The Queensland Reds have named one of their strongest Super Rugby sides in years, with a host of Wallabies headlining a new look team to host the Sharks in the opening round.
Quade Cooper makes his return to the Brisbane-based club after making 105 appearances for them between 2007 and 2015. Cooper has played for the national Sevens team and Toulon in the past two years.
Maybe the biggest drawcard for the Reds is veteran Test flanker George Smith, who has been named to make his debut for the Reds. Smith already has 142 appearances to his name in the Super Rugby competition after playing for the Brumbies between 2000 and 2010, and again in 2013.
Wallabies captain Stephen Moore and Scott Higginbotham join Cooper in the squad and are set to bring their wealth of experience.
James Slipper will captain the side in the No.1 jersey, while former NRL player Eto Nabuli will also line up, alongside Nick Frisby.
Karmichael Hunt rounds out the starting 15, while Markus Vanzati, Izack Rodda and Isaia Perese are in line to make their Super Rugby debuts with spots on the bench.
Reds coach Nick Stiles said the side was a good reflection of the depth and competition for spots that has been established over the off-season.
“It’s pretty exciting to think in two days we’ll be back playing at Suncorp Stadium in front of our home fans,” Stiles said.
“We’ve all had this date circled in our calendars for a long time and the players and staff have worked incredibly hard to get to this point in the best possible position.
“Anyone who watched how we performed in the tens and our trial against the Rebels would know there is a lot of competition for spots in this squad.
“We’ve got a lot of seasoned campaigners, but there are also some young up-and-coming players who have earned an opportunity through their hard work and their form in pre-season.
“Now the challenge is there for us to put everything we’ve worked on into practice against the Sharks on Friday night.”
Queensland Reds team to play Sharks
1. James Slipper (C)
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sam Talakai
4. Rob Simmons
5. Kane Douglas
6. Adam Korczyk
7. George Smith (Queensland debut)
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Nick Frisby
10. Quade Cooper
11. Eto Nabuli
12. Duncan Paia’aua
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Chris Kuridrani
15. Karmichael Hunt16. Andrew Ready
17. Markus Vanzati (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut)
18. Sef Fa’agase
19. Izack Rodda (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut)
20. Hendrik Tui
21. James Tuttle
22. Jake McIntyre
23. Izaia Perese (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut)
Crash Ball2
Guest
It's a good thought. Many seem to think GS will get the tap on the shoulder @ 50 or 60 mins. I don't think so - barring injury, I can see Korczyk emptying the tank and making way for Tui. No doubt Stiles' will give Korczyk the mandate to rip in from the start knowing there's a hard shouldered, hard running, quality backrower waiting to bring the ship home in the second stanza. I hope Korczyk takes his opportunity tomorrow and wins over the Suncorp faithful. Meanwhile, GS will - once again - put to bed the myth of his supposedly stuttering and decrepit engine. Lead from the front for 80, control the tight and fringe contact zones with the calculated economy and brutal efficiency of effort reserved exclusively for the smartest, most experienced rugby champions: much as he did against Pocock & the Wild Knights in the recent All Japanese Championship final. A casual observer wouldn't be able to tell which was supposed to be the old master and which the World XV-capable juggernaut at the peak of his game.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Part of me thinks it's a bit about showing some faith in Korczyk (and the youth), also a bit about having a class replacement for the kid if he's struggling and also the idea of Tui playing a 'finisher' role to add some spark towards the end of the game when some of the big name older guys leave the field. Could work well.
dru
Guest
Mate, even I can fall into the holes those blokes will open. But think Kerevi, Kurindrani, Magnay. Higgers out wide. The big question is not what will happen with the holes created, its about how well that planning using QC, DP and KH works in the real world. Good against the Ausdies I reckon. Interesting against the Saffers, but mostly to the Reds. And the Kiwis could peel it apart. Just my guess.
Red Block
Guest
The biggest mystery of the Reds buying spree was that they didn't target any real pace on the wings. Nabuli and Kuridrani are pedestrian at best. So just who will finish off the inside work of Cooper, Paia'aua and Hunt? Hope I'm wrong but ....
Rouaan
Guest
My hope and prayers for 2017(I have five); 1) Don't miss tackles 2) Don't miss tackles 3) Don't miss tackles 4) Don't miss tackles 5) Don't miss tackles
armchair sportsfan
Guest
Am a little concerned at what appears to be a lack of gain line ball carriers in the tight channels. but I'll place my trust in the powers that be for now.
Highlander
Guest
Does that forward pack not look a little, static, maybe?
Karl Knuth
Guest
Magnay is injured at the moment I think.
Dave_S
Guest
Yep HT was one of our consistently best last year.
Dave_S
Guest
As in 'where is ...'? Yeah I'm surprised he's not there too.
Jack
Guest
Magnay????
RubberLegs
Guest
The Reds have had a succession of coaches who pick youth over experience; they love to give a hostage to fortune. Tui has the better credentials and deserves to start; Koczyk will likely be injured against a brutal Shorks outfit and should be played off the bench in the fierce first game of the season. Have the orthopedic surgeons standing by.
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
Korczyk over H.Tui is a head scratcher, Not a lot of go forward in the pack without him, Only Higgers is a ball carrier out of that mob, the rest are a bit slow and floppy. Rodda over L.Tui is same for same, Rodda has a lot of potential as a big bruising lock, L.Tui looked a little off pace lately for mine. Venzati as the replacement prop shows a lack of depth , Obviously when Tupou comes back, but a lot of inexperience at tight head. Sam Talakai has yet to impress me. He is a decent scrummager though. Perese is the right call over Maranta. Be interesting to see where Timu fits in. Houston looks way off the pace and will have to work hard to find a spot on the bench. Long season ahead though, good to have that much cover. Chris Kurindrani and Eto Nabuli need to significantly lift their game. CFS has and deserves to have fallen way down the pecking order (injury aside) Funny to see the words "debut" beside Smith! I think J.Mac is a wasted bench spot. Dunc can cover 10 if required. basically season over if Quade goes down though.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Agreed. I thought H Tui was phenomenal in 2016. Bodes well for the Reds if Koczyk has forced Stiles' hand.
El Camel
Roar Rookie
As a long time Reds fan, I must admit I'm super excited for a team littered with both invaluable international, even world class experience and the necessary green enthusiasm of youth. I just cannot get the All star brumby team of a few years ago though that fizzled maddeningly. Can Quade operate without Genia? Can Smith maintain all season long? Will Andrew Ready inherit that No.2? I hope Mr Stiles is the operator we've been waiting for since Ewen walked through the Suncorp tunnel
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Yeah, in a way I'm a bit bummed for Tui given how well he played last year, but Koczuk has obviously put on some muscle this year and was playing well in the 10s and trials, so I guess they may have an eye to the future.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Fantastic news with Maranta nowhere near the starting XV. Good riddance too, he was beyond useless in the trial.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Few interesting calls there with Koczyk over H. Tui, Kuridrani over Perese and and Rodda over L. Tui. Interested to see how this all pans out.