Reds 2023

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he's actually killing it at club level. He may not be test quality anymore but he's a very good Super Rugby player.

Having JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) as #1 with Creighton #2 and Lynagh following up, that's proper progression there. Lynagh will get game time next year.

I am betting Lynagh will go past Creighton in pecking order by the end of the year

 

[new recruit_ brisbane]

I am betting Lynagh will go past Creighton in pecking order by the end of the year

Relax - he isn't even playing senior footy.

Talented yes - but still a little way off yet.

 

[RugbyReg]

I am betting Lynagh will go past Creighton in pecking order by the end of the year

yep Agreed.

 

[PhilClinton]

he's actually killing it at club level. He may not be test quality anymore but he's a very good Super Rugby player.

Having JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) as #1 with Creighton #2 and Lynagh following up, that's proper progression there. Lynagh will get game time next year.

His club form has honestly been great, I thought he would be a Smokey for the Bleds with Noah and Paisami under doubt, but obviously that ship has sailed.

Hopefully he locks down for the Reds next year and we see him off.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

Relax - he isn't even playing senior footy.

Talented yes - but still a little way off yet.

I reckon there are 7 or 8 clubs that would have him in Prem grade if they had the chance.

I applaud that he is being given time to develop as a player and adjust to life in Aus.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

His club form has honestly been great, I thought he would be a Smokey for the Bleds with Noah and Paisami under doubt, but obviously that ship has sailed.

Hopefully he locks down for the Reds next year and we see him off.

With Rennie showing his intent and RWC being a long shot for JOC (James O'Connor), is it likely JOC (James O'Connor) looks for a big cash role in Japan or Europe?

 

[SouthernX]

UQ have for a long period pillaged players that perform. Regularly make finals series and win a few premierships. This might mean they know how to win (or at least play the game).

fixed it for you.

in all seriousness tho talentfinder you are spot on why UQ players are in the mixer. When you play in bigger games (finals series, Welsby cup, bunter bowls) your more likely to get recognised.

then there is Dane Zander, for whatever reason he decided to leave norths for UQ and his performances are not lifting with better teammates, it probably wise for the reds to try and identify the men with true grit from the talented passengers collecting a pay cheque.

need to start looking for these hard working individuals in club land who can be injected straight into the reds setup.

that’a why I am so excited for the challenger series. It’s going to put some of these off the radar talent from the bottom of the QPR standings with better level of teammates and we will be able to see which players performances are being lifted by others or who’s performances lift others.

 

[PhilClinton]

With Rennie showing his intent and RWC being a long shot for JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor), is it likely JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) looks for a big cash role in Japan or Europe?

I think the Reds had a pretty clear succesion plan in place, let JOC (James O'Connor) guide Lynagh through 2023 before his likely departure. By then (in 2024) hopefully Lynagh good enough to be playing at least off the bench in Super Rugby with the likes of Creighton starting.

You'd think the Reds will want to see that happen, but JOC (James O'Connor) might push for an early release considering he's off the national radar.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

You'd think the Reds will want to see that happen, but JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) might push for an early release considering he's off the national radar.

Do you think JOC (James O'Connor) tries to get a deal in place before the post RWC player movements?

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

fixed it for you.

in all seriousness tho talentfinder you are spot on why UQ players are in the mixer. When you play in bigger games (finals series, Welsby cup, bunter bowls) your more likely to get recognised.

then there is Dane Zander, for whatever reason he decided to leave norths for UQ and his performances are not lifting with better teammates, it probably wise for the reds to try and identify the men with true grit from the talented passengers collecting a pay cheque.

need to start looking for these hard working individuals in club land who can be injected straight into the reds setup.

that’a why I am so excited for the challenger series. It’s going to put some of these off the radar talent from the bottom of the QPR standings with better level of teammates and we will be able to see which players performances are being lifted by others or who’s performances lift others.

Pillaging cuts both ways. Sometimes players make the approach and sometimes the clubs do the recruiting to fill spaces.

Zander moved to be with a coach who "found him" and has supported him for a long time (Luke Oxford ex Norths)

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

fixed it for you.

in all seriousness tho talentfinder you are spot on why UQ players are in the mixer. When you play in bigger games (finals series, Welsby cup, bunter bowls) your more likely to get recognised.

then there is Dane Zander, for whatever reason he decided to leave norths for UQ and his performances are not lifting with better teammates, it probably wise for the reds to try and identify the men with true grit from the talented passengers collecting a pay cheque.

need to start looking for these hard working individuals in club land who can be injected straight into the reds setup.

that’a why I am so excited for the challenger series. It’s going to put some of these off the radar talent from the bottom of the QPR standings with better level of teammates and we will be able to see which players performances are being lifted by others or who’s performances lift others.

Dont forget players leave UQ as well and end up at other QPR clubs

Christians to Brothers this year
Farrell to Souths
Mellor to Sunnybank
UQ lost a lot of colts in past 2 years to other clubs as well - Kalalo (easts), Mapa (brothers),Treasure (Wests) all come to mind.

 

[SouthernX]

Dont forget players leave UQ as well and end up at other QPR clubs

Christians to Brothers this year
Farrell to Souths
Mellor to Sunnybank
UQ lost a lot of colts in past 2 years to other clubs as well - Kalalo (easts), Mapa (brothers),Treasure (Wests) all come to mind.

Yes I was being factious with my comment.

UQ is probably the best recruiting club, they have the record books and leading facilities. They get a lot of negative rep for pillaging juniors from other clubs but end of the day it’s the individual player who ultimately decides to make the switch.

 

[PhilClinton]

Do you think JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) tries to get a deal in place before the post RWC player movements?

Honestly not sure, I can't see him being around in 2024 that's for sure (and he isn't expected to be).

Whether the market is hot for him right now and worth a move I'm not sure.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

Yes I was being factious with my comment.

UQ is probably the best recruiting club, they have the record books and leading facilities. They get a lot of negative rep for pillaging juniors from other clubs but end of the day it’s the individual player who ultimately decides to make the switch.

Until recently they haven't had a Juniors club program. Now that they have aligned with Taylor Bridge and Kenmore Juniors there will be a few long termers develop I am sure.

For the clubs that complain about pillaging I would suggest they look at what attracts players to any particular venue and then work on strengthening that at their club.

For mine it is all about the people involved which drives the culture. UQ has had a long term investment in making sure there are great coaches like Bob Templeton, Jake Howard and Mick Heenan. These men have set the tone at UQ. Other clubs have had greats like Alec Evans, John Connolly, Gary Bird, Grant Batty etc etc etc.

 

[RugbyReg]

Akto suggesting Mick Heenan is joining the Reds coaching squad next year.

Not as the defensive coach apparently though.

 

[Wilson]

Akto suggesting Mick Heenan is joining the Reds coaching squad next year.

Not as the defensive coach apparently though.

There's room for another member of the coaching staff, but it'd probably have to be some variety of technical forwards coach, which Heenan doesn't strike me as. I'm really only familiar with him as a head coach though.

Attack might be more likely, could Jim McKay be moving on? The other option is of course head coach, but it seems more likely they'd bring him in as an assistant to ease him into that role, rather than thrust him straight into it.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

There's room for another member of the coaching staff, but it'd probably have to be some variety of technical forwards coach, which Heenan doesn't strike me as. I'm really only familiar with him as a head coach though.

Attack might be more likely, could Jim McKay be moving on? The other option is of course head coach, but it seems more likely they'd bring him in as an assistant to ease him into that role, rather than thrust him straight into it.

Mick was a second row when he played.

But the biggest piece of information many forget is he lived with and learnt his coaching skills from the great Jake Howard. I am sure plenty of technical gems were passed on to Mick around the "dinner table"

 

[Wilson]

Mick was a second row when he played.

But the biggest piece of information many forget is he lived with and learnt his coaching skills from the great Jake Howard. I am sure plenty of technical gems were passed on to Mick around the "dinner table"

Might be a good fit as a lineout coach then, that's at least where the biggest gap in the staff is (excluding the vacant defence position).

 

[Wilson]

QPR team of the year named:

Take out Grealy (and potentially Smith and Feliuai-Lene if they've signed elsewhere as rumoured) and that's probably a pretty good starting point for the challenger series. May need someone other than Bulley if he's injured and Siakisini may be too limited in availability as well.

 

[RugbyReg]

QPR team of the year named:


Take out Grealy (and potentially Smith and Feliuai-Lene if they've signed elsewhere as rumoured) and that's probably a pretty good starting point for the challenger series. May need someone other than Bulley if he's injured and Siakisini may be too limited in availability as well.

So, based on that, a potential QLD Presidents XV maybe (am removing Van Nek as I assume he either is at the Rebels or the Reds):

15 Cooper Whiteside
14 Kye Oates
13 Dan Boardman
12 Matt Smit
11 Joey Fittock
10 Tayler Adams
9 Eli Pilz
8 Josh Fenner
7 Connor Pritchard
6 Connor Anderson
5 Dan Byrne
4 Ollie Bartlett
3 Rhys Sheriff
2 Ethan Dobbins
1 Emosi Tuqiri

The QLD Reds Development XV could look like anything depending on whether we want to pick the likes of Asiata, Smith, Hoopert etc. Also no idea who plays 7s. It may be one of the Connors above.

15 Lawson Creighton
14 Floyd Aubrey
13 Taj Annan
12 Isaac Henry
11 Mac Grealy
10 Tom Lynagh
9 Kalani Thomaas
8 Keynan Tauakipulu
7
6 Carsen Patu
5 Wilson Blyth
4 Lopeti Faifua
3 Zane Nongorr
2 George Blake
1 Dane Zander