Reds 2023

[Adam84]

I’d describe him as Hodge-esque, which some may misinterpret as an insult but I mean it as a reflection of his positive traits of his all round skill set, but mostly a big bodied(when he grows into it) ball player.

in saying that I haven’t watched too much of him either, he missed a lot of rugby last year.

 

[new recruit_ brisbane]

This has to be a piss take, right?

You are defending Thorn on the basis that individualism and unique efforts should not be stiffed? Bwaahaha!

I’ve come to learn to take what ever “TalentFinder” posts with an extremely tiny grain of rice. Bit my tongue for way too long.
Its contradictory and bias - no matter what thread.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

For those that have seem him play at school a fair bit, or even this year in grades, what does Taj Annan bring to the table? I can't work out what sort of footballer he is, albeit I haven't seen enough of him to truly judge. Does he have a particular aspect of the game that really stands out?

Watched him closely since he was 13 years old.
Good solid club level footballer at best with some more experience / development.
My take is his skills are solid but his mental application is way off. Drops his bundle easily, switches off and makes dumb decisions too regularly.
Hasn't really found "his" position yet. Seen him play 15,14, 12, 10 but yet to own any of them.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

I’ve come to learn to take what ever “TalentFinder” posts with an extremely tiny grain of rice. Bit my tongue for way too long.
Its contradictory and bias - no matter what thread.

keep following the leader and hope to end up in a different spot.

 

[SouthernX]

.
Hasn't really found "his" position yet. Seen him play 15,14, 12, 10 but yet to own any of them.

This point.

we need Taj some time to develop at one spot and see how he goes at next level.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

This point.

we need Taj some time to develop at one spot and see how he goes at next level.

If I was to make a suggestion it would be at 15. Has a great long kick and his height gives him some comfort under the high ball.

I liken him to a Roger Gould type and would like to see him join a backline from the back, straight and hard running into gaps.

 

[PhilClinton]

Quite funny, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) held a going away party on the weekend as he was due to take a holiday before going to setup overseas. Now it looks like he's going to be running out for the Wallabies this weekend, unexpected even for him.

Is this a double egg-in-face moment for Thorn. Obviously the Quade scenario is well documented, and now with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) still in the Wallabies picture (granted after a number of injuries) it makes the stuff going on at the Reds look even worse.

Can the Reds afford to be leaving current Wallabies out of their team for any game? Definitely not.

 

[LeCheese]

Quite funny, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) held a going away party on the weekend as he was due to take a holiday before going to setup overseas. Now it looks like he's going to be running out for the Wallabies this weekend, unexpected even for him.

Is this a double egg-in-face moment for Thorn. Obviously the Quade scenario is well documented, and now with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) still in the Wallabies picture (granted after a number of injuries) it makes the stuff going on at the Reds look even worse.

Can the Reds afford to be leaving current Wallabies out of their team for any game? Definitely not.

Could the argument be made that if the 2018 Quade saga had not happened, neither would have his recent redemption arc? From what I've observed of Quade's footy (and the curated insights into his personality on socials) over those three/four years, I'm of the view that maybe it wouldn't have. By making the right decision at the time, Thorn was ultimately proven wrong - the Quade Paradox™

 

[PhilClinton]

Could the argument be made that if the 2018 Quade saga had not happened, neither would have his recent redemption arc? From what I've observed of Quade's footy (and the curated insights into his personality on socials) over those three/four years, I'm of the view that maybe it wouldn't have. By making the right decision at the time, Thorn was ultimately proven wrong - the Quade Paradox™

Yeh I definitely wasn't in the camp that Thorn had ruined the Reds by doing what the did, especially considering Quade's form for Souths crumbled in the back end of the season.

Quade has been very good at building his personal brand over the last few years, how much of that factors into his perception as a footy player is quite interesting.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

If I was to make a suggestion it would be at 15. Has a great long kick and his height gives him some comfort under the high ball.

I liken him to a Roger Gould type and would like to see him join a backline from the back, straight and hard running into gaps.

ooof there is a nice call back, I love it.

I think we can understand the Hodge comparison without it being an insult. I feel for Hodge at times as I think it's what's between the ears that lets him down not his skills & attributes.

Would love to see him left in 1 position for a big chunk of time in 1st grade.

Rae Rae

 

[drewprint]

Quite funny, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) held a going away party on the weekend as he was due to take a holiday before going to setup overseas. Now it looks like he's going to be running out for the Wallabies this weekend, unexpected even for him.

Is this a double egg-in-face moment for Thorn. Obviously the Quade scenario is well documented, and now with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) still in the Wallabies picture (granted after a number of injuries) it makes the stuff going on at the Reds look even worse.

Can the Reds afford to be leaving current Wallabies out of their team for any game? Definitely not.

Is he in good enough shape/health? I know he’s been playing Prems for Souths (go Magpies!) but I noticed he didn’t play in this weekends game vs Brothers.

 

[PhilClinton]

Is he in good enough shape/health? I know he’s been playing Prems for Souths (go Magpies!) but I noticed he didn’t play in this weekends game vs Brothers.

Because he was a the pub! I think he had already played his last game for Souths and assumed he'd be jet setting off this week, so missing the Brothers game isn't indicative of his fitness.

Whether or not he would have been included in the original Wallabies squad had he been staying in Super Rugby I am not sure, his form hasn't exactly been begging for selection at that level and I assume he wasn't included in the Aussie A group because he was heading overseas.

 

[liquor box]

If I was to make a suggestion it would be at 15. Has a great long kick and his height gives him some comfort under the high ball.

I liken him to a Roger Gould type and would like to see him join a backline from the back, straight and hard running into gaps.

I think if he wants to play for the Reds that he should choose a different position, 15 is pretty tied up at the moment, unless Campbell and Petaia are injured at the same time I doubt he would get a shot at 15 for a significant period of time.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

I think if he wants to play for the Reds that he should choose a different position, 15 is pretty tied up at the moment, unless Campbell and Petaia are injured at the same time I doubt he would get a shot at 15 for a significant period of time.

he is 19 so has plenty of time to work into it. A couple more years and those fellas might be onto other options.

 

[Adam84]

Quite funny, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) held a going away party on the weekend as he was due to take a holiday before going to setup overseas. Now it looks like he's going to be running out for the Wallabies this weekend, unexpected even for him.

Is this a double egg-in-face moment for Thorn. Obviously the Quade scenario is well documented, and now with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) still in the Wallabies picture (granted after a number of injuries) it makes the stuff going on at the Reds look even worse.

Can the Reds afford to be leaving current Wallabies out of their team for any game? Definitely not.

Its certainly not a form selection, its based on experience IMO, which isn’t wrong given the injuries. I think Smith would have been called up if he weren’t in Fiji with Australia A.

 

[Wilson]

Michael Atkinson has Luke Jones coming to the Reds:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1547056135366410242

About time we heard some positive news, seems like a really good fit for the experience we lost. Really did not expect it when I threw the name out there a month or so ago, but I'll claim it anyway:

I think Luke Jones is off contract with Racing, he'd be a great get but seems unlikely to come back to Australia without Rugby Australia money. Could try for an experienced option like Hugh Pyle if he was looking to come back to Australia to round out his career. Not sure how long he's contracted to Toshiba for though.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Michael Atkinson has Luke Jones coming to the Reds:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1547056135366410242

About time we heard some positive news, seems like a really good fit for the experience we lost. Really did not expect it when I threw the name out there a month or so ago, but I'll claim it anyway:

Good signing with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) & Scott Young leaving.

Uru, Smith, Wright, McReight, Wilson, Blyth & Jones is a good group of 2nd Row/Back Row

Rae Rae

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah happy with that. First player with Super Rugby experience we've signed since JOC (James O'Connor)?

 

[Adam84]

Good news, I’ve always rated him as a Super Rugby player. High work rate, not so much of an impact player though.

Hopefully can help sort the lineout

 

[Ignoto]

yeah happy with that. First player with Super Rugby experience we've signed since JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)?

Didn't Richie Asiasta have 'some' Super experience with us before he went to MLR?