The St George Queensland Reds have named a 38 man full-time training squad for their 2017 season and its one that features a number of returning Reds players.
Scott Higginbotham is the latest big name, returning to Ballymore having departing the Reds for the Rebels back in 2012. Higginbotham got a taste of life back in the fold at the end of last season when he played the NRC for Brisbane City, and will now return to home following his season with the NEC Green Rockets in Japan.
The wide running skillful backrower joins Quade Cooper (finished 2015), Stephen Moore (2008) and Leroy Houston (2011). It is apparent that a strong focus has been on enticing departed Queenslanders back to the home of rugby in the state to contribute to a strong culture across the organisation. Veteran Wallaby backrower George Smith will also be an important factor in this department as he mentors a number of young and exciting players through the squad.
The squad of 38, which includes the mains squad of 30 plus 8 players as part of a wider training (full-time) squad features a number of other new players.
Lachlan Maranta has joined the squad after five years at the Brisbane Broncos. Maranta went to St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace and will play wing and be a potential fullback cover.
19 year old fullback Jayden Ngamanu will part of the training squad, having being born in Perth and moving to Brisbane to complete his schooling just a couple of years ago. Ngamanu has started the last few games of the NRC for Brisbane City and is a real live-wire in attack.
One of the form players of the 2016 NRC, Izaia Perese, will train with the Reds fulltime in 2017. Given his form for Queensland Country, Perese must come under strong consideration for a starting jersey either on the wing or perhaps even at outside centre alongside Samu Kerevi.
After flirting with a move to the Western Force, scrumhalf Moses Sorovi joins the squad alongside James Tuttle as back up for the incumbent scrumhalf, and Wallaby debutant this year, Nick Frisby.
Queensland have on their books a bunch of wonderful backrow talent with a clear focus on strong ball runners, which was an area they have lacked probably since Higginbotham left them all those years ago. Hendrick Tui, Caleb Timu, Houston, Smith and Higginbotham all possess dynamite running games meaning the Reds can field a damn dangerous backrow when they feel the need. The role of mentoring will be crucial to the next generation of stars such as squad members Michael Gunn, Adam Korzyk and 2015 Australian Schoolboys captain, Reece Hewatt.
With locking depth the envy of the other Australian Super Rugby sides, NRC standouts Lukhan Tui and Izack Rodda (both 20) will join test locks Rob Simmons and Kane Douglas plus 2015 signing Cadeyrn Neville.
The prop factory at Ballymore has been working well in recent years and for 2017 the regular faces will be joined by Souths Magpie, and Brisbane City prop Markus Vinzati.
The squad is:
Hookers:
- Stephen Moore
- Andrew Ready
- Alex Mafi
Front Rowers:
- James Slipper
- Sam Talakai
- Sef Fa’agase
- Taniela Tupou
- Pettowa Paraka
- Markus Vanzati
Locks:
- Cadeyrn Neville
- Rob Simmons
- Kane Douglas
- Izack Rodda
- Lukhan Tui
Backrowers:
- Adam Korczyk
- Scott Higginbotham
- Hendrick Tui
- George Smith
- Michael Gunn
- Leroy Houston
- Caleb Timu
- Reece Hewatt
Scrumhalves:
- Nick Frisby
- James Tuttle
- Moses Sorovi
Flyhalves:
- Quade Cooper
- Jake McIntyre
Centres:
- Henry Taefu
- Duncan Paia’aua
- Samu Kerevi
- Campbell Magnay
Wings:
- Izaia Perese
- Lachlan Maranta
- Eto Nabuli
- Chris Feauai-Sautia
- Chris Kuridrani
Fullbacks:
- Karmichael Hunt
- Jayden Ngamanu
The Reds will have a development squad of other players who will be groomed for further playing opportunities, that is a mix of established club players (including Tom Banks), players from the successful QLD Under 20 side of 2016 (Harry Hockings, Angus Scott-Young, Harry Hooper) and current schoolboys (including Will Eadie).
