Reds 2023

[Adam84]

Will the set-piece role be assumed into one of those positions, or are they still recruiting for that?

none jump out as strong scrum coaches, and given the weakness of the Reds props and hookers in recent seasons id say it's a critical role to be filled

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

Will the set-piece role be assumed into one of those positions, or are they still recruiting for that?

none jump out as strong scrum coaches, and given the weakness of the Reds props and hookers in recent seasons id say it's a critical role to be filled

No more fulltime additions to the coaching panel I believe.

So my reading between the lines is
1. Brad Thorn will take a more hands on role around scrums and lineouts - (Lillicrap has moved on)
2. Technical specialists will be brought in from time to time to work on particular issues as they arise. ( ie Alec Evans, John Connolly etc)

 

[The Whisperer]

Australia A squad named for Japan series today at midday with some wallaby members expected to be named.
That will give us an idea about who will run around in the Development XV games.

So given the squad announcement, the Development team may look something like this. Not sure how they’ll fill the blanks. Either academy or QPR players.

1. Dane Zander
2. Matt Faessler
3. Sef Fa’agase
4. Angus Blyth
5. Lopeti Faifua (Might still be injured)
6. Keynan Tauakipulu
7. Nick Baker
8.
9. Kalani Thomas
10. Tom Lynagh
11. Floyd Aubrey
12. Lawson Creighton
13.
14. Kye Oates
15. Mac Grealy
RESERVES
16. George Blake
17.
18. Zane Nongoor
19. Wilson Blyth
20.
21. Spencer Jeans
22. Taj Annan
23.

Unsure who else is in the academy that would play. Assume Aus 20s guys would play too so Max Craig, Louis Werchon, Taine Riori

 

[LeCheese]

No more fulltime additions to the coaching panel I believe.

So my reading between the lines is
1. Brad Thorn will take a more hands on role around scrums and lineouts - (Lillicrap has moved on)
2. Technical specialists will be brought in from time to time to work on particular issues as they arise. ( ie Alec Evans, John Connolly etc)

Don't mind this approach in theory, but it will have to be well managed. The issue with bringing in specialists as needed is that it's reactive rather than proactive, and also doesn't help on the continuity/consistency front.

 

[dru]

It's god that QRU are creating pathways for Aussie coaching talent. Wish the best for Blake and Heenan.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

It's god that QRU are creating pathways for Aussie coaching talent. Wish the best for Blake and Heenan.

Yet to be convinced about Blake though.

Ex RL and a journeyman / opportunist. For mine he will be a short term appointment at Reds (less than 2 years)

 

[RugbyReg]

So given the squad announcement, the Development team may look something like this. Not sure how they’ll fill the blanks. Either academy or QPR players.

1. Dane Zander
2. Matt Faessler
3. Sef Fa’agase
4. Angus Blyth
5. Lopeti Faifua (Might still be injured)
6. Keynan Tauakipulu
7. Nick Baker
8.
9. Kalani Thomas
10. Tom Lynagh
11. Floyd Aubrey
12. Lawson Creighton
13.
14. Kye Oates
15. Mac Grealy
RESERVES
16. George Blake
17.
18. Zane Nongoor
19. Wilson Blyth
20.
21. Spencer Jeans
22. Taj Annan
23.

Unsure who else is in the academy that would play. Assume Aus 20s guys would play too so Max Craig, Louis Werchon, Taine Riori

Connor Anderson will be there apparently. Cooper Whiteside too it would seem.

 

[PhilClinton]

Unsure who else is in the academy that would play. Assume Aus 20s guys would play too so Max Craig, Louis Werchon, Taine Riori

Any relation to Ed Craig?

 

[RugbyReg]

Any relation to Ed Craig?

no.

 

[PhilClinton]

no.

Damn. Was hoping we might see daddy return to the forums.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

Any relation to Ed Craig?

Simon Craig - East Prem Grade assistant coach.

 

[SouthernX]

Simon Craig - East Prem Grade assistant coach.

Son is Aus u20 Max Craig - hooker just like Ed Craig

 

[dru]

Yet to be convinced about Blake though.

Ex Rugby League and a journeyman / opportunist. For mine he will be a short term appointment at Reds (less than 2 years)

Sure but that can be said of anyone coming in to this sort of role. I don't get the point of your distinction "journeyman/opportunist" in coaching staff. If it was a career choice you'd need to be pretty flexible. Or lucky.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

Sure but that can be said of anyone coming in to this sort of role. I don't get the point of your distinction "journeyman/opportunist" in coaching staff. If it was a career choice you'd need to be pretty flexible. Or lucky.

I feel he was very lucky and standing at the right place at the right time to commence a career in Rugby UNION coaching. 1 year assitant coach Southern Sydney and 4 seasons at Manly in Shute Shield before a call up by Robbie Deans

All his exposure prior was to mungo ball (RL). Only that Robbie Deans was looking for a defensive coach that got him a start. There was a train of thought at the time that the leaguies "knew" how to tackle and run defensive patterns better than RU traditionalists.

He then went on to other professional outfits Western Force, Leicester Tigers) and bounced back to Shute Shield sides a bit. Southern Suburbs, Manly and Sydney Uni have all had him in roles previously. He is definitely not what you would call a RU stalwart.

He is flexible that is for sure, even when in RL as a player he had many homes. 5 clubs - manly, st george, north sydney, auckland and south sydney. Plus Warrington and Wigan in the UK.

 

[dru]

I feel he was very lucky...

It reads as a reasonable background to me. Let's see how he goes with Brad.

 

[fatprop]

Blake's career path is interesting, he was on Dean's wobs crew in 2010 and has regularly applied for the head coach role since

i hope he kills it in every game except playing the Tahs

In 2006 Blake began his rugby union coaching career as assistant coach of the Southern Districts first grade side. He joined Manly as head coach a year later.[10] Blake suffered from a series of potentially life-threatening blood clots in 2008 and spent some time in hospital.[11][12] In 2010, he underwent triple heart bypass surgery.[13]

After taking Manly into the semi-finals in 2010, Blake was appointed as defence and skills coach to the Wallabies under head coach Robbie Deans.[10] He joined the Western Force as defence and skills coach for the 2011 season.[10] When Richard Graham was stood down as head coach of the Force during the 2012 season, Blake became the interim head coach before Michael Foley was appointed for the 2013 season.[14][15]

Blake returned to Manly as head coach in 2013.[16] In 2014, he was appointed as head coach of the North Harbour Rays for the inaugural National Rugby Championship season.[17] However, on 2 June 2014 it was announced that he had been appointed as defence coach for Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership.[18][19] Blake incurred a six-month ban from rugby for breaching RFU betting rules after placing eight separate bets on two Tigers games while he was the defence coach at the club.[

 

[Lindommer]

He is flexible that is for sure, even when in Rugby League as a player he had many homes. 5 clubs - manly, st george, north sydney, auckland and south sydney. Plus Warrington and Wigan in the UK.

Six. You missed Canberra.

 

[liquor box]

I feel he was very lucky and standing at the right place at the right time to commence a career in Rugby UNION coaching. 1 year assitant coach Southern Sydney and 4 seasons at Manly in Shute Shield before a call up by Robbie Deans

All his exposure prior was to mungo ball (Rugby League). Only that Robbie Deans was looking for a defensive coach that got him a start. There was a train of thought at the time that the leaguies "knew" how to tackle and run defensive patterns better than RU traditionalists.

He then went on to other professional outfits Western Force, Leicester Tigers) and bounced back to Shute Shield sides a bit. Southern Suburbs, Manly and Sydney Uni have all had him in roles previously. He is definitely not what you would call a RU stalwart.

He is flexible that is for sure, even when in Rugby League as a player he had many homes. 5 clubs - manly, st george, north sydney, auckland and south sydney. Plus Warrington and Wigan in the UK.

So what you are saying is that he is extremely experienced and has been exposed a multitude of different coaching methods and techniques and is highly sought after?

Seems good to me.

 

[Wilson]

So given the squad announcement, the Development team may look something like this. Not sure how they’ll fill the blanks. Either academy or QPR players.

1. Dane Zander
2. Matt Faessler
3. Sef Fa’agase
4. Angus Blyth
5. Lopeti Faifua (Might still be injured)
6. Keynan Tauakipulu
7. Nick Baker
8.
9. Kalani Thomas
10. Tom Lynagh
11. Floyd Aubrey
12. Lawson Creighton
13.
14. Kye Oates
15. Mac Grealy
RESERVES
16. George Blake
17.
18. Zane Nongoor
19. Wilson Blyth
20.
21. Spencer Jeans
22. Taj Annan
23.

Unsure who else is in the academy that would play. Assume Aus 20s guys would play too so Max Craig, Louis Werchon, Taine Riori

With some gaps in the backrow (and lock if Faifua is injured) I wonder if we might see Luke Jones get a run to kick start his integration into the side. There's a decent chance he ends up the new lineout caller so it'd be great to get him up to speed quickly.

 

[RugbyReg]

Is he in town do you know?