Reds 2022

[Wilson]

Did he have injury problems before coming across?

Some but was able to manage them. He and Thorn have spoken before about how the positional requirements are different enough between league and union that he's having trouble adapting his body:

Vunivalu had hamstring issues during his NRL career but was able to manage them, playing 111 games and scoring 86 tries and last week expressed concern over the training workload expected of him.

"You go from league to union in that position you're kicking the footy, there's a lot of running around and supporting in defence," Thorn said.

"It is a different game. Every time things change you've got to be careful. It's not what we want."

 

[Adam84]

Did he have injury problems before coming across?

In his last season at the Storm he did yes, missed about 2 months, prior to that not really

 

[LeCheese]

In his last season at the Storm he did yes, missed about 2 months, prior to that not really

Just had a google for news articles and seems like hamstring issues started to surface in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons as well, albeit to a lesser extent

Some but was able to manage them. He and Thorn have spoken before about how the positional requirements are different enough between league and union that he's having trouble adapting his body:

Good insight - also makes me wonder if differences in the S&C and training programs have also had an impact

 

[Purce]

Does anyone know what the actual issue is?

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

 

[RugbyReg]

WTF happened to him?

 

[TSR]

Holy crap.

 

[Adam84]

Wow so Reds down their two first choice hookers. It was a weak spot in the team even before those injuries. Wonder if Brumbies could loan a hooker

 

[RugbyReg]

Yikes.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1501143789913604097

 

[Wilson]

Big step up for Faessler now. I thought he was good off the bench on the weekend so hopefully he can keep it up.

 

[TSR]

Terrible luck for Alex Mafi. Has had an awful run with injury - not just the last 2 years but going back before that.

 

[RugbyReg]

Big step up for Faessler now. I thought he was good off the bench on the weekend so hopefully he can keep it up.

Do it’s just Faessler and Nasser left? And I guess Blake??

 

[Happyman]

Do it’s just Faessler and Nasser left? And I guess Blake??

Getting thin

 

[dru]

We are with you Alex. All the way.

 

[Purce]

Poor guy. All the best for a speedy recovery.

Reds looking really thin in the hooking department now. Seriously wonder if we can get one of those brumbies Hookers or a seasoned one from overseas. Really need better than what we now have there.

 

[Adam84]

Horribly injury for anyone, let alone a frontrower

 

[PhilClinton]

The implications for Mafi’s career are also quite dire. He is off contract this year and won’t get a chance to prove his fitness again this season. I think it is in the Red’s best interests to offer him a deal that will ensure he sticks around for another few years.

If Mafi had been looking to leave, say to Japan, I wonder how badly this injury has impacted his market value. He’s had a terrible run of injuries in general these last few years.

 

[Wilson]

Do it’s just Faessler and Nasser left? And I guess Blake??

Yeah, looks like it. Not sure what Asiata's return timeline is but it might be time to look for a medical joker, depending on how ready Blake is for super rugby.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Wow so Reds down their two first choice hookers. It was a weak spot in the team even before those injuries. Wonder if Brumbies could loan a hooker

Which one Adam? FF (Folau Fainga'a) is over-rated and has poor discipline, LL is too young and too small to be effective, McInerney is just club standard, and Pollard is years away from realising his potential. Must be some better hookers in Hospital Cup, surely?

EDIT : very bad news for Alex. Hoping his recovery all goes well.

 

[drewprint]

Which one Adam? FF (Folau Fainga'a) is over-rated and has poor discipline, LL is too young and too small to be effective, McInerney is just club standard, and Pollard is years away from realising his potential. Must be some better hookers in Hospital Cup, surely?

EDIT : very bad news for Alex. Hoping his recovery all goes well.

The poor guys have come through the Brumbies system so of course there’s plenty of issues with them, but I’d back the Reds to iron out all those flaws.