Reds 2011

Still reckon 7 is our weak point particularly after Braid's efforts - likely team looks very strong accross the park but 7, i am doubtful

I will defer to your superior knowledge and just HOPE you are right

Wonder if Davies held that peak speed for the whole 40m or not so a 4.0 second 40m.

Nalatu had a 10.3m 100m on him in athletics but I don't think quite that fast in his Reds years.

Have you seen Liam Gill play much rugby? We are in safe hands for many years to come.

Yes, but that is PRESUMING those years start in 2011.

Regardless of his physical maturity it could still take till 2012 or even 2013 before he is a regular performer at Super rugby level.

Ricky was an out and out sprinter. The difference being that he only took up rugby after a serious injury that ended his running career. The ramifications of this are that a) he wasn't as fast as he was during his sprint career and b) he never developed into an elite footballer because he only played the game professionally from his mid 20s. Rodney will become a much better player than Ricky, however I would still have put my chips on Ricky in a two horse race out of the blocks.

I dont hold any concerns over 7 either, the only issue will be selecting which player suits the opposition team.
Beau Robinson, Ed Quirk and Jake Shatz are all players who have played 7 at super level, and with Liam Gill and Ben Coridas both capable of filling that position as well..Its ironically probably one of the positions where the Reds have quite a bit of depth at.

I'm glad you wrote regular, because I think consistency is going to be the key limiting factor. I have no doubt that Liam will do some great things, and have some good games next year - but he obviously can't be expected to back up game after game, and it's a good thing we have a handful of semi-seasoned blokes around him to share the load.

I think he will be a great player.

BUT I also think that people are reading his hype a little too much, bar Pocock 7s never really dominate that young. Pocock, as the obvious exception, only got good by about 20 but that's because the Force were willing to give him a bucket of gametime. Liam isn't even 19.

Also, yeah the kid has clearly gotten better as a player and is looking bigger. But, just because a website says he's put on 10kg and he looks ripped does not mean he has a man's body, in fact it means almost nothing. Website statistics on athletes (even official ones) are notoriously wrong and the fact he looks ripped could have as much to do with skinfolds as actual muscle mass. This isn't saying he doesn't have an impressive physique but Rome wasn't build in a day (or an ONE off-season).

Once again, I'd like to say that he WILL be good but don't place too much expectation on the young lad too soon.

Keep your pants on Enforcer, no one is saying he is going to dominate the opposition, they are purely replyng to the remarks that 7 will be a weak position in the Reds lineup..

As for the physique, I think it's obvious to anyone who has seen him over the past 18months, albeit it sevens, schoolboys or club rugby that he has bulked up. As for his been ripped and not big, yes that could be the case, but fortunately for us there are plenty of photos where he is standing next to 90-110kg guys, so it gives a basis for comparison..

Think biggest competition for spots will be the front row
IMO
1. Daley
2. Faainga
3. Slipper

BUT then you have Shep, Hanson and Greg Holmes so maybe some sort of rotation will happen. However one can only imagine that Link is going to field his strongest team week in and week out. All good and well about saving and/or resting players for RWC but this is aboiut the REDS being successful in 2011

That tactic Link used thisb year with the full front row on the bench will be a great option with those blokes

Yo yo yo - I've been doing some investigating into running times over 40m to see how fast Rod Davies 4.59s time really is.

Usain Bolt ran 4.64s for the first 40m of his 100m WR race in Berlin last year.

Sonny Bill Williams, from his league days, had a time of 4.81s

Rhys Wesser, who has a reputation of being quick over 40m has a time of 4.68s

Rokocoko, 4.66s

Ioane at sprint training - a pity they didn't have Davies shown. Lucky it was raining, however, to put the fire on the track out after his run.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/user/queenslandreds[/video]

That track is at the Queensland Academy of Sport, you can see the back of ANZ(QEII) stadium in the background

Wish we could've included him and Beale in that fastest athlete comp. We'd get the first 4, although league didn't use their best athletes either.