Reds v Waratahs - Sat 15th Mar - Suncorp

[PhilClinton]

In the other thread it sounds like it was actually lower ratings than the same game last year.

 

[Adam84]

1k more based on national average..

the national reach figure is a bit of an iffy one to reference I think

 

[Tomthumb]

I’m sorry but what has Les Kiss done with the Reds to earn this moniker as some world class coach any better than McKellar or Larkham. Has been a coach for 20 years and won nothing with a career win rate of sub 50%. Took over a Reds team that make the QF and proceed to take them to the…QF (in which they got embarrassed)

McKellar deserves more time with this team. No team captained by Hugh Sinclair is anywhere near winning a comp, even with Rod Macqueen coaching them

 

[PhilClinton]

I’ve never actually said Kiss is a world class coach anywhere in this thread and I’ve never advocated for him to be the Wallabies coach on these forums, but I have pointed out for a long time that RA seem to think he’s their man.

The hill I’m happy to die on is that I think McKellar isn’t a very good coach at Super Rugby level or above. I’m happy to say my opinion is Kiss is the superior coach, but I’d still see him as a massive step down from Schmidt if he gets selected for the Wallabies.

 

[fatprop]

Kiss has built cohesion and structure at the Reds, this is what Schmidt has done at the Wobs

 

[Tomthumb]

How is Kiss a better coach? I’d love to know, because outside of him being mates with Joe Schmidt, no one seems to be able to point to any evidence of this

 

[Tomthumb]

Kiss has built cohesion and structure at the Reds, this is what Schmidt has done at the Wobs

Really? Where was it in the QF last year? Or past week vs the Crusaders

Schmidt took over a team that didn’t make it out of the pool stage of a World Cup and had them looking super dangerous by the end of the year

Kiss took a Reds team that lost a close QF, and led them to be embarrassed in a QF

 

[PhilClinton]

Does McKellar know his mates run GAGR accounts?

 

[Tomthumb]

Did he steal your girlfriend or something? I think neither he nor Sir Les Kiss have proven themselves. But McKellar coming a drop kick away from a super rugby final shows probably he’s not the dunce you think he is

That was the Tahs first loss this year. They are at the start of a build, Reds are 5 years into it

 

[Adam84]

I think everyone just needs to chill out a bit, there’s some outrageous comments going both ways.

Regardless of what happened in the QF the Reds 2024 season was significantly improved on 2023 by a whole variety of metrics, as is the Tahs 2025 season an improvement on 2024.

if we’re going to pick out a single game to measure a coaches performance, then let’s not discuss the Wallabies vs Argentina match

 

[molman]

Does McKellar know his mates run GAGR accounts?

That's rather Ad Hominem. I don't think it's unfair to ask what evidence someone is using to backup their position.

Kiss has built cohesion and structure at the Reds, this is what Schmidt has done at the Wobs

He's a step up from the Thorn era. Thorn never had the depth of coaching experience which became evident when he hit his ceiling, but he did do well to bind a cohesive group together, helping bring through many of the Qld Country players. I'm not sure that Kiss has built cohesion per-say as much as inherited a lot (see my earlier post), but there does seem to be better clarity in how they're playing, performing their roles.

 

[fatprop]

Really? Where was it in the QF last year? Or past week vs the Crusaders

Schmidt took over a team that didn’t make it out of the pool stage of a World Cup and had them looking super dangerous by the end of the year

Kiss took a Reds team that lost a close QF, and led them to be embarrassed in a QF

Open your eyes, they are playing organised effective rugby

That doesn't ever mean that they are the complete efficient winning rugby team or that they can't be beaten by a better side

We have Super Rugby teams at different moments on the development plan

The ponies - our most effective program
The reds - a few years into into building an effective program
The tahs & force - trying to build an effective program

But we have good coaches across the lot of them, each seemingly coaching to a plan

 

[PhilClinton]

Did he steal your girlfriend or something? I think neither he nor Sir Les Kiss have proven themselves. But McKellar coming a drop kick away from a super rugby final shows probably he’s not the dunce you think he is

That was the Tahs first loss this year. They are at the start of a build, Reds are 5 years into it

McKellar’s next premiership will be coaching the Boonah Bandicoots 3rd grade when he gets the boot from the Tahs.

Here’s to the upcoming Kiss dynasty. QLDer.

Over and out.

 

[dru]

The comments appearing here around McKellar and Kiss have strayed into the bizarre. Think I'll slot back to this:

A lot of people on here shitting on tupou but i actually thought it was one of, if not his best performance around the park this season.

That frame posted by Adam was concerning, but I fully agree (that Tupou performance was up). To me Tupou has been very flat but last night he started showing what he can do. A definite step in the right direction for me.

I thought the tahs were really good for the first 20 minutes ...

This. I was very quiet in the opening 20. Tahs just looked to have this game in hand. One thing that the Reds must improve is the exit. Setting up an opposition lineout a few inches past the 22m line just can not keep happening.

 

[emuarse]

Very good gear from the Reds socials:
View attachment 21236

WAs this picture taken just after Mc Reight scored & Anderson jumped on him to celebrate & damaged his shoulder?

 

[Wilson]

It was taken after McReight scored that try, I don't think Anderson's celebration damaged his shoulder though, I think he does it in the act of scoring when he lands heavily on it.

 

[Adam84]

A bit busted today

 

[stillmissit]

Dunno. As an outsider to the Tahs, I think Losing Gordon & Sua'ali'i has a bigger impact on that backline than Flook & Campbell at the Reds.

But my question remains about Kiss: how can you throw so much criticism at McKellar for their first loss of the season when the Red's loss last week against the Crusaders was just as bad, especially given the variables like it been Kiss's 2nd season in charge? That's what's confusing me about this commentary, laying into McKellar for the first loss of the season, but excusing other coaches like Kiss.

I disagree with Adam to some extent. The problem with the Tahs and most Super Rugby Au teams is that they don't travel well, and I'm not sure why that is. Away games are ~50% of the season. As pro players, they need to be able to win away a reasonable percentage of the time, or the season is cooked before you start. It is all in the top 2".
Needs some major focus by a smart sports psychologist. I

 

[The Red Baron]

A bit busted today
View attachment 21246

Must have been the part of his head that hit the turf.

 

[emuarse]

I’m sorry but what has Les Kiss done with the Reds to earn this moniker as some world class coach any better than McKellar or Larkham. Has been a coach for 20 years and won nothing with a career win rate of sub 50%. Took over a Reds team that make the QF and proceed to take them to the…QF (in which they got embarrassed)

McKellar deserves more time with this team. No team captained by Hugh Sinclair is anywhere near winning a comp, even with Rod McQueen coaching them

I think the fact that Joe Scmidt has a high esteem of Kiss's coaching methods says a lot.