Reds 2018

[Braveheart81]

Its a solid buy but nothing more. Think you could of got more value looking abroad to fill a gap for a season if needed. Cordero from the Puma's is looking for a club. Could of got him for a year waiting for a youngster to come through and also a better player than Toua

I reckon the price tags on those two players would be substantially different.

 

[swingpass]

Higgers was a brilliant captain at the Rebels. Played his best footy and lead from the front. Excellent choice in my opinion

Led from the front thats for sure. Dont think his tactical nous is so great. Poor decisions cost the Rebs at least two games i can recall. But i think he is a very good choice for the Reds and Thorn.

 

[TSR]

How many years has Higgers got left? I dont think many would think we are a contender this season and I wonder if we should look at a young captain to take us forward, kind of like Horwill did from a young age. I would prefer to have Paia'aua as captain for our lead up to victory in 2020

I’m a big fan, but Duncan is still a very young guy who has had one pretty good year. He is neither a seasoned player nor a proven performer over an extended period.

I’m happy to let him concentrate on backing up/improving on last year.

 

[neilc]

What's the go with George Smith now? Ignoring the Japanese taxi thing, is he out with a back injury or was that overblown? Jim Tucker on news.com.au when talking about Higgers as captain option mentions a backrow of Timu, Higgers, and Smith but I thought that there was a possibility of Smith not being available for much of the season?

 

[TOCC]

Its a solid buy but nothing more. Think you could of got more value looking abroad to fill a gap for a season if needed. Cordero from the Puma's is looking for a club. Could of got him for a year waiting for a youngster to come through and also a better player than Toua

You get what you pay for... ‘a solid buy but nothing more’ is worth about $400k less then Cordero form the Pumas.

 

[Rebels3]

You get what you pay for. ‘a solid buy but nothing more’ is worth about $400k less then Cordero form the Pumas.

He's been on a contract at the Jaguares who pay less than the Australian Super sides do, just thought with the European season half over he could be interested in a 6 month contract which would see him through until the next Euro season. Munster and Leicester were showing interest but that's died down. Anyways extremely unlikely to happen, Aus clubs aren't that creative or ambitious in thinking

 

[upthereds#!]

I think slipper or Higs as captain is exactly what we need with such a young squad. I'd absolutely have a Tuttle or DP as a VC, working on their leadership skills and maturing as players with a look to becoming the next captain.

Higs is around for 2018 and 2019, whilst slipper is only turning 29 next month, still plenty of years left in him at the Reds if he wants it.

 

[upthereds#!]

Toua is a good pickup mainly because I believe he would have been a bargain buy on the back of a japanese season, it gives us a kicker in the back field and an option for an experienced FB with positional nous.

 

[Rebels3]

Most exciting thing for the Reds in my eyes is Slippers return. Hopefully he can reach previous levels and finally we can have LH on the bench for Wallabies that isn't a liability at international level

 

[Ruggo]

Slipper great leader as a senior player but I don't want a prop as captain as it is to easy to get offside with the ref in that position. Higgers is probably the best option.

 

[gel]

Higgers was a good leader for the Rebels and (I think) played some of his best footy when in the captain's shoes, however his relationship with the referees was *sometimes* sub-optimal.

He is definitely my choice though.

Of course - we severely screwed the pooch by pissing off our best candidate a couple of years ago

 

[Strewthcobber]

Of course - we severely screwed the pooch by pissing off our best candidate a couple of years ago

Goromaru?

 

[upthereds#!]

JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Scoey]

LFG

 

[emuarse]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

WTF

 

[Scoey]

Me? Liam F’n Gill.

 

[Sully]

I thought they were talking about Higgers captaining at the Tens, not the season.
.
And Toua is not a good pick up. He was a dumb player when he left. He was a dumb player at the Brumbies. If he hasn't smartened up by now it's not going to happen.

 

[TOCC]

The article on captaincy was about the Super Rugby season.

I think Higgers is a reasonable candidate, agree that having a prop as captain can be a little delicate, especially if on the receiving end of a dominant scrum.


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[TOCC]

Tai Ford, Bond Uni no.7 looks to be another training in the wider squad as well. Bit of a late bloomer, but I thought he had a very impressive NRC


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[Zero_Cool]

I thought they were talking about Higgers captaining at the Tens, not the season.
.
And Toua is not a good pick up. He was a dumb player when he left. He was a dumb player at the Brumbies. If he hasn't smartened up by now it's not going to happen.

Spot on, ever since he was playing in High School he's kicked it way too much (causing many coaches to go bald!), I think bottom line is he doesn't like going into contact (what sane person doesn't!) and perhaps he over rates his kicking ability. He'll be a nice utility back playing 11, 14, and 15 but I don't see him starting unless there are injuries. He *might* get the go ahead over the unproven (at Super Rugby) Daugunu but I suspect after a spectacular NRC that won't be the case.