Some thoughts from this match:
- the key positive for me and in the way I assess things, this was the game when the Reds categorically proved that in their mode of play and (most) skills, they have departed the catastrophic past of the RG era. I will credit the coaching group with that crucial exit (although much, much more is required from this group if they are to deliver back big-enough fan love and multiple victories in some sort of consistent row).
There were glimmers before, only glimmers, but this was a game when these Reds were not overawed, both their attack and defence showed signs of the cohesion and sustained application of skills essential to win games, the team themselves seemed properly motivated and with demonstrated intensity, they could put long phases together against a very good defence, and so on.
A kind of essential rite of passage from over the long harsh tundra of continued 2013-16 coaching incompetence and through many, many very dark nights was affirmed last night. Will this fragile break from the past be sustained?
- having said all that, if these teams were to play once again next weekend, we can likely assume that a team of 'Canes calibre would avoid YCs and not have 3 tries disallowed via their own unforced errors. The Reds benefitted hugely from all these turns of fortune that were not 'ordinary'.
- Kuridrani, Frisby, McIntyre are serious problem players that should not be persisted with until there is evidence they are genuinely improved players (and I have my doubts this will ever occur). If re-used these players will certainly reduce the Reds chances of anything other than a very mediocre season, and this season, with a shocking 17% w-l today after 6 games, could easily still be a disaster in both hard performance and fans-returning terms.
- I still think Moore, Douglas and Smith are borderline value in terms what one hears they are paid and in terms of their contributions after 6 games. I see no real evidence that their avowed 'experience' is proving key to the 2017 Reds. And a Captain that must be replaced after 48 minutes is less than ideal. I would absolutely give Higgers the Captaincy, IMO he did the job well with a lesser team at the Rebels. Moore looks to me not greatly engaged, as though this is all a nice last sojourn back to his family roots.
- Talking Higgers: his terrific performance last night brought back to me one the most glorious Reds rugby memories ever. I was thrilled with what I was seeing under Link in early 2010. For the home game against the Bulls in mid-April 2010 I was in London and had to search high and low for a sports bar showing the game in the early London morning; I nearly found none but just one was finally secured. And then that moment: Genia makes a cunning kick downfield and Higgers brilliantly outruns the 2 Bulls centres over around (from memory) 50 metres to score a fine try that turned the game. The Reds followed that up the next week with a home win v the Stormers and we knew, 'it was on', this team could possibly deliver glory days for us and so it was to prove the very next year.
- why a young H Stewart was not given some minutes at the end really befuddles me. As above, without much better work at 10, only random Reds wins are a possibility. And QC (Quade Cooper) - I'm sorry - is so far this season 'not what his greatest fans hoped for' to put it gently.
- One thing I do love about Stiles is this: he speaks his mind, does not snort out the ludicrous, dishonest PC shit we used to get from Graham, he states accurately where and how the team have not performed and is totally frank about it even if his words imply criticism of both himself and certain players. This is a fine quality in an HC and will build respect inside the team.
- minor aside: I really doubt there were 17,000 odd fans there, Suncorp looked less than than 33% full even allowing for the fact that there would have been a solid Brisbane-based Kiwi attendance. In 2015 it was widely known the declared Reds' crowd numbers were 'helped along'; I hope that dishonesty (so typical of the Graham era in values terms) has not re-surfaced.
