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Red Lance looks to shine at 'Tahs

Roar Guru
3rd May, 2013
26

The NSW Waratahs have prepared for the expected loss of Berrick Barnes by signing Queensland utility Jono Lance – the third back to leave the Reds after the Super Rugby season.

Lance’s defection, coming just after Wallabies and Reds winger Digby Ioane signed a mega-rich two-year deal in France, is expected to be announced by the Waratahs early next week.

The son of Canberra rugby league premiership back-rower Dean, Lance is understood to be looking for more opportunities to shine as a playmaker at five-eighth or inside centre.

The 22-year-old – hemmed in behind Quade Cooper, Ben Tapuai and Mike Harris at the Reds – appears a good fit for NSW with Barnes set to leave for Japan and current No.12 Rob Horne more of a direct ball-runner.

Lance has had little chance to show his ball-playing skills for Queensland, instead being used as a tackling fullback positioned in the front line to allow Cooper to counter-attack from the back in defence.

Lance started at No.15 in the Reds’ 2011 final triumph over the Crusaders and has also cemented his place there this year after a strong start to 2012 in the centres was ruined by a serious knee injury.

While Queensland have lost three outside backs in Lance, Ioane and winger-fullback Luke Morahan (Western Force), they remain well resourced with Wallabies winger Dom Shipperley, young gun Chris Feauai-Sautia, Rod Davies and Aidan Toua.

Harris and fellow utility Ben Lucas can also play fullback.

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Queensland have continued to bolster their back-row stocks by signing Australian under-20 captain Curtis Browning to a two-year deal, a decision that signals the end of ageless Wallaby Radike Samo’s fairytale four-season stint at the Reds.

A blindside flanker or No.8, Browning made his Super Rugby debut off the bench in round six against the Bulls after developing his game at Ballymore beside starting back-rowers Liam Gill, Ed Quirk and Jake Schatz.

“Curtis has long been identified as a player of the future for the Reds and you can already see the improvements he has made this year,” said 2014 head coach Richard Graham.

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