Queensland Reds 2024

[TSR]

I might have to watch again as I thought Thomas was okay, but the ruck was getting a bit untidy. Maybe I’m letting him off easy. Having said that Werchon was excellent last week so if he’s managed to jump the queue good luck to him. Nice to have competition for spots.

How good was Tate though? I thought against the Force he was out of sorts. Seemed to be right on his game last night. A couple of box kicks could have been better but otherwise I thought he really played well.

I thought Lynagh had much tougher conditions to content with in that the game was no longer as free flowing and our lineout was no longer functioning as well but I thought he did pretty well. Having said that if McLaughlin-Phillips had another year under his belt I’d probably be leaning towards him. If Kiss goes that way I won’t be losing sleep over it. He is young but he seems pretty robust and I haven’t seen any signs he can’t handle the contact or is struggling with his decision making. Two very good prospects IMO.

Tim Horan said something to Wright after the game about an internal trial next week and Wright said it was news to him so not sure if they are having another trial or not. Agree that the biggest priority at this stage for me would be getting some game time into the legs of some players like Nasser (and, ideally Blyth and Toomaga-Allen) and maybe having another look at guys like Bryant, Brial, Anderson, Daly & Vest who are fighting for those bench spots.

 

[RugbyReg]

Anderson was in a moon boot last I saw. Albeit a couple of weeks ago.

 

[SouthernX]

Tim Horan said something to Wright after the game about an internal trial next week and Wright said it was news to him so not sure if they are having another trial or not.

Tasty! Would the reds have sufficient players from both reds and reds academy to run 2x teams of 23?

If not. Would love to see the outer fringe guys they have to pluck from clubland as you could get a sense of whose close to be picked up from 3rd tier

 

[Wilson]

Could it be a trial scheduled against one of the clubs? I think they're getting around to a few of the clubs this year and there is one on the books for the Reds A side to play Easts on the 24th, anyone heard about one for next weekend?

 

[dru]

I'm pretty chuffed with our options at 10. Based solely on the televised trials I think that HMP was well in front. Of course the coaching team has much more data than that. Certainly yesterday HMP was behind a pack going forward with certainty and Lynagh behind a ruck line that was more stalled.

I'd be looking to get a full game out of Tate. though the options at half are fine to close games. If he is injured early we may be tested.

Really impressed with Uru in the row. Always saw him as filling in there but (certainly at Super level) he is looking a lock. Outside of that there are plenty of lock options. As usual our loosies speak for themselves.

Front row is interesting. I like all of them in general play but the pay day for these guys is the scrum. Plenty of work to do for the starters. If we were going to test Ravai at tight head i would have thought that the trials were the place to do it. I suspect we have our pecking order in place. Which means there is plenty of work to do. Similarly the hookers for the line out. Faesler was solid in the first half, very, but things tailed off and Nasser needs time perfecting throwing at targets. I think the lineout will be better in the first half, and the scrum better for closing the game.

Centers are locked I think. I like them a lot. Some real options when JOC (James O'Connor) returns and also to some degree with Grealy

In the back I'm not convinced with our wings - Vunivalu continues to express promise but it is easily time that we should be expecting results. Too many non-rugby IQ lapses. I have a distinct preference for Campbell at FB but possibly the thing that will keep him in the role is that our wings are nota s strong as they could be and Petaia looks impressive wide with a roving brief.

It is a really interesting squad. Game 1 to settle against the Waratahs proper (expect that to be a completely different experience) before we jump to the Kiwis.

 

[SouthernX]

Could it be a trial scheduled against one of the clubs? I think they're getting around to a few of the clubs this year and there is one on the books for the Reds A side to play Easts on the 24th, anyone heard about one for next weekend?

There’s a trial against south’s on March 2nd in rugby explorer but that says reds development team

 

[SouthernX]

I have a distinct preference for Campbell at FB but possibly the thing that will keep him in the role is that our wings are nota s strong as they could be and Petaia looks impressive wide with a roving brief.

I share that preference for Campbell. Even though Petaia is the better fullback.

wing is shambles, last year when they stuck Campbell on the wing and Petaia at fullback Jock just looked disinterested and not the calibre of player he is in 15.

if wing is a huge question mark and you have Campbell playing high quality footy at 15. Then to the wing Jordy goes.

 

[TSR]

I was talking to a relative of Jock’s on Friday. Apparently even when he played last year he really struggled with his injury (ankle, I think?). But he is completely over it this year and I think it was noticeable yesterday his zip in attack was back. Even from fullback I don’t think we saw much of that last year.

I too prefer Campbell at fullback and Petaia at wing.

I think Vunivalu just isn’t hitting his straps. Not sure what the answer is because he still shows enough to show how lethal he could be. But potential doesn’t win games and he’s had plenty of time. Grealy looks to me to be showing all of the hunger you want from a young guy trying to win his spot. He looks to have added some zip and seems to have good skills. And his work rate looks really good. He just looks like the guy we are going to get more out of at the moment.

 

[TSR]

Tasty! Would the reds have sufficient players from both reds and reds academy to run 2x teams of 23?

If not. Would love to see the outer fringe guys they have to pluck from clubland as you could get a sense of whose close to be picked up from 3rd tier

Well - based on Liam Wright’s response he knew nothing about it. So maybe Horan had it wrong. From memory he also said it was on Friday, so may well depend on how many people are available. Although I guess it could be Friday evening.

Bit of a tough gig though for any of those guys working - end of the working week and you get to go out and have a crack at a couple of full time pros who are playing for a spot in the starting team. But I guess that is me talking as a middle aged office worker not an early 20s guy keen for a shot.

In any case - not even sure there is a trial but it does make a bit of sense to have one more hit out in closed conditions.

 

[liquor box]

I only watched the second half, I tried to "watch from the start" on Stan at about 9.30pm and got half an ad then skipped to half time.

Unfortunately this mean I missed pretty much all of the scoring.

I also have issues with what to do with Vunivalu, I cant see how he can be a bench player when he seems to be limited to one position. Maybe he needs to play some club footy at 13 or 15 to prove his value, there are too many others who offer an ability to fill in at other positions who are more deserving of this position.

All in all there is not too much to complain about, we got the win and for me the highlight is that the Tahs only points cane from what was essentially a "home try".

I dont see too much yet that makes me think we will compete for the titles and I think sneaking into the finals would be a good starting point for a new coach.

 

[TSR]

I think having Flook and Petaia in the team who have both played different spots makes carrying a specialist winger easier. Paisami can shift to 13 in need. Even McLaughlin Phillips - whilst I know it wouldn’t be ideal - but pretty sure he has played both 15 & wing for the Wallabies u20s (although i guess we don’t need cover at wing with Vunivalu out there).

 

[SouthernX]

I also have issues with what to do with Vunivalu, I cant see how he can be a bench player when he seems to be limited to one position. Maybe he needs to play some club footy at 13 or 15 to prove his value, there are too many others who offer an ability to fill in at other positions who are more deserving of this position.

If wing is an issue and centres isn’t - maybe send Flook out to the sting and look for a different 12/13 pairing.

 

[dru]

I only watched the second half, I tried to "watch from the start" on Stan at about 9.30pm and got half an ad then skipped to half time.

Unfortunately this mean I missed pretty much all of the scoring.

Do your self a favour and go back and watch the first half once the broadcast system is back on replay. It is worth a Reds fan seeing how things were looking for this one.

 

[TSR]

If wing is an issue and centres isn’t - maybe send Flook out to the sting and look for a different 12/13 pairing.

With O’Connor injured the only other option would be Henry. And that may be a good option - I raised that myself last week.

But, as Reg pointed out last week, Grealy is the one who is banging the door down to be next cab off the rank.

I also think that the combo of Paisami, Flook in the centres with Petaia and Campbell seems to be all of the players in their best/preferred spots.

I always thought Petaia would make a great 13. He still might and he still could be a great 15. But he has been his most consistent on the wing.

Flook is a good winger, but a better 13 and that’s where he wants to play.

Campbell is much better at fullback than he is on the wing.

Paisami prefers 12 and whilst I again think there is an argument he is better suited at 13, he has apparently trained all off season at 12.

I don’t really think we have a problem at wing either. It’s really just a question of whether Vunivalu is doing enough to hold his spot.

 

[TSR]

I will say this. It’s great to have rugby back and to be talking about rugby.

And always good to get the win over NSW - even if it is a trial.

 

[RugbyReg]

From a communication perspective, Jock at fullback (helping direct attack) and Flook at 13 (defensive captain) makes the most sense to me.

Petaia did show his class though. That big boot and then the beautiful move ball in hand to get his winger some space later. I still think he plays wing and we just need to find a way to keep him involved. Which seems how we want to play anyway.

 

[Steve_Grey]

Waratahs supporter - watched on Stan and I thought Reds #7 and #8 were excellent; complete opposite to Waratahs #7 who looked out of his depth - replacements in the Waratahs back row no better.

Well played Reds - whose replacements came on and the team maintined its structure perfectly.

 

[TSR]

Absolutely Reg. And I thought Grealy had some really good touches too including slipping into first receiver for our first try.

I actually thought it was obvious Vunivalu was looking for work too, but he is just getting his lines wrong. Throwing the forward pass, dropping a pop off the deck after the line break, dropping the cross field kick last week. Those things start sticking and suddenly we are looking at him completely differently.

 

[dru]

Absolutely Reg. And I thought Grealy had some really good touches too including slipping into first receiver for our first try.

I actually thought it was obvious Vunivalu was looking for work too, but he is just getting his lines wrong. Throwing the forward pass, dropping a pop off the deck after the line break, dropping the cross field kick last week. Those things start sticking and suddenly we are looking at him completely differently.

Completely agree, just well, how long do we give him? I thought there was a planned connection with Petaia coming inside and Vunivalu wide waiting for a break created by Petaia. It was right there almost for the taking several times, but I don't think worked at any point. It could be devastating. Woulda-coulda-shoulda. I don't mind him being there to be fair, I just wish we could see him pull it together better.

 

[TSR]

Question for the room - where does a fit O’Connor fit into the mix at the moment.

I know the easy and logical response is that he comes back via the bench. But there is talk he is now back to being considered a 10. In recent years, when fit, I’d say he has been pretty good in that role. His reading of play, short passing and short kicking game is very good.

His skills do seem to still work very well at 12 in attack and he has better decision making than Paisami. But he has really lost his speed and gets caught out in defence.

As a bench/depth player he is pretty handy and I personally wouldn’t have an issue with that. What’s the general consensus?

My other question is whomever misses out from Lynagh or McLaughlin-Phillips, does the other ride the pine. Certainly in the early rounds that is relatively easy - but once club rugby starts would we rather them playing full games at club?

I also query the logic of sharing the duties too much. I’m trying to think of a successful team where the playmakers weren’t consistent. Plenty of good teams have a playmaker or two to bring spark from the bench - but I don’t think too many ‘share the role’. And I don’t think chopping and changing does either many favours either. So my thoughts are Kiss makes his decision and then the other one does most of his development in club and on the training paddock while we back the selection to the hilt. If the first picked is really struggling then of course changes should be made, but otherwise we given them time in the saddle.

Interested in the broader view.