The Queensland Reds are set to unveil one final coup for next season when they confirm the signing of former Wallaby back-rower Scott Higginbotham.
Enforcer Higginbotham is understood to have signed a three-year deal to return to Ballymore at the conclusion of his current deal with Japan’s NEC Green Rockets in early 2017.
It will give the Reds a potential back row of Higginbotham, George Smith and Hendrik Tui and caps off what is arguably the best Super Rugby roster of any Australian franchise.
Higginbotham, 30, will also come back into Test consideration with the move at a time when Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is tinkering with his loose forward set-up, with the impending departure of David Pocock next year.
The Reds will announce their full 38-man squad on Wednesday morning, which is also believed to include former NRL player Lachlan Maranta.
Maranta is the grandson of one of the founders of the Brisbane Broncos, for whom he has played for the last five seasons.
The 24-year-old will serve as back-up to current Reds fullback Karmichael Hunt while also adding depth on the wings.
Higginbotham and Maranta join fellow recruits Smith, Quade Cooper, Wallabies captain Stephen Moore, Leroy Houston and Caleb Timu, while the in-form Samu Kerevi has been retained along with James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas and Nick Frisby, who were already on the books.
Browny
Roar Rookie
I get what you're saying, CUW. Qld has Higgers and Houston, Force have McCalman and Naisarani, Rebels have Timani and Mafi, NSW has Holloway and ACT has Butler. NSW have one genuine 8, albeit a young and promising one, while the Brumbies have Butler who's pretty much the same size as McMahon. It would probably help development if some of the candidates were spread a little more evenly across the franchises. That being said, I have no qualms with Higgers going home (along with Quade, Houston, etc) and it will be a good thing for Australian rugby (at least in the short term) if the Reds do well and can make a fist of it next year.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
From how we've seen club players step up, I think there's a 90% chance that most would not be ready to play Super Rugby in 2017.
Rugbyftw
Guest
He was one of the only consistent performers along with Gill (when he wasn't injured) this year. Has a mean step and breaks tackles. Would have been far in and away our best ball carrying forward this year. (No stats to back that up)
Toanuiunno
Guest
Yeah Browning was actually playing his best football. He would have been good to have kept around along with Gill and LoLo
Toanuiunno
Guest
A bit sad to see Gill,fakaosilea and browning all depart as they were the future but the now is certainly looking a lot better. Hopefully the Reds will see some of the others again in the future.
RobC
Roar Guru
Hope it turns out for the better, in due course CUW.
CUW
Guest
given as a central bank , our investments' options are limited , we r in deeper s... than the REDS. in fact we are going to be in the RED come 31.12 , by the looks of things :(
RobC
Roar Guru
Ditto CUW :) it's all good and welcome your points and arguments In fact I value your comments. That's why I made the observation about your initial comment about Reds recruitment strategy being clueless.. I reckon it can indeed be better. Buts pretty good I think considering their current situation. Best wishes on the investments. Yes the pound is getting a pounding, but I think there's more to come next year. Not many good places to invest currently. Aussie Rugby not being one of them for the time being haha
CUW
Guest
@ RobC as an outsider who is not connected to ur country in anyway ( other than my wife having her family in canberra), ur quite right that i dont know everything. my observation is general and thus may have holes. what i say is a generic view and not considering the intrinsic auzzy things that are not visible to the naked eye. and i'm sorry i cant take time to think about it , coz atm , my thinking is diverted towarsd what to do to investments now that he British Pound had tanked and there are big losses. :) cheers ps. dont think i have anything personal against u , as i think u have none against me .
Squirrel
Guest
Super rugby is insane in Oz. It is true it is too hard to get young talent thru
RobC
Roar Guru
No CUW. I don't mean WB selection I mean Reds. That is the purpose of GS coming in. So how again is GS destroying the prospect of guys like Gunn and other green 7s? Now let's talk about your macro. 7s is the least of the problem for WBs in the ensuing years. It's OK if you're too busy to respond. Maybe you should take time to think about things, or study what you're taking about.
RobC
Roar Guru
No CUW. My opinion has little nothing to do with fractured state bias It's clear you have some ideas in a few places. But in the big picture you have no idea.
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
We'll never know.
CUW
Guest
so do u mean auzzy - i.e. wallabies will select him? if not i think my point has more weight than urs :) the macro picture is the national team - the micro picture is a privately owned team in a slowly deteriorating tournament. the macro picture is wallbies in 2019 world cup - the micro picture is how a privately owned team gonna perform in super 2017. the macro picture is giving a deserving boy the chance to establish himself - the micro picture is using an oldie as much as possible for the short term wins. TBH, i dont care who plays where or how auzzy go about managing super rugger or their national rugger team. im here to have cool chat , just to kill time on a slow day :) but as an outsider, i know my logic will be lost in a fractured state-centered system.
CUW
Guest
it is the fractured nature of statetism that will kill aussy rugger. one way to start is by killing off force and making the available talent less-diluted. :) but those things never happen ; i know its the auzzy way. that was told by the guy who explained how ACT came about , LOL.
CUW
Guest
DUDE , the only reason young guys get a chance in ur country is only due to injuries. it is the same for super rugger and for test rugger. as someone explained to me the auzzy super teams are more or less privately owned , so it is a given they will think of their investment first and do whatever to win. u guys start alby mathewson and cubelli , u guys start Tui , Thomson , JakPot , et al. then u complain there is lack of depth at scrum half fly half 8 , etc etc. nz franchises throw schoolboys into super rugger. if they can swim they survive, if not they go back and try again or go overseas. eitherway they have a direction. there is no macro srtategy - there is no all for one. its everyone for themselves.
CUW
Guest
i think that was the old version. the additional 2 i think came about when the subs had to have a full front row. thus match day 23. theoretically the extra two have to be from front row, the way i understood. but these things happened long time ago and maybe one who is current on the rules can clarify. and they keep changing things in super rugger willy-nilly, its difficult to keep track of , unless its ur bread n butter ( which is not for me :) )
RobC
Roar Guru
Your Q about Smith CUW was what will Aussie Rugby get from him. I will answer from a Qld standpoint: - world class player - world class 7 (LFG is gone) - leadership and experience - He's a good bloke - transition to an understudy for a couple of years and/or until LFG returns
RobC
Roar Guru
Ah CUW. Brums need to sort out their own probs Higgs belongs in Qld. Its simple. Repeat after me....
CUW
Guest
he had arguably his best season at Rebels , in 2015. but the team that needs an 8 right now is Brumbies, especially without Pocock. ur super teams need to be competitive , with talent spread among all as much as possible , wihtout being concentrated in 2. i am looking at the macro picture for auzzy rugger , not thinking about state bias or roots :) maybe becoz i am not an auzzy :D