Queensland coach Phil Mooney has resisted the urge to make drastic changes to his off-colour Reds for Saturday’s Super 14 clash with the Blues at North Harbour Stadium.
Mooney has made three changes to his starting team which fell to a fourth straight defeat with a humiliating 31-20 loss to the lowly Lions at Suncorp Stadium.
All three are injury-related with key duo Daniel Braid (Achilles) and Peter Hynes (knee) ruled out and veteran lock Van Humphries (shoulder) returning to fitness.
Teenager Luke Morahan will make his run-on debut against the fifth-placed Blues in place of winger Hynes while Tasi Luafutu replaces former All Blacks flanker Braid, who had been looking forward to playing his old team.
Adam Byrnes drops back to the bench to make way for Humphries, forcing Leroy Houston to be axed from the 22.
Mooney has stuck with erratic playmaker Quade Cooper at five-eighth despite considering a shift of inside centre Berrick Barnes to first-receiver to better control play.
The second-year coach, who initially forecast changes “across the board”, was pleased by his 13th-placed team’s reaction to their woeful display last weekend, showing a collective sense of ownership of their performances.
RED’S SIDE
Mark McLinden, Luke Morahan, Digby Ioane, Berrick Barnes, Brando Va’aulu, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ezra Taylor, Tasi Luafutu, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill (capt), Van Humphries, Laurie Weeks, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Jack Kennedy, Adam Byrnes, Scott Higginbotham, Ben Lucas, Anthony Faingaa, Charlie Fetoai.
Harry
Guest
I'm hoping this win will help Qld retain the players we really need to - my wish list is Horwill, McM, Holmes, Daley, Weekes, Simmons, Higginbotham, Lucas, Genia, Cooper, Barnes, Ioane, Hynes. No doubt being the Reds we will lose one or two of that list though. I realise I'm being totally naive and our old friends of rugby (not) the "agents' are out there agitating for change - any change - and claiming big offers are already on the table from the Yokahama Kiminoes and the Toulouse Snail Munchers, so Qld has to bankrupt themselves if they want to retain their player.
El Capitan
Guest
Maxxy, On another thread about the Reds I've been supporting the team, and was told that "it was because of people like me who keep a fool like Mooney at the helm" or words to that affect. You can still support teams, and as I stated in the other thread, I've been with the team through the good times and bad. You can't ditch a coach who is trying and yeah they haven't won many games, but for who is in the team (no real senior players) they are doing a good job. In the past its been relying on Latho and others, but I think last night was a good step in the right direction for future building and hopefully a few more wins this season will encourage the players to stay and work on that team building and take the Reds back up to the heights of previous ereas
Harry
Guest
Hello fellow Qld rugby supporters how was last night eh. Congratulations to the players and well deserved Phil Mooney. Forwards finally stood up as a unit and the Barnes/Cooper interplay as a lot better with Barnes taking primary responsiblity - my man of the match. As a playmaker he was a class above anyone else on the paddock. Delighted to have one Qld win against the Kiwi's, would be great to see them knock off the Canes and Saders as well, or at least one of them. Please put the effort into those games instead of the Brumbies. I have to have one whinge however as to how, yet again, NZ teams burgle points after the bell - some highly sympathetic timekeeping in the 1st half (by my reckoning and the Foxtel timekeeper it was well past 40 minutes when the 2nd lineout was called that led to their try) and yet another score after the bell in the 2nd half got them 2 bonus points which frankly they did not deserve. I hope those points don't keep either the Brums, Force or Tahs out of a semi spot at season end. Similarly, the Saders salvaged a point after the bell (that one was probably deserved) with a sidline penalty kick, just good examples of how smart Kiwi teams are.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
fred and Mother Theresa - I apologise you were right and I was wrong. Strange days when I cant pick a human reaction anymore. Great game enjoyed it immensely. Still thought that Cooper was average and Barnes played his best 5/8 role from No 12? Will drop my apology on the other thread as well.
Maxxy
Guest
El - didn't see you leaping to Mooney's defence before the game - always easier after the event. Just for the record I have tipped the Reds all season so it is not because of passion just simply discussing the facts. That was his 6th win in 2 seasons, but I know a sandwich does not make a picinic - so here's hoping for more
El Capitan
Guest
Mother, Mate looks like the Reds did all right, but perhaps its cause I'm supporting them, just like when I was making excuses cause the coach didn't know what he was doing?
mother teresa
Guest
ZZZZ the colts teams and the wallabies are easy to coach in comparison to s14; the coach has a lot of sway and the players have little alternative but to comply. very disappointed in mooneys rhetoric lacking substance and that doesnt auger well for the team
zzzz
Guest
Instead of jellyfishing, there was a case for Mooney to make changes, because last time he did the Reds improved against the Highlanders. Remember this guy coached the 2006 U19 World Champions and Australia A. You'd think he would have done all his talking a few weks ago. Discuss.
Maxxy
Guest
I think the Reds will win the s14 title for spin - Looks like the Blues are resting key players against the reds this weekend so they aren't showing us much respect - maybe we can surprise them like the Sharks, this seems to be our only tactic He is hoping (we dont even have Latham to win a few games for us at the end of each season and give us false hope) How many games of s14 have the Reds won since they dumped McBain??? Is the current Reds staff under any pressure - I note the tahs fans expect much from Hickey, are we a bit too soft
mother teresa
Guest
MAXXY IT SEEMS WHITAKER THE HP MANAGER ENLISTS THE BRAIDS,TURUNUIS ETC AND THEY FALL OVER,BRINGS UP THE TWINS FOR MOORE AND THEY DONT START,BRINGS BYRNE(LOCK) AND PROBLEMATIC BUT APART FROM THAT HE IS A GREAT HIGH PERFORMANCE MANAGER. STILLMISSIT HAS A GOOD POINT ;IF MOONEY STATES THERE WILL BE MASS CHANGES AND NOTHING CHANGES IT REALLY BORDERS ON WANKERISM DOES IT NOT
Maxxy
Guest
Fred - He would not run my business - I note that Braid was going to do a runner to Europe after a season in the sun but the Scarlets are going to rip up his contract because he has a serious injury. Now I see he might stay at the reds - this says alot about the culture. He was happy to bugger off, now he is injured (an injury that may see him lose speed and agility in the future) he might stay - Is he making the decisions or is it the Reds (HP Manager/Coach) Re- signing players who are injured and dont want to be there sends out poor messages - Bring back Ballymore
fred
Guest
STILLMISSIT, I AGREE MOONEY SHOULD HAVE SHUT HIS MOUTH WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF HIS ABILITY/BALANCE..HE IS NOT LISTENING TO YOUR STICK APPROACH STILLMISSIT. SO YOU RECKON THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT LIKELY THIS SEASON? WOULD YOU HAVE HIM RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS? HE HAS BEEN HANGING AROUND THE REDS FOR 5 YEARS NOW SUGGESTING HES THE MAN ; WOULD YOU HAVE HIM CONTINUE;;;I DONT THINK SO
stillmissit
Roar Guru
What a load of rubbish - Mooney should have kept his mouth shut. He has missed an opportunity to kick them in the pants and I expect little from them for the rest of the season. Barnes is twice the 5/8 that Cooper is AT THE MOMENT. He should have moved Barnes to 5/8 as it is, they are off in the wind without a rudder and a heap of canvas missing.