Reds 2015

[Hugh Jarse]

Torn between two minds here. If he is as good as everyone says, then it would be great for whomsoever lands him in Oz, but our gain will be yet another loss for Tonga.

We have already acquired Vunipola Fifita (2013 and 2014) Aust Schoolboy prop from Tonga (arrived for the start of the 2012 School year. It is not as if the kid was a Tongan/Samoan who was born and raised overseas. Henry Speight, The Tomani bros, Samo etc etc.

 

[Bairdy]

Steve Mafi Sam Wykes both Tongans at the Force.

His brother is also working in the mines no better place is aus to be a miner than WA.

I thought Wykes was Samoan
You forget Adam Coleman is part Tongan as well.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

I thought Wykes was Samoan
You forget Adam Coleman is part Tongan as well.

I just assumed he was Tongan as I read that Mafi is his cousin.........and yes I forgot Coleman that Tongan kiwi tissie west Aussie

 

[Lindommer]

You've successfully confused me here, fellas, I thought they were all Australians.

 

[Done that]

Don't know much about him,but for what it's worth, he was quoted in the Telegraph as saying he wanted to play for the All Blacks.

 

[Bobby Sands]

I think Curtis will end up having a similar 8-man game to Duane Vermeulen. We should lighten Shatzy's load, and give the big-man some extra responsibility.

 

[biggsy]

After reading taniel's article, and having all the haters he has towards him. It's come across that kiwi rugby are not use to rejection and having whinge.
He clearly states that living in Australia is far better for his family, something the kiwi's should understand given the amount that live here.

He looks like a exciting player, he can run,pass,step, dummy and ball carry something he has learnt at NZ school boys. So that's a bonus right there for his chosen Aus franchise.
He would look good In Red on full trot from a inside ball from quade.

 

[ChargerWA]

Congrats to the Reds on hooking Taniela away from the Kiwis. I just can't see him going anywhere else.

Article I read back in May said his brother was working as a miner in QLD. If you read the articles it sounds like the brother is pulling the strings. And thankfully he is pulling him this way.

And to those saying he isn't worth a contract..........................WTF???

The kiwis broke two of their own rules to try and keep him. They changed the eligibility requirements so he could play for the schoolboys if he chose to AND they offered him a top up. Something never offered to an uncapped player before.

Wonder if I am drawing too long a bow, but the Wallaby/AB logo deal at the gala dinner, wonder if they were hinting at a player who was tossing up between the two.

You guys need a couple of props too. All works out in my eyes.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Look, I don't know much about the kid. Clearly he is a rare athlete, and would be a massive coup for any franchise to attract such athletes. However, will be able to play Super Rugby next season? I wouldn't have thought so.

So how do the Reds go about contracting him? With reduced squads it is much harder to "warehouse" players so to speak, and the Reds need atleast two more match ready props, that will probably come from Paraka, Kite, and Talakai. Would be bloody interesting to chuck him into the NRC, and see where he is at against those boys.

Can we pay a player who is not in the squad? I'm not sure how the salary cap works exactly.

 

[Roscoe]

I thought Wykes was Samoan
You forget Adam Coleman is part Tongan as well.

Wykes mother is Tongan.

 

[Roscoe]

Look, I don't know much about the kid. Clearly he is a rare athlete, and would be a massive coup for any franchise to attract such athletes. However, will be able to play Super Rugby next season? I wouldn't have thought so.

So how do the Reds go about contracting him? With reduced squads it is much harder to "warehouse" players so to speak, and the Reds need atleast two more match ready props, that will probably come from Paraka, Kite, and Talakai. Would be bloody interesting to chuck him into the NRC, and see where he is at against those boys.

Can we pay a player who is not in the squad? I'm not sure how the salary cap works exactly.

I'm tipping he'll either be at the Reds and linked to the Filth or at the Tahs linking up with Wicks.

 

[hammertimethere]

Anyone care to summarize the squad as a speculative first choice 15, 23 and then list current contracted squaddies?
I'm not across every players best position and would like clarity around the current state of play

 

[Train Without a Station]

1. Slipper
2. Hanson
3. Holmes
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Browning
7. Gill
8. Schatz
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Turner
12. Tapuai
13. Kerevi
14. O'Conner
15. Hunt

16. Fainga'a
17. Daley
18. Kite?/Pareka?
19. McDuling
20. Robinson
21. Frisby
22. Fainga'a
23. Kurindrani

Picks itself really.

 

[Braveheart81]

Look, I don't know much about the kid. Clearly he is a rare athlete, and would be a massive coup for any franchise to attract such athletes. However, will be able to play Super Rugby next season? I wouldn't have thought so.

So how do the Reds go about contracting him? With reduced squads it is much harder to "warehouse" players so to speak, and the Reds need atleast two more match ready props, that will probably come from Paraka, Kite, and Talakai. Would be bloody interesting to chuck him into the NRC, and see where he is at against those boys.

Can we pay a player who is not in the squad? I'm not sure how the salary cap works exactly.

I don't think squad sizes are actually going to decrease next year. Whether or not the EPS disappears as a defined concept with specific salaries won't stop the Aussie teams contracting 35 or 36 players again.

 

[Jets]

1. Slipper
2. Hanson
3. Holmes
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Browning
7. Gill
8. Schatz
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Turner
12. Tapuai
13. Kerevi
14. O'Conner
15. Hunt

16. Fainga'a
17. Daley
18. Kite?/Pareka?
19. McDuling
20. Robinson
21. Frisby
22. Fainga'a
23. Kurindrani

Picks itself really.

Now to get that team to start at least once.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Reserve tighthead is an issue, but the Waratahs survived with Paddy Ryan. McDuling is also another issue. He has really failed to impress in NRC so far so I'm not sure what we can really expect from him.

I actually forgot out Tui. Surely Schatz will push to the bench and contest Robbinson for a start off the pine pretty quickly. If Tui is a good line out option I'd take Beau.

 

[Jets]

How do you think Tui will be better than Schatz? Tui will be lucky to be on the bench with Quirk in the mix.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Because we need an impact ball runner.

 

[Jets]

Impact in Japan and impact in Super Rugby are very different things.

 

[Train Without a Station]

That's a fair comment. I'd like to think they haven't recruited a bloke in a position we are lacking impact to be our 5th or 6th choice loosie though.