What I really want to see from the Reds this year is having players in their optimal positions as much as possible. It's something which the whole of rugby in Australia needs to get better at.
I think Lynagh, Creighton and HMP are all pure 10s and should be selected that way. I don't see much point in carrying one of them on the bench when we have guys like JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and Jock who are able to cover flyhalf if desperate. Let someone start and the others get plenty of time at 10 for their club, it's the only way you get better at game management which is a huge part of that role.
I agree with this for the bulk of the season, but in the first month or so of games before the club comp starts I'd like to see whoever is not starting out of McLaughlin-Phillips and Lynagh get a chance for the bench, even if it means a bit of time at fullback/wing. I think it's important you give these guys that exposure to this level before sending them back to club, so they know just how high they have to be aiming. Otherwise it can be too easy for them to fall back to what works at club level without pushing themselves further.
I also probably wouldn't rely on Campbell as 10 coverage unless there's a full on injury crisis, we have too many better suited options and there's no need to be replacing back 3 players as standard, so if we run a 6-2 I'd rather one of the 2 is either O'Connor, Creighton, Lynagh or McLaughlin-Phillips, unless 2 of them are already starting.
