Bring on the 2016 Super Rugby season

NZ nailed the WB LO in Eden Park. Long before RWC I do wonder what their succession plan is at 8. Tala Grey is overseas

not sure why u whould bother with Palu. he is like 33 right? no way he will play in Japan 2019 so look for a new 8 AND A REAL 8 . not the stop gap 7 who plays there and offers little. innovation works only as long as others get wiser - and in the internet age that is very quick. NZ got wiser to the double 7 3rd row within a few weeks at the rwc. surely other teams will learn too :) imo , it is still not late to use Higginbotham and have a younger understudy. as for Israel folau, maybe he needs to work on defensive positioning at 15. but if he is going to play 13 in super rugger , imo, he will forget the little he knows about fullback play :)

I had the same impression of CFS during the s15 last year and was quite critical of his play. I hope he has recovered from any injuries and also lost that extra weight he has been carrying through fitness training, etc. I also hope that this is the year that he shows us all what he can do on the field.

best player in the world?? he's not even the best full back in the world. he should work on that first

Hey Noah, thanks for the article. My wish for each three: - Izzy learns how to pass well - CFS learns to how play inside a Rugby field - Cliffy learns consistency Somewhat more seriously, some players I look forward to / wish for: 1. Front row: Paraka / Ready / Ollie Hoskins / Alaalatoa (road test), Chibba / Charles (consolidate), Taniela (arrival), Holmsey / BenR / Pek Cowan (grizzle), Squeak (winning) 2. Locks: Coleman (realisation), Big Willy (S&C), Richie Arnold (revelation), Lousi / Caderyn (fulfillment), Simmons (toughness), KD (healthy) 3. flockankers: Fardy (longevity / knowledge), Luke Jones (next Fardy?) 4. Opensides: SeanMc (become a seven), Gill / Poey / Hoops (define respective eras), Hoops (leadership), Jordy (realisation), Hodgo (grizzle), Kane Koteka (road test) 5. 8 man: Timani (road test), Lolo / Tui (arrival), Ita V (realisation), BigDog / Cliffy (grizzle), Schatz (curious)

2016 Super Rugby I am also impatient to see the start of the new season, and I am sure that we will see some exciting new blood emerge, particularly from the NZ teams. It is interesting to read Noah Hughes hopes that Wycliff Palu will step up to the plate for the Waratahs again. Palu has been recorded as the "wrecking ball" for many years now, but few of us have seen him wreck many balls. It is seldom that he makes 10 metres over the advantage line. In fact, NZ rugby fans are delighted when he wears the No.8 jumper for NSW or Wallabies. It is obvious that I have a leaning towards NZ rugby. But, I do applaud the other many sports where Ossie teams are often the very best. And, I hope that the Wallabies keep improving this new season - for the sake of the great game.

Folau?? He topped virtually every statistical category in Super Rugby last season (again) and dominated the Rugby Championships, won the John Eales Medal and was touted the best player in the world before hurting his ankle in England. People have short memories.

Where is the talent coming from. That qld backline looks like a 1990s third grade club side. It will get slaughtered

He's a great prospect who has those fullback/winger skills and genuine pace in the Cory James/James O'Connor mould.

Yeah agreed regarding Laloifi, definitely not expecting him to hold onto a starting jersey every week, but would love to see him get a few chances, off the bench initially if that's the way the squad is looking, to see if he can translate his NRC success to the bigger stage. Kuridrani was a good threat, maybe it was just that our halves and centre combos were such a revolving door last year for long parts of the season that he didn't get as much ball as I would've liked him too. I do recall a few big games where he made some decent runs, just not at the consistency I was hoping for, albeit his first season with considerable game time. Here's hoping he plays to his potential with whatever chances he's afforded.

I think expectations on Laloifi should be tempered a little. He was an NRC bench player in 2014. Did well as a starter in 2015 so if he can get some bench time this year for the Reds that will be good progression. Personally on the field I thought Kuridrani was one of our better performers last year. Threatened a lot.

Nabuli and Setu will be interesting to watch, and I'm hoping that Perese and Laloifi get as much time as possible to expand on their impressive NRC matches. Tuilagi is pretty impressive and a great attacking option, but I'm less impressed with what Kuridrani offers compared to our other wing options - he'll really be relying on McIntrye and Hunt to set him up with some good ball otherwise he didn't seem to go after the ball as much as someone of his size and speed should. I like the idea of a big powerful wing (Nabuli/CFS) alongside a faster more elusive wing (Laloifi/Kuridrani/Tuilagi) to complement a kicking fullback (Goromaru or Hunt if not used at 13) so I think we have the options there and the potential for a great team, it just depends how long it takes them all to gel. I still see 2016 as a building year for the Reds, but it'd be great to see them play as well as they're capable of.

That also ignores Perese from Q Country when he returns from injury and Lagi Setu (former Aus Schoolboy and NRL player) as a center option.

Marto Kerevi actually debuted in 2014. He was excellent then too.

I do wonder how he fits in. With JJ Tuilaigi coming back and with Nabuli and Laloifi both on the books in addition to Kuridrani there's a lot of competition. Fullback has Goromaru and Hunt as options. There's also Magnay who's another 13/wing option and Ant Fainga'a a 13 option. Plus Hunt is a 12 and 13 option. Personally I saw Turner on one wing with Kuridrani on the other a good combo. With any of these players on the wing, you have two wings, neither of which are capable kickers except for Tuilagi. I do think our best backline is probably something closer to: 9. Frisby 10. McIntyre 11. Kuridrani 12. Kerevi 13. Hunt 14. Nabuli 15. Goromaru Even then with Fainga'a and Tuilagi who is capable of covering wing and fullback, CFS struggles to make it onto the bench. He really has to outshine Fainga'a, Hunt, Nabuli or Kuridrani to push for a spot.

Kerevi was sensational in his debut year..Lets hope he doesn`t have second year syndrome..Wallaby honours very close if he plays well in 2016

Would you find room for him in the starting XV for the Reds, TWAS? I want to put him on a wing, but I fear that ever since he was used as a centre and bulked up a bit, he's lacked the know-how of what to do on the wing and looked a bit lost the past few seasons. Laloifi is a speedster that's always looking for the ball, if his size doesn't get in the way I can see him having a similar effect to Milner-Skudder in 2-3 years, he's got great footwork and pace.

CFS still is only 22 , but i thought he was lazy with and without the ball last year..Injuries? Dunno....He can be great if fit and leaner..This is his 5th year for QLD ?? So no more excuses..

I was of the same mindset and was hoping he'd improve enough and stay healthy enough to crack the wallabies, but even in the Souths final he wasn't as fit as your typical international winger should be. I like your backline a lot, and can understand the want for Faingaa, but I'm hoping for: Frisby, McIntrye, Laloifi, Kerevi, Hunt, Sautia, Goromaru just to give us a better attacking edge but still giving us the defensive reliability of Hunt and Goromaru plus the relative defensive strengths of Macca and Kerevi in their respective channels. Very keen to see what RG deems the best team though