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Queensland Reds 2026

Adam84

Adam84

John Eales (66)
In celebration of the Reds winning the 2025 Super Rugby Championship(prematurely), i've created this thread to track re-signings. And I got sick of providing/tracking running updates in the 2025 thread, it'll be easier to just pin this for the 2026 season, given the number of players re-signed.


Queensland Reds 2026
Les Kiss - Head Coach (2026)
Brad Davis - defence and backs (2026)
Jonathan Fisher - breakdown and forward skills (2026)
Zane Hilton - set piece forward (2026)
Dale Roberson - academy (2026)

Hookers:
Matt Faessler - 2027
Josh Nasser - 2026
Richie Asiata - 2026

Props:
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - 2026
George Blake - 2026
Zane Nonggorr - 2026
Aidan Ross - 2027
Massimo Du Lutis - 2026
Kingsly Uys - 2027 (Academy)

Locks:
Joshu Canham - 2026
Lukhan Salaka-Loto - 2028
Will Ross - 2027 (Academy)

Backrow:
Fraser McReight - 2028
Seru Uru - 2026
Harry Wilson - 2029
Joe Brial - 2026
John Bryant - 2026

Scrumhalf:
Tate McDermott - 2027
Louis Werchon - 2026
Kalani Thomas - 2027

Flyhalf:
Tom Lynagh - 2026

Centres:
Hunter Paisami - 2026
Joshu Flook - 2026
Dre Pakeho - 2026

Wings:
Heremaia Murray - 2026
Filipo Daugunu - 2027
Tim Ryan - 2026

Fullback:


Academy
Nick Conway (wing)
Tai Taka (centre)
Tom Robinson (flanker)


Unsigned
Max Craig - 2025?
Will McCulloch - 2025?
Jock Campbell - 2025
Lachlan Anderson - 2025
Isaac Henry - ?
Frankie Goldsbrough - ?
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - 2025 (Rumoured to have re-signed but not confirmed)
Jude Gibbs - 2025?
Liam Wright - 2025
Angus Blyth - 2025
Connor Vest - 2025
Sef Fa'agase - 2025
Matt Gibbon - 2025
Alex Hodgman - 2025
Trevor King - 2025?

Rumoured Gone:
Angus Blyth - Waratahs
Matt Gibbon - Medical
Alex Hodgman - Medical


Confirmed Gone:
Ryan Smith - Ospreys
Mason Gordon - Medically retired
 
Last edited:
Dctarget

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
Blyth to the Tahs is confirmed. You'd think Anderson is all but definitely staying. From the unsigned Fa'agase and Campbell would be my main targets. Henry and Wright are great when fit but that's never, not very good return on the investment.

You need another lock signing and a flyhalf, whether that's HMP or Nathan Cleary I'm not fussed.
 
Wilson

Wilson

John Eales (66)
Even if we were to re-sign everyone left from this years squad (not going to happen) we're going to need to go to market for a lock and fullback. They don't need to be much more than squadies at this stage, though fullback becomes more important if Campbell goes.

Angelo Smith and Glen Vaihu look like pretty good options in QPR to round out those positions, with the added bonus of time spent with the ex-Rebels and Wests guys we have in the positions around them. Tom Banks could be a great pickup at fullback if we lose Campbell, but it sounds like he's heading to Montpellier. Rory Arnold is a possible left field option at lock now the he is off contract in Japan, but it would depend on him being willing to take a low paying contract to return. I think the same might be true for Ritchie in France as well. Otherwise wouldn't mind seeing us chase someone like Esei Ha'angana (assuming he's off contract) as a big body lock/backrow option.

Outside of those positions a lot depends on re-siginings, but we'll probably end up needing another lock or lock/backrow, centre and/or a utility back that covers 10, loosehead prop, and scrum half. These are the off contract pros I'm aware of that we should start with, but I'm sure there are more:

Lock:
Angelo Smith (see above)
Rory/Ritchie Arnold (see above)
Michael Stolberg (getting on now but might make a good squad lock)
Max Douglas (Good young lock, tall and technical. Almost certainly not off contract, but with the Welsh looking to cut a team I'd be talking to him now in case the opportunity arises)

Lock/Backrow:
Angus Scott-Young (would be great if Wright doesn't continue or is looking to be stuck in rehab)

Scrum-half:
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (getting old and likely about to retire, might be a good depth option for a year if we lose Kalani while Werchon is making the step up and we prep the younger guys)

Utility:
James O'Connor (probably going to Leicster)
Bayley Kuenzle (I don't see us luring him away from the Force, but it's worth having a conversation)
Max Burey (less interesing but more chance of picking him up. Would likely be an upgrade on Gibbs, but maybe only marginally)
Duncan Paia'aua (has been playing a bit of 15 recently so offers utility across the backline. Wouldn't want to spend a lot on him but if he's keen for a homecoming he could be solid depth)

Centre:
Samu Kerevi (probably only comes into play with RA help and if Henry is done, but he might want to end his career at home)
Sam Johnson (would really just be for squad depth while Pakeho/Goldsborough come on, and only if we lose Henry)
Harry Wilson (available and probably cheap but not too exciting. I expect he will probably just land wherever Teddy does between the tahs and the Force, but he is a bigger body which we could use, possibly also at 15)

There will definitely be some guys running around Hospital's cup equal or better than at least a few of these suggestions, but I'm not as up on it this year. I also think it's pretty important we balance the club guys we bring up and the experience we bring in, so I wouldn't want to be filling all of our vacancies from one or the other.

It looks like pretty slim pickings for loose heads out there (at least Australian qualified ones) so we might be stuck looking to the club scene there. That probably makes retaining one of Hodgman, Gibbon and Fa'agase of greater importance. Possibly someone King/Bloomfield step up at tight head and Toomaga-Allen swaps across more permanantley, but I'd still want an experienced tight head to come in for a year in that case, given how young we'd otherwise be on that side of the scrum.
 
M

Major Tom

Ron Walden (29)
Wilson said:
Even if we were to re-sign everyone left from this years squad (not going to happen) we're going to need to go to market for a lock and fullback. They don't need to be much more than squadies at this stage, though fullback becomes more important if Campbell goes.

Angelo Smith and Glen Vaihu look like pretty good options in QPR to round out those positions, with the added bonus of time spent with the ex-Rebels and Wests guys we have in the positions around them. Tom Banks could be a great pickup at fullback if we lose Campbell, but it sounds like he's heading to Montpellier. Rory Arnold is a possible left field option at lock now the he is off contract in Japan, but it would depend on him being willing to take a low paying contract to return. I think the same might be true for Ritchie in France as well. Otherwise wouldn't mind seeing us chase someone like Esei Ha'angana (assuming he's off contract) as a big body lock/backrow option.

Outside of those positions a lot depends on re-siginings, but we'll probably end up needing another lock or lock/backrow, centre and/or a utility back that covers 10, loosehead prop, and scrum half. These are the off contract pros I'm aware of that we should start with, but I'm sure there are more:

Lock:
Angelo Smith (see above)
Rory/Ritchie Arnold (see above)
Michael Stolberg (getting on now but might make a good squad lock)
Max Douglas (Good young lock, tall and technical. Almost certainly not off contract, but with the Welsh looking to cut a team I'd be talking to him now in case the opportunity arises)

Lock/Backrow:
Angus Scott-Young (would be great if Wright doesn't continue or is looking to be stuck in rehab)

Scrum-half:
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (getting old and likely about to retire, might be a good depth option for a year if we lose Kalani while Werchon is making the step up and we prep the younger guys)

Utility:
James O'Connor (probably going to Leicster)
Bayley Kuenzle (I don't see us luring him away from the Force, but it's worth having a conversation)
Max Burey (less interesing but more chance of picking him up. Would likely be an upgrade on Gibbs, but maybe only marginally)
Duncan Paia'aua (has been playing a bit of 15 recently so offers utility across the backline. Wouldn't want to spend a lot on him but if he's keen for a homecoming he could be solid depth)

Centre:
Samu Kerevi (probably only comes into play with RA help and if Henry is done, but he might want to end his career at home)
Sam Johnson (would really just be for squad depth while Pakeho/Goldsborough come on, and only if we lose Henry)
Harry Wilson (available and probably cheap but not too exciting. I expect he will probably just land wherever Teddy does between the tahs and the Force, but he is a bigger body which we could use, possibly also at 15)

There will definitely be some guys running around Hospital's cup equal or better than at least a few of these suggestions, but I'm not as up on it this year. I also think it's pretty important we balance the club guys we bring up and the experience we bring in, so I wouldn't want to be filling all of our vacancies from one or the other.

It looks like pretty slim pickings for loose heads out there (at least Australian qualified ones) so we might be stuck looking to the club scene there. That probably makes retaining one of Hodgman, Gibbon and Fa'agase of greater importance. Possibly someone King/Bloomfield step up at tight head and Toomaga-Allen swaps across more permanantley, but I'd still want an experienced tight head to come in for a year in that case, given how young we'd otherwise be on that side of the scrum.
Click to expand...
I agree, there's a few positions that we are short in.
Locks we definitely need at least 2 with Smith and Blythe gone. But we're fine in the backrow even with Wright injured IMO.
LHP is a concern. Ross coming in is huge but Hodgman and Gibbon are both unreliable and I think a decision needs to come soon on at least one so we can recruit another. Don't mind the idea of JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) playing LH with Bloomfield and King able to step up at TH for short stints.
Halfback I wouldn't worry about bolstering because I like Tate, Werchon and Martens. Flyhalf, we need to identify another option here to replace Gordon to support Lynagh and HMP (maybe Burey as mentioned)
At centre, it's the same deal halfback. Hunter, Flook, Dre, Henry and Frankie all good options. Daugunu a back-up but rather him on the wing. I like Ruebens at souths to come in if we get hit with injuries like this year.
Fullback is a concern. Happy to resign Campbell but we need another option here. I like Vaihu, he probably wouldn't break the bank and he could be a handy utility. Don't know enough about Will McCulloch.
 
dillyboy

dillyboy

Colin Windon (37)
dru said:
Man, wouldn't that be something. Can we offer him the sort of funds he may be looking for?
Click to expand...
There was an article this week claiming his management had reached out to all the Aussie sides & none were interested.

Other plus is Quade's also looking for a gig next year....
 
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TSR

TSR

Steve Williams (59)
Glen Vaihu seems to me a pretty good option to try to pick up.

Would David Fusitu’a be an option to add some size to the backline? Not sure where he is at motivation wise but from the bits of Hospital Cup I’ve watched still seems very capable.
 
Dctarget

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
Major Tom said:
Yeah, you need 3 at least. It highlights again why losing Mason is such a blow. He was that 3rd option who could also back up at fullback.
Click to expand...
Wonder if there's a slightly more mature and better version of him that will be going for a low price because of sketchy injuries floating around in the area?

On that, why wasn't Carter ever tried at fb? Doesn't need to kick sticks then, has a monster of a tackle. Good pace and height.
 
Wilson

Wilson

John Eales (66)
Major Tom said:
Halfback I wouldn't worry about bolstering because I like Tate, Werchon and Martens.
Click to expand...
Though they're both good prospects I'm not entirely convinced Werchon is ready, and even more so Martens. Even if they are we still really want 4 available to cover injuries. That said, Will Cartwright is also good cover, and has been around the group for some time so should be ready to slot in.
 
M

Major Tom

Ron Walden (29)
Dctarget said:
Wonder if there's a slightly more mature and better version of him that will be going for a low price because of sketchy injuries floating around in the area?

On that, why wasn't Carter ever tried at fb? Doesn't need to kick sticks then, has a monster of a tackle. Good pace and height.
Click to expand...
Well carter is still under contract and I'm not signing anyone with his spinal injury. If healthy, he would go fine a fullback.
 
Wilson

Wilson

John Eales (66)
Dctarget said:
Wonder if there's a slightly more mature and better version of him that will be going for a low price because of sketchy injuries floating around in the area?

On that, why wasn't Carter ever tried at fb? Doesn't need to kick sticks then, has a monster of a tackle. Good pace and height.
Click to expand...
I seem to remember him being very sketchy under the high ball when he did drop back. Not sure he has any of the positional play either, given he usually defended in the front line.
 
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