Reds 2021

[Cancelled Account]

that's awesome..the same type of development contract that we signed Jojo Fifita on?

Hopefully without the ‘get out’ mid term clause.

 

[Braveheart81]

Hopefully without the ‘get out’ mid term clause.

These development contracts are generally short term anyway.

There's no way the best kids in the country are going to sign long term contracts whilst at school for the dollars they would be offered at that point.

 

[Cancelled Account]

OK well have it your way then. We'll keep Harrison.

We’ve got a bit of depth in the back row though. I don’t know who I’d part with.

 

[KOB1987]

We’ve got a bit of depth in the back row though. I don’t know who I’d part with.

You don’t get to choose, it was a take it or leave it for LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)

 

[The Nomad]

Conor Vest was the best non Red lock running around in QPR this year . He moved up from playing SS for Norths . With the Tahs very light on for locks I’m a bit surprised they haven’t asked him back .

 

[PhilClinton]

Conor Vest was the best non Red lock running around in QPR this year . He moved up from playing SS for Norths . With the Tahs very light on for locks I’m a bit surprised they haven’t asked him back .

I rated Vest for UQ but I thought he was more of a back rower playing second row? Might not be up to playing there at Super level.

 

[The Nomad]

Agree on height at Super level, but Vest is a deceptively big body. He is similar dimensions to ASY (Angus Scott-Young), maybe slightly taller.

His lineout work this season was very good, great under a re start and in contact both in defence and with the ball in hand. Plays pretty tight and clever. He started a couple of games at #8 for UQ this season and can't say I noticed his game changing from when he stared at 5. Basically plays the same regardless.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

ASY (Angus Scott-Young) needs to move into the 'row and model his game on his coach

 

[dru]

ASY (Angus Scott-Young) needs to move into the 'row and model his game on his coach

Geez, that’s an interesting suggestion. Would it work in 2021?

 

[Wilson]

ASY (Angus Scott-Young) needs to move into the 'row and model his game on his coach

I'd rather see Seru Uru do it first, he's better suited to it long term.

 

[TSR]

You don’t get to choose, it was a take it or leave it for LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)

Okay - so if we said yes rather than throwing up hypothetical alternatives Braveheart would make it happen?

My apologies - I wasn’t taking it seriously before this

 

[KOB1987]

Okay - so if we said yes rather than throwing up hypothetical alternatives Braveheart would make it happen?

My apologies - I wasn’t taking it seriously before this

Neither am I, was purely pub banter as far as I was concerned.

 

[TSR]

Disappointed. I thought maybe you’d unmasked BH as one of the big hitters pulling the strings behind the scenes at the Tahs.

 

[Braveheart81]

Disappointed. I thought maybe you’d unmasked BH as one of the big hitters pulling the strings behind the scenes at the Tahs.

Sorry mate, my power is limited to telling people in the crowd to quieten down if they start cheering as it might wake up some of the snoozing members.

 

[Ignoto]

I admit to being tempted - big fan of Harrison - but our cupboard has been stripped pretty bare for locks and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) has been outstanding this year. I just think the gap back to the next best 10 isn’t anywhere near the chasm back to the next best lock.

Yeah - between JOC (James O'Connor), Stewart and Hegarty we should be ok at 10 for another couple of years. That should allow us to bring a 18-20 year old through the system.

Given Australia has an issue with developing the next generation of 10's, hopefully we can get Pasitoa back from the Brumbies as he's going to be stuck behind Noah for awhile!

 

[Cancelled Account]

Yeah - between JOC (James O'Connor), Stewart and Hegarty we should be ok at 10 for another couple of years. That should allow us to bring a 18-20 year old through the system.

Given Australia has an issue with developing the next generation of 10's, hopefully we can get Pasitoa back from the Brumbies as he's going to be stuck behind Noah for awhile!

Let’s look at who we have for flyhalf in 2021.

JOC (James O'Connor) - universal in playing across the entire backline
Stewart - best suited to 12, can play 10 and 15
Hegarty- best suited to 15, can play 10
Harrison- specialist flyhalf
Donaldson- 10 and 15
To'omua- best suited to 12, can play 10 and 13
Hodge- universal in playing across entire backline
Gordon- specialist flyhalf - yet to be proven
Lolesio- 10 and 12
Kenuzle - 10 and 12
Pasitoa - 10 and 12 - yet to be proven

I think we are covered evenly across all teams in 2021 with the most risk in 2022 pending player movements with JOC (James O'Connor), Hegarty, Stewart, To'omua and Hodge, leaving Reds and Rebels at risk.

EDIT - allowing for sabbatical for Wallabies players

 

[Wilson]

I really rate Stewart and was pretty sceptical about Paisami at 12, but after last night I think it's pretty hard to go past him there.

Does our fist up backline next year look like this:

9. McDermott
10 JOC (James O'Connor)
11 Daugunu
12 Paisami
13 Petaia
14 Vunivalu
15 Campbell

21 Sorovi
22 Stewart/Hegarty
23 CFS/Flook/Grealy

With Stewart covering 10/12/15, do we also take another look at him as a 10 going forward? I wish there was NRC or an equivalent for him to get more game time in that position, but with a lot of young 10s having gone elsewhere I think he has to be in the conversation.

 

[TSR]

I agree with all of that - but I won’t be surprised if Thorn uses some squad rotation.

But yeah, Paisami is proving to be something of a revelation.

 

[Cancelled Account]

JOC (James O'Connor) can handle flyhalf only when he’s got another playmaker next to him. This is evident with the Reds this year with Stewart and the Wallabies with To'omua. Otherwise he is hangs too deep, doesn’t push in attack and gets lost. If you want JOC (James O'Connor) at flyhalf and Paisami at 12 you need Stewart at fullback as a second playmaker. I’d move Stewart to flyhalf, JOC (James O'Connor) 12, Paisami 13, Petaia to fullback depending on how his kicking is going. We need to retain playmakers for the next couple of years until we develop or pick up another playmaker and by pushing Stewart to the bench we are only opening up opportunities overseas for him which will put us in a shit position moving forward.

 

[TSR]

I agree that it helps JOC (James O'Connor) (and almost every other 10) to have another playmaker there, but I guess there are a couple of observations I’d make -
- JOC (James O'Connor) looks best when he runs to the line with runners in motion around him. Having any combination of Stewart, Paisami, Petaia, Vunivalu & Daugunu on the field around him should give him the options he needs.
- Paisami has been playing plenty of first receiver for the Wallabies in the last 2 tests. He has shown he does have distribution and kicking skills to complement his running game. They certainly need some refinement, but he has had some good touches
- Campbell was often used at first receiver by the Reds this year on the opposite side of the ruck to JOC (James O'Connor) and was able to generate plenty of line breaks and try assists.

At the end of the day someone will get squeezed out, baring injury, and you’d assume either Campbell or Stewart are most likely but I doubt they’ll move O’Connor from 10.