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Reds 2020

Tomikin

Simon Poidevin (60)
Don't know the story behind Ikitau and Noah , but Pasitoa was offered a Reds contract . Have heard it was basically the same terms that he accepted with the Brumbies. Got to remember he showed up here as a 16 year old from WA, not exactly a diehard Qlder and must like what he sees down in Canberra.

Wasn't he offered some kinda extra payment, from wealthy benefactors to go to Canberra ? Or was that on offer for the Reds to sign him as well

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...ensation-reesjan-pasitoa-20181217-p50mso.html
 

The Nomad

Bob Davidson (42)
Think you may be close to the reason Reesjan went to the Brumbies. He was definitely offered a spot here.

The Reds have had Carter in front of Reesjan , at least as a 10, since U16’s . The only time he has played 10 ahead of Carter was on the Aussie Schoolboys tour last year and that was after he had signed with the Brumbies.
 

Tomikin

Simon Poidevin (60)
Think you may be close to the reason Reesjan went to the Brumbies. He was definitely offered a spot here.

The Reds have had Carter in front of Reesjan , at least as a 10, since U16’s . The only time he has played 10 ahead of Carter was on the Aussie Schoolboys tour last year and that was after he had signed with the Brumbies.
How did Campbell Parata compare to Carter and Reesjan ?
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
It’s hard to compare them, all 3 are very different styles of players.

Parata was a very good distributor
Reesjan was a very good ball runner
Gordon has more of a traditional 10 skill set
 

The Nomad

Bob Davidson (42)
^ Agree

Parata a great game manager with a terrific boot, only missed one kick at goal in the 2016 GPS season. Would have been considered top dog out of the three at the end of the 2017 season , but the other two were still quite green then . Had a good season last year , but in a lot of people's eyes was probably surpassed by Reesjan by the end of 2018. Committed to the Crusaders Academy midway through last year and withdrew from the Schoolboys trial up here, so didn't get to see them go head to head other than the one off game during the season.

Reesjan had a very good season in 2018 and ended up the starting 10 for Aussie Schoolboys on the UK tour, most up here would say that it was well deserved . He is a big lad who also possesses a power running game and a big boot. He has been chosen ahead of Carter as first choice goal kicker for both Qld U16 in 2017 and Qld Schoolboys in 2018, doubt he would get the nod over Parata though for goal kicking. Has played a fair bit of 12 , with Carter being picked at 10 and is a more than capable 15. Still has a year to go at school

Gordon has a great skill set, carried an injury through most of last year's school season which definitely hindered him some what. Has had full preseason with the Reds open squad and a full season to date playing premier rugby up here for Wests. His game has really come on as a result IMO. As you can imagine, as an 18 year old playing first grade at 10 he is often targeted in defence and has rarely missed a tackle, which is credit to his toughness.

If you asked me last year , I would have taken Reesjan ahead of the other two.

Carter's game has benefitted from his exposure to the Reds open squad and regular first grade experience this year. I guess it will be similar for Reesjan next year at the Brumbies.

Who knows what the Crusaders have managed to get out of Parata?
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
^ Agree

Parata a great game manager with a terrific boot, only missed one kick at goal in the 2016 GPS season. Would have been considered top dog out of the three at the end of the 2017 season , but the other two were still quite green then . Had a good season last year , but in a lot of people's eyes was probably surpassed by Reesjan by the end of 2018. Committed to the Crusaders Academy midway through last year and withdrew from the Schoolboys trial up here, so didn't get to see them go head to head other than the one off game during the season.

Reesjan had a very good season in 2018 and ended up the starting 10 for Aussie Schoolboys on the UK tour, most up here would say that it was well deserved . He is a big lad who also possesses a power running game and a big boot. He has been chosen ahead of Carter as first choice goal kicker for both Qld U16 in 2017 and Qld Schoolboys in 2018, doubt he would get the nod over Parata though for goal kicking. Has played a fair bit of 12 , with Carter being picked at 10 and is a more than capable 15. Still has a year to go at school

Gordon has a great skill set, carried an injury through most of last year's school season which definitely hindered him some what. Has had full preseason with the Reds open squad and a full season to date playing premier rugby up here for Wests. His game has really come on as a result IMO. As you can imagine, as an 18 year old playing first grade at 10 he is often targeted in defence and has rarely missed a tackle, which is credit to his toughness.

If you asked me last year , I would have taken Reesjan ahead of the other two.

Carter's game has benefitted from his exposure to the Reds open squad and regular first grade experience this year. I guess it will be similar for Reesjan next year at the Brumbies.

Who knows what the Crusaders have managed to get out of Parata?

top post. bang on summary in my eyes. I thought Reesjan was just superb last year but have been very surprised by the work of Carter Gordon this year in Premier Grade. He's been excellent. He's been managed differently than Hamish Stewart in that he's getting plenty of valuable game time at 10, plus the professional coaching (including kicking coaching by Dave Aldred).
 

Getwithme

Cyril Towers (30)
Yep gonna add on that as a Wests guy who saw a bit of him at schoolboy level, I was very much in the boat that he was another one of these so called 'next best things' who wouldn't be up to 1st grade but made to play it due to the Reds.

However, Carter is clearly a very classy player and has seemlessly made the step up.

I've seen a strong kicking game, competent tackling and he's actually crazy fast. I heard he's the quickest in the Reds over 40 metres.

They've done a great job with him but he needs to continue to put his head down, grind away, learn his craft and when he's about 21ish he'll be ready.

Remember he hasn't played Aus20's yet so they are managing him superbly
 

Tomikin

Simon Poidevin (60)
^ Agree

Parata a great game manager with a terrific boot, only missed one kick at goal in the 2016 GPS season. Would have been considered top dog out of the three at the end of the 2017 season , but the other two were still quite green then . Had a good season last year , but in a lot of people's eyes was probably surpassed by Reesjan by the end of 2018. Committed to the Crusaders Academy midway through last year and withdrew from the Schoolboys trial up here, so didn't get to see them go head to head other than the one off game during the season.

Reesjan had a very good season in 2018 and ended up the starting 10 for Aussie Schoolboys on the UK tour, most up here would say that it was well deserved . He is a big lad who also possesses a power running game and a big boot. He has been chosen ahead of Carter as first choice goal kicker for both Qld U16 in 2017 and Qld Schoolboys in 2018, doubt he would get the nod over Parata though for goal kicking. Has played a fair bit of 12 , with Carter being picked at 10 and is a more than capable 15. Still has a year to go at school

Gordon has a great skill set, carried an injury through most of last year's school season which definitely hindered him some what. Has had full preseason with the Reds open squad and a full season to date playing premier rugby up here for Wests. His game has really come on as a result IMO. As you can imagine, as an 18 year old playing first grade at 10 he is often targeted in defence and has rarely missed a tackle, which is credit to his toughness.

If you asked me last year , I would have taken Reesjan ahead of the other two.

Carter's game has benefitted from his exposure to the Reds open squad and regular first grade experience this year. I guess it will be similar for Reesjan next year at the Brumbies.

Who knows what the Crusaders have managed to get out of Parata?

Thanks for the write up Nomad, I dont watch a lot of Junior rugby but am always interested in seeing other peoples thoughts on players, hopefully Carter/Reesjan can kick on for the Brumbies/Reds and I suppose I hope Parata makes it, but not quite as good as the other 2. Although be nice to tell the kiwi's that there star 5/8 learned all his talent in QLD.
 

The Nomad

Bob Davidson (42)
Thanks for the write up Nomad, I dont watch a lot of Junior rugby but am always interested in seeing other peoples thoughts on players, hopefully Carter/Reesjan can kick on for the Brumbies/Reds and I suppose I hope Parata makes it, but not quite as good as the other 2. Although be nice to tell the kiwi's that there star 5/8 learned all his talent in QLD.
No worries, ages and stages as they say , over the last couple of years it feels like all I have watched is junior and schoolboy rugby.
 

TheNorth

Allen Oxlade (6)
Another player who i think i sbeoing managed well is Lawson Creighton.

He will be a fantastic 15/utility back. Playing a lot of minutes in club rugby and has/will be playing for Panasonic Wild Knights in the off season. But i believe that is part of some long term development plan with the reds?
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Caleb Timu will join french club Montpellier.

Disappointing because he still has a lot to offer Australian rugby, longer term I think U20s players Harry Wilson and Michael Wood would replace him at the Reds, but st least for 2020/2021 he would be challenging for a starting spot.
 

Finsbury Girl

Trevor Allan (34)
I don't watch a hell of a lot of mungo ball, but since I arrived back in Sydney, loads of peeps giving wraps to this kid Ponga, I thought ok interesting but I hadn't seen him play until last night in the mighty maroon jumper.

All I can say is - how the hell did we let this kid get away to league? Was it purely $$?
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I don't watch a hell of a lot of mungo ball, but since I arrived back in Sydney, loads of peeps giving wraps to this kid Ponga, I thought ok interesting but I hadn't seen him play until last night in the mighty maroon jumper.

All I can say is - how the hell did we let this kid get away to league? Was it purely $$?


It was dollars and the fact that league seemed like his preferred option from day dot. He signed with the Cowboys as a 15 year old.

Like a lot of kids he played both league and union as a junior.

He's an exceptional talent and was the difference between the two sides last night in my opinion.
 

Strewthcobber

Mark Ella (57)
I don't watch a hell of a lot of mungo ball, but since I arrived back in Sydney, loads of peeps giving wraps to this kid Ponga, I thought ok interesting but I hadn't seen him play until last night in the mighty maroon jumper.

All I can say is - how the hell did we let this kid get away to league? Was it purely $$?
Ponga was on a rugby league scholarship since he was 11. He played rugby for a couple of years at high school while on a Broncos scholarship and while playing rugby league for Easts in Brisbane. He signed a 4 year rugby league contract when he was 15.

He never got away. He was never "ours"
 

Strewthcobber

Mark Ella (57)
As an aside, I wonder how many potential players and spectators have turned away from our sport because they are called "mungos"
 

Tomikin

Simon Poidevin (60)
Disappointing because he still has a lot to offer Australian rugby, longer term I think U20s players Harry Wilson and Michael Wood would replace him at the Reds, but st least for 2020/2021 he would be challenging for a starting spot.
Isn't Michael Wood a Lock wasn't that where he was playing in Under 20, he has some absolute drive through legs though
 
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