Reds 2022

[PhilClinton]

I don't think I've ever sweated as much in my life than that 2018 Rugby 10's competition. The east stadium absolutely cops the western sun to a point where, you buy a 4 pack of golds, the third beer is lukewarm!

I didn’t help that weekend was some kind of abnormal heatwave, even for that time of year from memory.

I have friends who live in an apartment in that area, I recall we all had tickets but ended up staying in their apartment in the aircon and watching the whole thing on TV, before venturing out to Caxton St late in the afternoon. It was scorcher.

 

[wamberal]

I don't think I've ever sweated as much in my life than that 2018 Rugby 10's competition. The east stadium absolutely cops the western sun to a point where, you buy a 4 pack of golds, the third beer is lukewarm!

Easy. Just drink quicker.

 

[TSR]

Solutions that worked in your 20s don’t necessarily work in your late 40s

 

[Sully]

Is it wrong of me to be disappointed that the guys who stayed home for their physical development don't look like the hulk?

 

[wamberal]

Solutions that worked in your 20s don’t necessarily work in your late 40s

Never worked for me at either age.

 

[RugbyReg]

Is it wrong of me to be disappointed that the guys who stayed home for their physical development don't look like the hulk?

yeah. Must admit I was hoping for that too but I don’t know if that was really why they were left behind. This from a recent Wilson interview:

“have some time to work on the few things they want me to improve in, which is some acceleration and footwork stuff,” he told Rugby.com.au.”

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was about body height in contact wasn’t it? So legitimately dropped.

Not sure about McReight but surely we don’t need him to bulk up.

If anything, I hope it’s what’s between the ears that has developed most this last few months.

 

[The Nomad]

Is it wrong of me to be disappointed that the guys who stayed home for their physical development don't look like the hulk?

The cynic in me wonders about contracts and numbers of weeks off . Being left home for a chance to have a full preseason, but then have a contractual rest instead of hitting the gym sadly wouldn’t surprise me.
Just a few weeks to drown your sorrows?

 

[Jets]

5 mins each way??? Madness.

The way super rugby is going they could play 10 mins each way during half time.

 

[Adam84]

Isaac Henry out for a month with a broken fooot.. disappointing as they’d been talking up his work in pre-season

 

[PhilClinton]

Bugger, leaves us very exposed in that 10/12 channel in terms of blokes with Super Rugby experience.

A month recovery probably but a broken foot means no cardio, gym etc. he won’t be match fit for a while.

 

[RugbyReg]

Bugger, leaves us very exposed in that 10/12 channel in terms of blokes with Super Rugby experience.

A month recovery probably but a broken foot means no cardio, gym etc. he won’t be match fit for a while.

very exposed? I wouldn't have said that. I think he'd be down the totem line of 10 options. And we have Paisami and Stewart covering 12. Disappointing absolutely, but I don't think losing someone with 5 Super Rugby caps, is a massive loss in terms of Super Rugby experience.

 

[TSR]

It’s potentially a big set back for him, not so much for the team. And even that depends where he is in the pecking order.

I though he looked very good in his games last year and if you told me he was Thorn’s preferred starting 12 I wouldn’t have been surprised. But nor would I be surprised if you said he had a few in front of him. However he is rated, like Harrison at the Tahs, he now has to sit back and let others stake their claim.

Whilst player injury is never good news, from a Reds point of view we are more vunerable in other areas.

 

[PhilClinton]

very exposed? I wouldn't have said that. I think he'd be down the totem line of 10 options. And we have Paisami and Stewart covering 12. Disappointing absolutely, but I don't think losing someone with 5 Super Rugby caps, is a massive loss in terms of Super Rugby experience.

He's also a more than adequate goal kicker don't forget, probably second in line to take the shots after JOC (James O'Connor).

Where did you have him sitting in terms of 10 options? Obviously behind JOC (James O'Connor) and Stewart, but we don't yet know how they'll use Lynagh, and the Jock Campbell at 10 chat is only something recent, I would have thought Henry would find himself playing 10 off the bench (behind Stewart) if JOC (James O'Connor) goes down for a lengthy time. Which in turns weaken that midfield if we move Stewart into flyhalf.

I guess my comment is also because I feel the JOC (James O'Connor) standing down as captain has further implications than what has been portrayed. He hasn't been 100% for a while, and isn't getting any younger. I feel flyhalf is a position already quite exposed before the season starts and this doesn't help things.

 

[Wilson]

He's also a more than adequate goal kicker don't forget, probably second in line to take the shots after JOC (James O'Connor).

Where did you have him sitting in terms of 10 options? Obviously behind JOC (James O'Connor) and Stewart, but we don't yet know how they'll use Lynagh, and the Jock Campbell at 10 chat is only something recent, I would have thought Henry would find himself playing 10 off the bench (behind Stewart) if JOC (James O'Connor) goes down for a lengthy time. Which in turns weaken that midfield if we move Stewart into flyhalf.

I guess my comment is also because I feel the JOC (James O'Connor) standing down as captain has further implications than what has been portrayed. He hasn't been 100% for a while, and isn't getting any younger. I feel flyhalf is a position already quite exposed before the season starts and this doesn't help things.

I like Henry and think he would've come into the side pretty quickly with an injury to JOC (James O'Connor) (if he wasn't in it already), but it would've been at 12 as a second playmaker, not as a 10.

There's been big wraps on Creighton lately, I suspect he'll get a crack in the trials and we may see him in the early rounds. I think the goal right now is looking at him, Campbell and maybe Stewart to take on the Hegarty role of utility back who can cover 10. A lot will probably depend on the trials but I expect the pecking order at 10 might end up as JOC (James O'Connor)-Creighton-Stewart or JOC (James O'Connor)-Stewart-Creighton when picking a starting side, with Campbell seen as a backup from the bench. I'm guessing Lynagh will get time in the trials and might just feature on the bench in the early rounds, but as soon as the club season starts he'll be playing 80 there instead of minimal minutes from the bench.

 

[RugbyReg]

yep ^^ What Wilson said. Creighton probably a 10 option before Henry. Not discounting his abilities, and likewise I wouldn't have been surprised if he was the starting 12 and his goal kicking is superb. But he's not irreplaceable.

 

[Adam84]

Yeah Creighton is getting massive wraps, if he weren’t injured last year would have debutd earlier.

Between Creighton, JOC (James O'Connor), Paisami and Stewart they’ve got a few options at 10/12. It’s probably one position they can afford to lose a player for a month.

 

[The Nomad]

I like Henry and think he would've come into the side pretty quickly with an injury to JOC (James O'Connor) (if he wasn't in it already), but it would've been at 12 as a second playmaker, not as a 10.

There's been big wraps on Creighton lately, I suspect he'll get a crack in the trials and we may see him in the early rounds. I think the goal right now is looking at him, Campbell and maybe Stewart to take on the Hegarty role of utility back who can cover 10. A lot will probably depend on the trials but I expect the pecking order at 10 might end up as JOC (James O'Connor)-Creighton-Stewart or JOC (James O'Connor)-Stewart-Creighton when picking a starting side, with Campbell seen as a backup from the bench. I'm guessing Lynagh will get time in the trials and might just feature on the bench in the early rounds, but as soon as the club season starts he'll be playing 80 there instead of minimal minutes from the bench.

Hope you’re right about the likes of Lynagh playing QPR and we don’t see another repeat of 2020 and squad bubbles.
Those not getting regular minutes , particularly the younger ones , really need QPR for their development.

 

[Wilson]

Hope you’re right about the likes of Lynagh playing QPR and we don’t see another repeat of 2020 and squad bubbles.
Those not getting regular minutes , particularly the younger ones , really need QPR for their development.

Assuming the U20's program goes ahead this year I think he should spend a fair bit of time there as well. I'm hoping he and Mac Grealy get plenty of time together at those lower levels to develop together. Even better if Spencer Jeans pushes past Kalani Thomas and he spends time with them, but the way they've backed Thomas and the form he was in at the end of the club season last year I doubt that will happen.

 

[TSR]

I find the decision to make McDermott co-captain an interesting one.

I get where JOC (James O'Connor) is coming from, but it seems to me McDermott’s big focus this year should be improving his core game and winning the starting Wallaby gig (obviously by focusing on playing well for Qld). I wonder if the captaincy is something he needs.

I guess part of the problem though is the limit of alternate options, especially when Wright’s starting spot can’t be guaranteed.

Some people absolutely thrive and you’d think he’ll lead from the front because it’s how he plays anyway. Just hope it drives him and doesn’t drag him down.

 

[The Nomad]

Assuming the U20's program goes ahead this year I think he should spend a fair bit of time there as well. I'm hoping he and Mac Grealy get plenty of time together at those lower levels to develop together. Even better if Spencer Jeans pushes past Kalani Thomas and he spends time with them, but the way they've backed Thomas and the form he was in at the end of the club season last year I doubt that will happen.

Agree, the form of Thomas at the back end of QPR was very good and a massive improvement on his first few games for UQ. Guess that backs up what’s being mentioned, these younger guys need game time to aid their development.
Having Thomas, Lynagh and Grealy getting regular minutes together in QPR would be great for their combination and development.
From a UQ perspective, it’s a pity Ripley ended up with the Rebels , guess we could see him back up in QPR if not getting game time in Super Rugby.