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Queensland Reds 2024

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Signings and re-signings have started.

This is for confirmed contracts, as much as possible. Let me know if I missed any.

Queensland Reds 2024 coaching staff

TBC – Head Coach
TBC – Assistant Coach (attack)
TBC – Assistant Coach (defense)
TBC – Assistant Coach

Hookers:
Richie Asiata -2024
Josh Nasser - 2024

Props:
Zane Nonggorr - 2024
Sef Fa'agase - 2024

Locks:
Ryan Smith - 2024
Luke Jones - 2025

Backrow:
Liam Wright - 2024
Connor Anderson - 2024
Fraser McReight - 2025

Scrumhalf:

Flyhalf:
Tom Lynagh - 2025
Lawson Creighton - 2024

Centres:
Josh Flook - 2024
Jordan Petaia - 2024

Wings:

Fullback:
Jock Campbell - 2024

UNSIGNED:
Matt Faessler - 2023
George Blake - 2023
Harry Hoopert - 2023
Dane Zander - 2023
Phransis Sula-Siaosi - 2023
Peni Ravai - 2023
Angus Blyth - 2023
Lopeti Faifau - 2023
Connor Vest - 2023
Wilson Blyth - 2023
Harry Wilson - 2023
Seru Uru - 2023
Keynan Tauakipulu -???
Tate McDermott - 2023
Kalani Thomas - 2023
Spencer Jeans - 2023
James O'Connor - 2023
Hunter Paisami - 2023
Taj Annan - 2023
Isaac Henry - 2023
Filipo Daugunu - 2023
Suliasi Vunivalu - 2023
Mac Grealy - 2023
Floyd Aubrey - 2022

RUMOURED GONE:

CONFIRMED GONE:

Taniela Tupou - Melbourne Rebels

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has also signed until 2025 and schoolboy centre Frankie Goldsbrough has signed for at least 2024.
 

SouthernX

Peter Johnson (47)
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has also signed until 2025 and schoolboy centre Frankie Goldsbrough has signed for at least 2024.

What’s the story with Frankie Goldsbrough? Contract whilst still in school. Must have big wraps
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
Ben Toolis might also be worth a look for lock recruitment - Brisbane born 31 year old former Scottish international playing for Kintetsu in Japan. It's not clear the length of his contract but I think he's been there a couple of seasons now so there's a good chance he's available and might be tempted to retire back to Brisbane with a couple of seasons for the Reds. He last represented Scotland in October 2020 so he'd be wallaby eligible by the time he arrived if we were to sign him (assuming there are any squad limitations to otherwise worry about).
 

Mug Punter

Ward Prentice (10)
Top post Wilson.

I have heard LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is actually keen to return.

Not experienced props, but probably better options than Zander and Fa'agase, but I wonder it Tiaan Tuakipulu might want to come and hang out with his brother? Perhaps Andrew Romano might want to come back east as well.

Then what about Teddy Wilson as a Tate understudy with Thomas wanting to sit on the bench in NZL? Bring him home. Might as well grab Harry as well just to confuse people
Taukipulu no longer training with Reds FYI
 

hammertimethere

Trevor Allan (34)
A lot to hopefully re-sign there amongst what is still a very young squad. There are definitely some gaps we need to fill though, even if we managed to retain everyone. I'd love to see us bring in a bit more experience going into next year but I'm also interested in anyone on the club scene people think might be a chance

As far as positions go I think our biggest gaps are in the tight 5, we'll likely need a couple of props and we could definitely improve at hooker. Lock has been a weakness this year too, if we could get an upgrade there that would be great. I feel like it's pretty likely we'll lose Daugunu too, especially if we are re-signing Vunivalu, so we may need an experienced back 3 option if Aubrey's not quite ready.

As far as guys to bring in goes, these are a few who stand out to me and are potentially available:

Bring home:
Brandon Paega-Amosa - Contract status a little unclear, I believe it's through 2023 with an option for 2024. Has just picked up a potentially long term injury which may make it easier to sign him
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - Unlikely he's available but if he is (or the ongoing financial turmoil in the prem sees him offloaded) I'd love to see him straight back. Change in coach at wallaby level may mean there's money available for him again from Rugby Australia
Harry Hockings - Unclear on contract status but if we are moving on from Thorn (and Cordingley) it might be an opportunity to bring him back into the fold
Callum MacDonald - Not sure he had enough involvement in the reds program for it to truly be "coming back" but he is a Queenslander. Haven't seen much of him but he's at 204cm and 120kgs (when he was 19) he's a big unit. Currently over with Suntory, if Eddie has liked what he's seen in the past there may be some Rugby Australia money to help
Samu Kerevi - I know it sounds like a done deal that he is staying in Japan, but on the off chance it's not I'd love to see him back at Ballymore
Lukas Ripley - Off contract at Melbourne, I'm sure they'll want to hang onto him but if we lose a couple of players around centre/wing I'd definitely like to see him back in QLD

Recruitment targets:
Jordan Uelese, Pone Fa'amausili, Cameron Orr - All 3 are off contract with the Rebels and look to be stuck behind star players, I'd be talking to all of them though wouldn't necessarily want all 3 at once. Uelese probably only if BPA is not an option (or it becomes clear Eddie knows something we all didn't)
Chris Talakai - Apparently leaving Bayonne, not sure if he's picked up another contract. Could be a good experienced option to bring in if he's cheap
Matt Phillip - Off contract down in Melbourne and would be a great addition. Sounds like the tahs may have got him though
Richie Arnold - Signed for Toulouse until 2025 but with wallaby interest it sounds like Rugby Australia might be looking for a way to get him out of contract and home. Would be worth getting if Rugby Australia are funding his homecoming
Fergus Lee-Warner - Has been jerked around a bit with the ongoing financial strife in the English prem and is off contract at the end of season. I'm not the biggest fan of him but it'd probably piss Force fans off which would make it worth it
Louis Lynagh - I believe he's off contract with Quins and may have dropped down the pecking order with England. Never capped and with his brother signing on for a few more years he could be tempted to join him. Probably only makes sense if we lose an outside back or two

Club players to watch (by no means exhaustive, just a few who have stood out):
Harrison Lloyd (Brothers) - Experienced prop, probably an upgrade on Zander
Alex Davies (UQ)- Looks like a good prospect at prop
George Francis (Souths)- Not sure about his ability to make the step up to a professional program, but I think he has enough raw ability to bring in for a full pre-season to see if he can make it. Probably only if we've picked up an experienced prop as well though.
Seb Hanna (Brothers)- early days, but has had a cracking start to the season and maybe a good candidate for a dual contract with 7s
Josh Collins (GPS)- need to see more as he returns from injury but he's shown a lot of pace in the past and could be a good candidate for a dual contract with 7s

Feel like there might be a few stepping up at Souths this year, but the obvious ones are already in the academy I think.

BPA - yes please
HH - I'd love it but seems unlikely unless there is a management change (if Heeno became coach and cordingley moved on the odds of this would shorten significantly).
Cal Mac - If he's playing well for Suntory then sure have a look,
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) - Same as for HH (is more likely to take a job at the tahs if he comes back).
Samu - won't happen, he's 30 and has 1 big contract left and wants security. Unless it was a 4 year deal with a sabbatical option he won't come back to SRP (Super Rugby Pacific).
Ripley - Haven't been convinced at Super level but he's still young, could be good long term.
Uelesa, Pone, Orr - I would take Pone in a heartbeat.
Phillip - no chance, he's probably going to the tahs
Richie Arnold - would be a miracle as he'd take a 50% pay cut to come home.
FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) - He's pretty similar to Smith and Uru, small for a lock but dynamic. As a 6/lock option he'd be ok.
Louis Lynagh - 100% yes, sign him as a winger if Daugunu leaves and train him up to be a fullback as well.
Harry Lloyd - Sure, experienced props are in short supply typically.

The other club guys I reckon will declare themselves over prems and hopefully during a challenger series and panasonic game(s)
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
Atko has done a run down of coaching contenders to replace Thorn:

I'm in two minds about Heenan as a candidate, I agree he's still very green and there's a risk associated with that but it has an impeccable club cv and if we can't find away to effectively elevate the best of QPR that's a bigger issue. It might all come down to the experience we can put around him if he was head coach vs the head coach we could get keeping him on as assistant. I do like the idea of Howard in as director of rugby alongside him given their long standing association, but I'm not sure that's enough.

If it isn't Heenan I'd want to see an experienced head coach with runs on the board to help bring him through - Deans, Cotter and Rennie are the stand outs from that article, though Rennie seems unlikely and may create too much friction with Rugby Australia to be worth it.
 
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RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
some interesting names there. I think we need an announcement sooner rather than later don't we? Because we clearly need to be active in the recruitment market and we need a coach locked in to do that. The new Ballymore facility should help at least.
 

The Red Baron

Chilla Wilson (44)
Imagine the teeth gnashing if either Deans or Rennie came in and won a super rugby championship! I definitely think it's worth looking outside the tent for a new coach though.
 

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
some interesting names there. I think we need an announcement sooner rather than later don't we? Because we clearly need to be active in the recruitment market and we need a coach locked in to do that. The new Ballymore facility should help at least.

Doesn't the market usually open up after the RWC though? I posted something similar on the 2023 thread, probably should have been here instead.

I wouldn't be upset if they said Thorn would be moving on/changing roles in 2024 and the coaching role was currently being interviewed for.

Some of the bigger names are probably looking for an international gig which might open up post-RWC, we could end up paying way overs for them to secure them, instead of waiting it out.
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
some interesting names there. I think we need an announcement sooner rather than later don't we? Because we clearly need to be active in the recruitment market and we need a coach locked in to do that. The new Ballymore facility should help at least.
Yeah, the world cup does muddy the waters somewhat, but given the major candidates are not associated with national teams and don't look to be on the radar for them at the moment (except for maybe Rennie) there doesn't seem to be too much value in waiting for it.

Probably works out well that our full suite of assistants are off contract in terms of changeover, though I'd not be upset about keeping McKay around along with Heenan. Hard to say about Blake, defence hasn't been great this year but I'm not sure how much we can put on him. Could really use a strong forwards assistant whatever happens but there was a troubling lack of forwards coaches in that list of Atko's - only Fischer who seems unlikely and Hilton who is an interesting option but not really inspiring. Has been a long time since I've seen one of his teams play though.
 
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