Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Also, which does Australia need to get right more?
Queensland Reds 2026
- Thread starter Adam84
- Start date
Strewthcobber
Phil Kearns (64)
Is Hilton still Wallaby lineout coach (I think he came in for Parling through the year)?
Given how that went on tour, maybe we should be looking elsewhere......
Edit: flat out wrong
Given how that went on tour, maybe we should be looking elsewhere......
Edit: flat out wrong
Red Runner
Syd Malcolm (24)
No Tom Donnelly is the wallaby lineout coach.
Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
He was never the lineout coach. It was Donelly.
Red Runner
Syd Malcolm (24)
Dunno. I feel less confident about this year than last. Perhaps it’s ongoing concerns about Kiss as HC. But I don’t think our squad is stronger.
roughly the changes are:
props - Hodgman, Gibbon and Fa’agase out and Ross and Bloomfield in. Didn’t see much of Gibbon last year but I think Hodgman is a huge loss. He’s better than Ross. Weaker this year.
Hooker - Craig gone with no replacement. Meh.
locks - Smith and Blyth gone. Muller in. Weaker. Heaps so. Probably going to play Uru at lock too.
backrow - Wright and Vest gone. No one in. Weaker on the back of Wright’s leadership.
Scrummies - no change
Flyhalf - Mason Gordon and Jude Gibbs gone with Carter Gordon and Ben Volavola in. Both obvious upgrades.
Centres - no real change but perhaps we see more of Henry and Goldsborough. Calling it even until we see them on the field.
back 3 - just the additions of young Conway and Pritchard. Neither should factor.
so I think we are overall weaker than last season. In fact I think most Oz squads are as well. Perhaps Tahs better on paper but so many changes will make it hard for them.
but from a Reds perspective, we look weaker.
roughly the changes are:
props - Hodgman, Gibbon and Fa’agase out and Ross and Bloomfield in. Didn’t see much of Gibbon last year but I think Hodgman is a huge loss. He’s better than Ross. Weaker this year.
Hooker - Craig gone with no replacement. Meh.
locks - Smith and Blyth gone. Muller in. Weaker. Heaps so. Probably going to play Uru at lock too.
backrow - Wright and Vest gone. No one in. Weaker on the back of Wright’s leadership.
Scrummies - no change
Flyhalf - Mason Gordon and Jude Gibbs gone with Carter Gordon and Ben Volavola in. Both obvious upgrades.
Centres - no real change but perhaps we see more of Henry and Goldsborough. Calling it even until we see them on the field.
back 3 - just the additions of young Conway and Pritchard. Neither should factor.
so I think we are overall weaker than last season. In fact I think most Oz squads are as well. Perhaps Tahs better on paper but so many changes will make it hard for them.
but from a Reds perspective, we look weaker.
Wilson
David Wilson (68)
Every one of those categories you've listed as 'no change' look stronger by virtue of the extra years experience those players have, and have together. Back row as well looks to have taken a step forward given Wright's unavailability last year, Brial's step up, and better coverage from some of the young players in the EPS.
Ignoto
Geoff Shaw (53)
Due to how long Hodgman was out for last year, we essentially played the entire season without him and replaced him with Ross.
The same thing can be said about Liam Wright. Brial has been performing at a level that has matched Liam’s most recent contributions if you ask me.
Second row is the only spot where we are objectively weaker if you ask me. Really needed one experienced lock to come in. Maybe something can be worked out with Benneton or even Robbie Deans Japanese team.
Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Backrow - Latu and Robinson. Not at Vest or Wright's level but we're very strong in that department.
Red Runner
Syd Malcolm (24)
Latu and Robinson are in the wide training squad. Not the main squad.
Red Runner
Syd Malcolm (24)
hodgman featured in 7 games. Almost half the season.
I said we’d miss Wrights leadership. Brial doesn’t replace that.
Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Wright is loss but we didn’t have him last year anyways.
Latu will see some game time, Robinson only if it’s an emergency.
Spamnoodle
Jim Clark (26)
Everyone here is well aware.
Happy for you to talk about his Reds work here.
For his future Wallabies work try Wallabies 2026 thread.
Cheers.
Spamnoodle
Jim Clark (26)
They've recruited well. But it has a kind of mercenary feel.