The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Willing to pay 300k+ for a backup? Any bloke in an NRL squad as a half is on that + some.
Carter is the obvious one
Queensland Reds 2026
- Thread starter Adam84
- Start date
Carter is the obvious one
Wilson
Tim Horan (67)
He'd be great to have (at the right price), but I'm not sure how concrete the Reds interest is or how realistic a signing it would be - the quote from Cordingley is:
"We're definitely interested. We'd love to have him. We just want the best players in our game.”
You'd be hard pressed to find a GM/DoR whom wouldn't say the same. Whether or not he ends up in Oz will be largely down to RA.
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
That’s elite. Good on them.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
The Reds position in the Brisbane team power rankings takes another hit with the Lions and Broncos having great seasons.
And before someone posts “yes but SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) doesn’t compete with those comps anymore” - my concern is more the lack of exposure and marketing to the grassroots in contrast to what is happening with the other sports.
Young players idolise the likes of Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Charlie Cameron etc. Rugby Is seriously lacking the department of players who kids want to grow up to be.
And before someone posts “yes but SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) doesn’t compete with those comps anymore” - my concern is more the lack of exposure and marketing to the grassroots in contrast to what is happening with the other sports.
Young players idolise the likes of Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Charlie Cameron etc. Rugby Is seriously lacking the department of players who kids want to grow up to be.
Major Tom
Dick Tooth (41)
Agree but it’s nothing new really. Reds really did need to capitalise when the Seibold drama unfolding and didn’t. Lions have been a force for 7 years now. Ultimately, the reds will be fine if they win games. And Les going to the wallabies gig helps to I think. Broncos will always draw talent in but now with the lions academy kids can really see a pathway to the afl and to premiership success. And it’s quick!
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
The main difference between now and eras gone by is that we are getting further away from the last success of the Wallabies and Reds.
I just don’t see how our grassroots programs will be able to keep drawing players in against the likes of league and AFL. The parents with current rugby juniors and schoolboy aged players would still have fond memories of the 2011 Reds GF win and Wallabies success in the 90s.
General Brisbane based sports fans have no real positive rugby experiences since 2011 whereas those other codes have plenty. Even the generational feeder systems in the AIC/GPS are fully developing AFL and League programs because the demand is there.
The 2027 home RWC could obviously change things in a big way.
I just don’t see how our grassroots programs will be able to keep drawing players in against the likes of league and AFL. The parents with current rugby juniors and schoolboy aged players would still have fond memories of the 2011 Reds GF win and Wallabies success in the 90s.
General Brisbane based sports fans have no real positive rugby experiences since 2011 whereas those other codes have plenty. Even the generational feeder systems in the AIC/GPS are fully developing AFL and League programs because the demand is there.
The 2027 home RWC could obviously change things in a big way.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
If the Reds win games and have some nice weather for home games they will be fine. I think it's unfair on them to compare to the NRL and AFL now. They exist in a different tier than the others.
Rugby should want to always be bigger than the others in the A League, NBL etc. Feels defeatist but I think it's realistic. If the Reds are going well they will get a % of Broncs and Lions fans pay they money to come and watch a good product.
Rugby should want to always be bigger than the others in the A League, NBL etc. Feels defeatist but I think it's realistic. If the Reds are going well they will get a % of Broncs and Lions fans pay they money to come and watch a good product.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
At what stage do they potentially move away from Suncorp? Particularly if the stand renovation gets funding, there is a strong possibility the Reds end up playing in front of 8k fans in a 60k seater stadium.
Ballymore really doesn't have the public transport or entertainment precinct infrastructure to become a regular option again.
Ballymore really doesn't have the public transport or entertainment precinct infrastructure to become a regular option again.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Are their many appropriate venues in Brisbane other than Ballymore? Can't imagine they would like the idea of turning out in a Q Cup ground.
Reds can sit between 15-20k people with good performances. I think QLD is at the start of a decent window of seasons win wise. That puts bums on seats and as long as the bottom tiers are full enough it's a great home.
Reds can sit between 15-20k people with good performances. I think QLD is at the start of a decent window of seasons win wise. That puts bums on seats and as long as the bottom tiers are full enough it's a great home.
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Tomikin
Michael Lynagh (62)
They won't be moving from Suncorp, that silly talk..
| 2024–25 season | |
|---|---|
| Highest home attendance | 20,072 vs. Waratahs, 15 March |
| Lowest home attendance | 7,377 vs. Force, 29 March |
| Average home league attendance | 14,493 |
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
The Reds cracked 15k a couple of times and barely scraped in 20k against the Tahs which is always their marquee matchup.
I think realistically they'd be aiming for anything above 10k as being a decent crowd.
I agree they can't really move away from Suncorp so yeh it is silly talk but if we are talking about SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) not being in the same league as NRL and AFL, the stadium isn't really fit for purpose either then.
It'll be a welcome surprise if the Reds crowd numbers improve in 2026 but I'm not sure what merit there currently is to assume it will happen. The economy certainly doesn't support families going to multiple games over a weekend and the Lions and Broncos are simply delivering better products.
I think realistically they'd be aiming for anything above 10k as being a decent crowd.
I agree they can't really move away from Suncorp so yeh it is silly talk but if we are talking about SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) not being in the same league as NRL and AFL, the stadium isn't really fit for purpose either then.
It'll be a welcome surprise if the Reds crowd numbers improve in 2026 but I'm not sure what merit there currently is to assume it will happen. The economy certainly doesn't support families going to multiple games over a weekend and the Lions and Broncos are simply delivering better products.
Major Tom
Dick Tooth (41)
The
That was pissing down rain though, wasn't it?
Felt like every home game for the Reds this year was pissing down.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
Adam84
Tim Horan (67)
I'm confused by this statement
Adam84
Tim Horan (67)
they don't...
like you've identified there is no alternative, Ballymore isn't fit for purpose, and access is only part of the reasons but the bigger reason is the lack of corporate facilities which make up a large portion of match day income at Suncorp.
It's not happening