This is not about Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Digby Ioane or James Horwill. I am talking about David Pocock, Nemani Nadolo, Israel Folau and Scott Higginbotham.
With these eight on the roster along with the likes of James Hanson, Rory Arnold, the Reds would be indestructible. With some administrative nous they could add ‘reserve players’ such as Liam Gill, Jarrad Butler, Sean McMahon, and surprise packets such as Jono Lance.
There is no need for overseas marquees. What is happening today with Queensland is like exporting iron and steel then importing cars.
Today, members, fans and observers are obsessed with Queensland Rugby’s inability to select a suitable head coach. While this is the immediate issue at hand, the strategic challenge for Queensland Rugby Union is the lack of ability to retain its best players. This is something NSW suffers from less.
It was despite the attrition, that an exceptional coach in Ewen McKenzie was able to cobble together a world-class team. Thus, the Reds fortunes left with him.
Selection changed from astute choices designed to win games (eg Radike Samo) to “fan friendly” players. The most telling is Ayumu Goromaru, who currently holds one of the most critical positions in Reds rugby. Before this was the appointment of Super Rugby rookie Karmichael Hunt as vice captain.
Who’s ideas were these? These are bonehead marketing ideas, by marketing men, not footballing decisions.
This is not about money, this is about identity. The money will come if you get the identity right. Why do Queenslanders pour hard earned dollars in the past few years despite the shocking results? This is because we identify with our state.
What the administration needs to do now, is to regroup. With the fans, the administration must win the hearts of target players. Target the best Queensland players in the world and bring them back to the Reds. Get a decent coaching team who can set an understandable base game and a performance standard befitting the talent on hand.
When it comes to identity, Queenslanders are the perennial underdogs irrespective of success. We welcome anyone who wants to stay, fight and bleed for our state. We take nothing for granted and admire people who either step up, or get out of the way.
Unfortunately, there seems some in Queensland Rugby Union who are unwilling to get out of the way. In the process, those who deserve a chance, are lost.
It is time for this new vision and administrators good enough to realise it. Until then Queensland might end up being the professional retirement home for players like Stephen Moore and Brad Thorn.
Possible Reds XV
1. James Slipper
2. James Hanson
3. Greg Holmes
4. Rory Arnold
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. David Pocock
8. An import eg: Lopeti Timani
9. Nick Frisby. Maybe Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Nemani Nadolo
12. Samu Kerevi. Or Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani. Or Special K
14. James O’Connor (or Joe Tomane)
15. Israel Folau
RobC
Roar Guru
So re above: http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/01/13/folau-wants-to-wear-maroon-in-rugby-origin/
RobC
Roar Guru
Very true T, there is talent. But I'd hesitate to inflate it. Im assuming you've been watching the SR games so far. You can see the gap between us and NZ A good administration will attract the best possible. The job should be made doubly easy if that administration produces around half the country's talent Also, This is not about ARU Wallabies or Check. What they do has minimal effect on this issue re Izzy and Brissie. Read through my comments with Peter re where Izzy's skills were groomed
RobC
Roar Guru
Mitch, no one is crying or talking about the past. Have another read. It's about the future. And an opinion about what kind of mgmt the Reds needs, and priorities they need to set.
RobC
Roar Guru
Yo Katipo. Before spouting Kiwi principles, pls be mindful this is about Queensland, not Auckland Some homework may help you with the basics
Mitch
Guest
that...that was beautiful
Mitch
Guest
so...how many games did Izzy play for the Reds? Stop worrying about the 'shoulda woulda coulda but didn'tas' and worry about the fact that in week 2 of the 2016 season your team sacked the coach, without a plan B. At the moment the Reds could have a Wallaby in every position and still lose- no structure, no game plan, no heart. I feel for the Reds, just don't go crying about how you want Izzy or Pocock and act like that's the reason you're losing.
realist
Guest
This. Well said.
Katipo
Guest
This is totally academic. Queensland doesn't have a team in Super Rugby. The franchise is called "Reds". There is no Queensland Rugby team anymore. Get over it. Its a franchise for people who like the colour red. Therefore the supporters and players can come from anywhere; as long as they like red. Auckland doesn't have a team either. But the colour "Blue" does. If your prefer the colour blue over the colour red you can go for them apparently. It doesn't matter where you live. Wellington. Auckland, Brisbane. Doesn't matter. That's the thinking of the SANZAR rugby brains trust I think? Representative rugby was given the boot some time back.
Ken Cathpole's Other Leg
Guest
Where's Menai? In Queensland!
T
Guest
Let's face it, Rugby players move around. While it would be nice to get Nemani Nadolo back from them Kiwis, Izzy was a New South Welshman to start with and probably one of the most valuable players in Australian rugby. As a Tahs fan I have to say: HANDS OFF! But I also have to say, whichever side of the rugby playing border you are on: we have a tremendous depth of talent in this country. It has seen a new ray of hope since Michael Cheika took over the helm at the Wallabies and Brumbies. I believe, given more time, we could have taken those Derned Kiwis last year. The talent is there. What we need are more coaches who can unite that talent and turn them from players into teams.
CUW
Guest
well, when he decides to come back , he will be too fat to even jog !!! :D i think he shud play center as he does for fiji , coz he is way too slow for a wing and if he is turned there is no hope. just check out the try scored when the fullback was ripped off - Nandolo is like 30m away trotting back :)
riddler
Guest
very true about the coach story.. never heard of paul westhead.. we had a similiar style coach back in the day for a few seasons.. absolutely belted us in preseason and even during the season.. needless to say we weren´t the most talented but we beat a lot more than we should of because of the fitness.. the fitness on the weekend looked veryt bad.. something that i thought having marsh return would be fixing.. am not putting too much faith in stiles nor o'connor, buit that is just personal biases on my part, will love to be surprised.. someone else here said a very smart actually, whereas they have a coach planned for and ready for 2017 and it was lesser of two evils keeping richard on for the 2016 season.. unfortunately the crowd numbers and social media avalanche has forced the managements hands as much as the results. anyways cheers rob.. always enjoy reading your, as well diggers, thoughts and comments, invariably i end up learning something so thanks..
RobC
Roar Guru
I always get my analogies metaphorically oxymoroned
grapeseed
Guest
"What is happening today with Queensland is like exporting iron and steel, then importing cars." While this is a nice analogy, I reckon it's more like a gardener who is trying to grow sunflowers. Every day, the gardener goes out to the back block, softens the ground with a judicious spray of his hose, carefully tills the soil, gently pokes the seeds into the ground, and then hires a coach with a poor track record to replace another coach who is lobbying for a national gig, re-contracts the unsuccessful coach, then sacks him almost immediately, all the while releasing disingenuous press releases that talk in mealy mouthed platitudes and faux corporate speak because all of the executives played rugby during their 20s and 30s, substituting actual corporate experience for MBAs as an afterthought while they burn the goodwill of their fan base through condescension, quasi-political machination and flagrant nepotism, creating a feedback loop where failure become reinforced and not just the emperor is naked, but the entire royal court is sitting around in the buff admiring the fine craftsmanship of their non-existent clothes. Wait, how do analogies work again?
RobC
Roar Guru
Maybe for now CUW. Do you know that he still calls Brisbane "HOME" He is a Queenslander through and through. When hes done the playing, he is in Brissie. Out of the four hypothetical names he is the one who can come back. Second in Higgers. Poey if he takes a break and upsets the Brums. Izzy highly unlikely. We already know Squeak will return next year.
RobC
Roar Guru
George Smith 11 years then 1 year Salvi 9 years Kimlin 7 years Shepherdson 7 years Gits 7 years then 2 years Vanderglas 4 years Coutts Battye left without a Brums cap. Jack Lam is a Kiwi, also no caps. Finger twins left for Qld, swapped for Squeak. No offence, I wished Reds / Brums didnt swap
RobC
Roar Guru
gday WCR. Its not really about SOO. Its more about what the Reds needs to do from hereon in. Its basically a long answer of Harry's shor question yesterday: what should be the direction? This post serves to highlight the lost opportunities so far. Izzy, like Rory, is not really lost based on the series of events However, if the Reds really had good administration that I think it should be, then Izzy like Rory would be a Red well before southern states would get a sniff at them.
CUW
Guest
u can count nandolo out. he went on record saying as a respect to the crusaders, he will not play for another super team :D he said it was the crusaders who gave him his rugby life back , after being ignored at waratahs.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Would this State of Origin be like the League version or based of where they were actually born. Because if its the latter. Izzy is ours and should remain in NSW.
Bakkies
Guest
Gits left the season Friend was sacked. Some of those didn't play much Super Rugby for the Brumbies. Given the revolving door after Finegan retired the Brumbies could have done with Ben White.