Reds name Taniela 'Tongan Thor' Tupou for trial match

3rd February, 2016

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Taniela Tupou has been named as a development player for the Wallabies.(Source: Queensland Reds)

News

3rd February, 2016

Queensland Reds fans will get a glimpse into the future on Saturday with plenty of fresh faces set to play during the team’s first Super Rugby pre-season trial against the Crusaders.

The 30-man squad named on Thursday for the Ballymore clash features 20 returning Reds and 10 players who will be pulling on the Queensland jersey for the first time.

The newcomers include former NRL winger Eto Nabuli, former Rebels lock Caderyn Neville and boom prop Taniela Tupou – better known as the Tongan Thor – who will come off the bench.

Unheralded halves pairing Jake McIntyre and Nick Frisby have been handed first crack at succeeding departed Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia, while Karmichael Hunt will begin his 2016 redemption mission at fullback.

Stand-in captain Rob Simmons, filling in for the injured James Slipper, will lead the Reds onto Ballymore in his first match since last year’s World Cup.

“I’m excited by the progress we’ve made physically in the pre-season but it’s now about testing ourselves under pressure,” Reds coach Richard Graham said.

“There is a lot of competition for spots and that’s a good position to be in.”

Queensland Reds:
1. Ben Daley
2. Andrew Ready
3. Sam Talakai
4. Cadeyrn Neville
5. Rob Simmons (C)
6. Lolo Fakaosilea
7. Liam Gill
8. Jake Schatz
9. Nick Frisby
10. Jake McIntyre
11. Eto Nabuli
12. Henry Taefu
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Chris Feauai-Sautia
15. Karmichael Hunt

Reserves:
Saia Fainga’a
Sef Fa’agase
Taniela Tupou
Ben Matwijow
Lukhan Tui
Curtis Browning
Maclean Jones
Michael Gunn
James Tuttle
Mack Mason
Chris Kuridrani
Duncan Paia’aua
Campbell Magnay
Alex Gibbon
Sam Greene

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