Reds 2015

[en_force_er]

Sisa Waqa signed with the Raiders for 2 years today.
He would've been a great pickup for the Reds but considered a marquee player due to junior matches for Fiji.

He would have been, he has a strong connection to the Australian Fijian community who have their largest base in Qld too.

Could've been a good one.

 

[RugbyReg]

Rumours abound that Chris Kurindrani is off to join his big brother in Christchurch. Another outside back gone.

 

[Braveheart81]

The ARU controls the contracting process of the top 30 players.

I think TOCC is correct with what he said.

I'm not sure if there's any avenue for a franchise to lodge a higher bid under that though to try and woo the player elsewhere.

 

[USARugger]

Maybe Chris spotted a particular opportunity and I'm drawing a long bow but a Queensland born and bred player heading to fucking Christchurch of all places makes you wonder how bad things are internally and how long they've been this bad for things to turn out this way.

Surely he wouldn't have been more than one, at most 2 injuries away from a spot in the 23? It's not exactly like he's stuck in a long, or settled queue with all the outside backs we have leaving..

 

[Braveheart81]

I don't think you can underrate the fact that his brother has been huge for the Crusaders this season. Surely that's the driving reason behind wanting to head there if they've offered him an opportunity.

 

[Train Without a Station]

So let me get this straight? Nadolo is his brother, yet Tevita Kuridrani with the same surname is only his cousin? Fuck me that's confusing.

 

[Braveheart81]

So let me get this straight? Nadolo is his brother, yet Tevita Kuridrani with the same surname is only his cousin? Fuck me that's confusing.

Correct.

Ratu Nasiganiyavi and Chris Nasiganiyavi are brothers and changed their names to Nemani Nadolo and Chris Kuridrani respectively.

Tevita Kuridrani's full name according to wikipedia is Ratu Tevita Kuridrani.

 

[tigerland12]

So let me get this straight? Nadolo is his brother, yet Tevita Kuridrani with the same surname is only his cousin? Fuck me that's confusing.

Didn't it used to be Nasigyanvi or something as well?

 

[USARugger]

I don't think you can underrate the fact that his brother has been huge for the Crusaders this season. Surely that's the driving reason behind wanting to head there if they've offered him an opportunity.

Pragmatic as always.

Come to think of it he's probably go an easier pathway with the Crusaders as they literally can't avoid playing an at-best-questionable winger at 14 with their current squad.

 

[Braveheart81]

Assuming Chris Kuridrani does head to the Crusaders, it will be interesting to see if he gets a run in the ITM Cup. Maybe that has swayed his decision?

 

[Highlander35]

Perhaps he intends to declare for Fiji, and the Kiwi Soup sides seem far more accommodating to declared boys.

 

[Train Without a Station]

If JJ Tuilagi was getting picked over me I'd probably fucking leave too.

 

[hammertimethere]

Any word on when the squad announcement will take place?

 

[Braveheart81]

Any word on when the squad announcement will take place?

Officially, I think it will be the Reds Gala Ball on 29 August.

 

[TOCC]

The Reds should keep an eye out for Caleb Timu, he was an absolute standout at Schoolboys level and was the starting 8 for Australian schoolboys in a team which featured Browning and McMahon, he was signed by the Broncos following school and earned praise as one of the most promising forwards in the system.. He started on a mormon mission at the end of last year so isn't likely to be available for 2015, but as an 18yr old he was 190cm and 108kg with a farm similar to that of Cliffy Palu.

I believe his mormon mission is due to continue for another 12months, but i'd hope the Reds are keeping an eye on him.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I was looking and noticed Browning played lock in his first year of Australian Schoolboys. Certainly interesting if true.

 

[en_force_er]

Correct.

Ratu Nasiganiyavi and Chris Nasiganiyavi are brothers and changed their names to Nemani Nadolo and Chris Kuridrani respectively.

Tevita Kuridrani's full name according to wikipedia is Ratu Tevita Kuridrani.

I think the issue is taking other cultures' naming process and trying to fit within the western one.

That's why we have plenty of people who in 2014 are still named after the place or job of their great great great grandparents. It's not a big deal but it's a laugh sometimes.

 

[emuarse]

2 years, with an option for a third.
Point is, they they still have space to move under the salary cap.

How much are the Reds realistically going to offer, $800'000 over two years would be about the clubs upper limits.

I don't buy into the reports that Karmichael is locked in for the Reds, he has shown in the past he is willing to back himself for some varying roles across different codes. Not just that, I'm waiting for David Smith to show his hand with the new slush fund for player recruitment and retention, Karmichael is a prime candidate for this fund.

I hope he does go to the Reds and I've been pushing for it for years, but I'm not overly confident it will happen.

A little dicky bird told me that KH has taken up French speaking lessons

 

[kiap]

I think the issue is taking other cultures' naming process and trying to fit within the western one.

Does happen but it's not the main reason in this case.

Their ol' man was this guy (click to zoom, right column & 2nd from bottom):

Iliesa Siganiyavi—played for Qld in the 80's and for the "ANZACS" against the B&I Lions.

But he left the family home and the boys weren't raised by him. That's why they changed their names.

 

[tigerland12]

I was looking and noticed Browning played lock in his first year of Australian Schoolboys. Certainly interesting if true.

I think that was more of what was best for the teams he played in.

The State High team had Tuapou and Scheck as their looses, with Matt Ika at 8

Then the GPS and State team had Tuapou, Gill and Ika.

There wasn't many second rowers at the time either, and Curtis was already a big boy by then.