up and guides his troops elsewhere as a first choice.

Nope Paisami left Piccone so he could stay with the Reds.

 

[Ras]

Putting on my red coloured glasses - I'd take the the first 30 and bank it. Add improvement on what followed, starting with keeping 15 blokes on the field.

After the first 30 it appeared our first up tackles weren't sticking and we had a few passengers/mental errors from there. Hopefully it's as simple as some match fitness and a reving during the week.

 

[SouthernX]

I’m not convinced that the result on Saturday was the disaster it first appears, although I still have plenty of concerns.

Yes agreed.

there was a lot of Warratah fans in the match thread commentating on our downfall but I’m looking forward to seeing how the preseason paper champions (warratahs) go against a Kiwi side and how the Reds stack up against a Australian team.

 

[RugbyReg]

After the first 30 it appeared our first up tackles weren't sticking and we had a few passengers/mental errors from there. Hopefully it's as simple as some match fitness and a reving during the week.

it's a little simplified but factor in this:

33	Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds) is shown a yellow card

Kiwi teams raise their game when they are up by one. You'd think QLD would be better prepared to playing one man down considering how often it happens

 

[Qldtragic]

Nope Paisami left Piccone so he could stay with the Reds.

even after moving into Piccone offices for accommodation when Melb cut him loose.

 

[SouthernX]

even after moving into Piccone offices for accommodation when Melb cut him loose.

Paisami earned his deal in Brisbane by good QPR form which he translated into an even better NRC campaign.

the sleeping on Piccone office couch is a good sound byte/story headline but he was always trending towards picking up a reds deal with or without Brett.

Edit: my apologies this was a contract extension when he left Piccone?

 

[Confucius Say]

I’m not convinced that the result on Saturday was the disaster it first appears, although I still have plenty of concerns.

In pre-season interviews there was specific reference to the Reds having to change their style and a recognition that a safety first, ball retention strategy wasn’t likely to yield results. This is an approach I agree with. However it comes with risk. Not the least that it takes a while to get this sort of game plan to click.

The Hurricanes are the team who have consistently been best at open, high tempo rugby. (The Crusaders style is a bit more traditional, but they are just so good at it, they often look like they are freewheeling while the Blues up until 2 yrs ago have struggled to be successful). On the weekend we tried to outgun them but it backfired. In the last 25 minutes we were completely gassed and we had a number of rookies on. It’s not their fault - the damage was already done - but the Canes got a significant lift from their bench and we went further backwards. However, IMO, it does mean the score line just blew out.

Having said that - changing styles may or may not be necessary - but it doesn’t matter either way if we can’t do it successfully.

My couple of chief concerns -
- if the Canes can run us off our feet, so too can all the other Kiwi teams plus potentially the Drua. We can only hope match fitness brings us up to speed but there needs to be a focus on continuing to keep the tempo of games up
- we need luck with injuries. We just don’t have the depth to be missing 5-6 of our best 23. Unfortunately it is very unlikely in this standard of comp we won’t be regularly missing roughly that number
- having a set piece platform remains as important as ever. I don’t think our starting tight 5 were too bad, but they weren’t good enough. In particular at set piece. I think we particularly need to nail our line out as I think our scum is going to be under pressure and I don’t know if we can fix that in season
- we need better tackle accuracy. Missing tackles just adds to the fatigue and becomes a vicious circle

I’m not sure this is anything more than a list of obvious issues but I have been watching sport long enough to know that first round results are often a very misleading indicator of season success.

So I’m clinging to that. Desperately.

Any team conceding 47 in round 1 is not going to be competitive. Defensive systems can be fixed quickly and so can attitude. But…

Have a look at the intent of the Chiefs v the Crusaders. As a result, conceded 10 points in 80 minutes. Despite Sam Cane getting a yellow at 19 minutes and the Chiefs going down 0-10, they hold until Cane returns at 29m and score at 33m. That is a psychological win right there that the Reds need to prove they can replicate.

But do they have the right mettle?

 

[SouthernX]

Whats everyone opinion of Petaia at fullback?

I think he’s looked great at the position on weekend but knowing the accolades the 2022 incumbent got. J.Campbell earned a wallaby jersey because of a strong 2022 campaign.

Id personally like to see Petaia stay at 15 but what position would that leave for Campbell?

one thing I rate Campbell over Petaia is the ability to put in the full 80 minutes… seems like reds still like to bring JP off around the 60-65 minute mark.

 

[dru]

Whats everyone opinion of Petaia at fullback?

I think he’s looked great at the position on weekend but knowing the accolades the 2022 incumbent got. J.Campbell earned a wallaby jersey because of a strong 2022 campaign.

Id personally like to see Petaia stay at 15 but what position would that leave for Campbell?

one thing I rate Campbell over Petaia is the ability to put in the full 80 minutes… seems like reds still like to bring JP off around the 60-65 minute mark.

Thought Petaia looked pretty comfortable at the back.

Other than injuries, it will depend on how the Reds want to structure the team. I don't see Petaia filling a second playmaker role, and I don't see him particularly taking control of the back line positioning - but maybe I'm wrong there? If we ignore the those matters than it could easily be a case of Petaia taking opportunity while Campbell is injured - and Jock may find it tricky regaining the jersey.

 

[Qldtragic]

Whats everyone opinion of Petaia at fullback?

I think he’s looked great at the position on weekend but knowing the accolades the 2022 incumbent got. J.Campbell earned a wallaby jersey because of a strong 2022 campaign.

Id personally like to see Petaia stay at 15 but what position would that leave for Campbell?

one thing I rate Campbell over Petaia is the ability to put in the full 80 minutes… seems like reds still like to bring JP off around the 60-65 minute mark.

Not sure 15 is his best spot even though he was very solid on Saturday in Townsville.
He is a very strong finisher and elusive runner so I really see him as best value at 14.

TBH the Reds need to give away kicking and return to a ball in hand running game. we have seen glimpses of short passing in the trials and they are good at it and backing up a ball runner.

for mine I would try this combo
9 - Tate McD Thomas as cover
10 - Lynagh JOC (James O'Connor) as a cover / mentor who can fill in around other spots as well if needed 11,12,13,15 his older legs will be great in 20 -30 mins
11 - Daugunu
12 - Henry Paisami covers 12,13,14 from the bench but a planned swap with Henry at 50 mins
13 - Flook
14 - Petaia
15 - Campbell

 

[Wilson]

Any team conceding 47 in round 1 is not going to be competitive. Defensive systems can be fixed quickly and so can attitude. But…

What about a team that goes down 52-10?

 

[dru]

TBH the Reds need to give away kicking and return to a ball in hand running game. we have seen glimpses of short passing in the trials and they are good at it and backing up a ball runner.

I thought most of the kicking duels were advantage Reds. Short passing is good in tight but I'm not sure of it's role in kick return.

 

[LeCheese]

Mamma mia!

 

[wamberal]

I might be in a minority of 1, but I thought Paisami's performance was a bit underwhelming.

 

[Adam84]

Yeah I thought Paisami was average also, outplayed by Henry IMO.
Could be merit in bringing Flook into 13 if Jock Campbell is back this week, shift Petaia to the wing.

 

[Ignoto]

View attachment 15377
Mamma mia!

Got mine aswell! Absolutely love it, even the buttons have that original rubbery feel to them. So we just need it to cool down now to bust'em out.

 

[Silverado]

Yes agreed.

there was a lot of Warratah fans in the match thread commentating on our downfall but I’m looking forward to seeing how the preseason paper champions (warratahs) go against a Kiwi side and how the Reds stack up against a Australian team.

It's a forum. There were lots of reds yucking it up 2 years ago when we had a winless season, and fair end That's how it works in sport. Don't let it worry you. Your time will come again

 

[SouthernX]

It's a forum. There were lots of reds yucking it up 2 years ago when we had a winless season, and fair end That's how it works in sport. Don't let it worry you. Your time will come again

I was just pointing out the criticism on that thread wasn’t really full of red fans but rather warratah fans celebrating in our misery.

don’t worry I have a fine tooth comb ready to go for march 17 when NSW gets it’s first taste against the kiwis.

 

[Silverado]

I was just pointing out the criticism on that thread wasn’t really full of red fans but rather warratah fans celebrating in our misery.

don’t worry I have a fine tooth comb ready to go for march 17 when NSW gets it’s first taste against the kiwis.

OK. Have fun because we were pretty poor too