@RugbyReg put forward the tweet earlier this week that Qld Country shouldn't be this bad. I agree, they shouldn't. I've decided to put my thoughts on the matter.
Firstly, I must put my biases out there. Qld Country NRC is not the Qld Country team I follow. I have tried, but they do not in anyway capture what the true Qld Country rep team is about. The colour of the jersey is about the only thing that's similar. Brisbane City has done more promotion on the Downs (well Toowoomba) than Qld Country. Qld Country may have players who lived/grew up regionally, but they could learn a thing or two from the existing team and what that jersey means for the person playing in it, and the club the player(s) come from. Country rep games hardly ever have huge scorelines, there is too much meaning in these games to play that way. They are hard fought, tough, aggressive, no quarter given matches (esp against NSW country). I also hold QRU in very low regard, for the way they've gouged the Qld Country regions for money and reputation offering very little back (this is ongoing for a long time), with helping clubs and regions keep going, or the capturing and development of players (of all ages), coaches and management of clubs. (Then again I wouldn't go to QRU management training session either!).
To me, Qld Country NRC play like a developmental team, not a rep team. The players look soft, they are looking to push the play without valuing the scoreboard, defence or the win. The players picked (to me) don't look to be the best players in Brisbane in their positions, but the one's the Reds want to put the money into, and experiment with (and are these playing really developing?). They are also, mostly very young. Where are the hardened 26-30yr old A-grade players, that you build a strong, tough edge to build your game around and to be that experienced rock the younger players look to? Some of the U/20 players involved have looked as though the haven't played against older players, some come in and out of games and don't have the consistency needed at this level, and whether their bodies are able to get through 80 mins of play. It almost looks in some positions they're being trained knowing they'll be subbed - so they don't have 80 mins in their legs.
I'm not sure how much coaching they've had, and how Toutai is meant to bring a team together and have a coherent gameplan within 3 weeks, but I hope the chop and changing of coaches for this team (and Brisbane City) is not a constant going forward.
Question for Hospital Cup followers, how many of these players would've been the Hospital Cup best XV (in their playing position in Qld Country NRC).
This rant may be over the top, but I was really hopeful that Qld Country NRC would've been a team that I could follow if it played in the same vain Qld Country rep does. Alas, to me, it has turned into analogy of QRUs handling and engagement of the QC (Quade Cooper) regions. Very unsuccessful. My dilemma is I'll still end up following them.
