Speaking with the four Australian Super Rugby CEOs last week was an interesting and insightful exercise on number of fronts, and reaction to the two articles were many and varied, and equally insightful from the supporter’s perspective.
A large number of you commented on the fact that while the Brumbies’ Michael Thomson, the Rebels’ Baden Stephenson, and the Waratahs’ Andrew Hore went into great depth about how their sides are reconnecting with the community and the support and membership base, the Reds’ Richard Barker offered shorter, sharper responses. These responses confirmed the Reds as an organisation were approaching 2018 much the same way new coach Brad Thorn is: by saying as little as possible, and letting results be the barometer.
While I can understand the Reds’ thinking, and even what might be motivating their desire to keep their head down, bum up, and just get on with things, I also tend to agree with the train of thought that this feels like a bold strategy. At a time when rugby in Australia needs to show it is moving on from a tumultuous 2017, and that things are improving in 2018, I’m not entirely sure that keeping a low media profile among six other professional football teams in Queensland is the way I’d go myself. And that’s not to totally ignore the rising profile of professional and semi-pro women’s sporting teams in the state, either.
With all that said, the Reds making it through to the semi-finals of the Brisbane Tens on the weekend is an important first box for 2018 ticked. Over a weekend when Super Rugby regular starters were few and far between, Queensland emerging as the best of the Australian sides says something about the players in the Reds wider training squad, and even on the fringe of it trying to get in.
It also, perhaps most importantly, says something about Thorn’s ability to bring together a squad like this and turn them into one of the best four teams of the weekend.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Of course, familiarity helps. Of Thorn’s 26-man squad for the Tens, 16 of them were in his Queensland Country NRC squad just a few months ago. 11 of them played in the NRC Final on November 11. And going back a bit further than that, seven players in the Tens squad on the weekend played for Thorn during the 2017 Super-20s tournament last March and April. And, of course, he was part of the Reds coaching staff last season anyway, so it’s not as if he wouldn’t have known the rest of the players anyway.
One thing we could glean from the weekend was that the Reds do look fit. Whether that’s the right kind of fitness to last up to eighty minutes a week for six months will be revealed soon enough, but they certainly had no issue playing multiple blocks of twenty minutes over the two days. Obviously, a 26-man squad means that some guys played only one game a day, and interchange benches mean that no-one really played all twenty minutes in a game anyway. But the Reds didn’t look off the pace, and that’s important at the start of a season.
Additionally, the Reds look to be playing with pace this year, which is something Brumbies coach Dan McKellar made mention had been a focus of theirs over the summer, and which all four Australian sides will undoubtedly need in 2018.
The Reds had a definite acceleration about them whenever they entered the attacking half on the weekend, and with players making concerted efforts to stay alive in attack and present as options for the man with the ball. It’s a small thing to notice – and it’s in a ten-a-side game, granted – but it’s an important instinct that has to start somewhere and develop over time.
Could it mean Izaia Perese is unleashed at fullback this year, to cover for the sudden Karmichael Hunt-shaped hole in the side? Perese is a devastating hole runner, and he certainly enjoyed the space on offer over the weekend. And he’s keen to try no.15, for what it’s worth, telling Jim Tucker in The Courier Mail over the weekend, “I’d love to give fullback a good crack because you can attack both sides (of the field), just roam around and do whatever you like.”
I’ll be surprised if it happens, but it’s not the craziest idea ever uttered before Round 1 of a new season.
Defensively, the Reds learned their lessons from Day 1, and looked much better for the run on Day 2. This will ultimately be where Thorn’s ‘hard work and no shortcuts’ mantra is judged. Day 2 was when defence mattered most, and the Reds were much improved. That’s another small, but not insignificant win for a young squad.
And perhaps even more importantly, the Suncorp Stadium crowd did get behind the Reds through the weekend. Amidst all the noise about ‘never going back’ and ‘not watching this mob’, the noise grew behind the young Reds as the weekend went on.
The Queensland jerseys had plenty of competition from New Zealand strips of great variety, of Fijian flags and jerseys and shirts that wouldn’t look out of place in Hawaii, and even from Panasonic Wild Knights supporters, but the Reds’ support was always there.
(AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)
This is maybe the biggest win of the weekend. Richard Barker made it pretty clear last week that the strategy for 2018 was to play well, win games, and the rest will take care of itself. The pro-Reds crowd on the weekend shows that this risky strategy can reap rewards.
Now once again, this was a pre-season, ten-a-side event played two weeks out from the first games of 2018 for the Super Rugby teams on show – and I say ‘teams’ in the logos-on-the-jersey sense, rather than actual playing personnel.
Just as the Melbourne Rebels squad for the Tens looked almost nothing like the squad that played the Brumbies in their first trial last weekend, the Tens squads will bear little resemblance to those that take the field for final trial games this week.
So, no, you can’t read too much into a Tens result. All the proof you need for that is look at who held the Brisbane Tens trophy aloft for 2018!
But the encouraging showing from the Reds, to go further than any other Australian side did, means that selling their first home game on March 2 against the Brumbies is already going to be easier than it was a week ago.
Fans have seen a bit more of Hamish Stewart in a Reds jersey, of Perese in space, of Taniela Tupou carnage from short range. They’ve already got more of an idea of how the Reds want to play than they did last weekend.
And that’s definitely a box ticked for 2018.
Over here
Guest
Hi Brett, as a long suffering reds fan, all I want for Christmas this year is for Quade Cooper to get it through his big thick head (finally) that being a brilliant play maker means taking risks when you are in a good field position and playing smart when you aren't in the good field position. Every year I pray for this. Now that Coach Carter (whoops my bad) I mean Thorn has hit Quade over the head with the Storey Bridge, maybe the message might get through and I'll be rewarded for being a good Reds supporter for so long. Cheers
scottd
Guest
TWAS, don't be silly. As I said, Lance was conserved due to injury issues. He often played when not completely fit because the squad didn't have 23 fully fit players. In those game he came off the bench. He also acted as emergency reserve for a game (or two?) and never came on the field. That does not equate to the coach not rating him, which is what you tried to suggest.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So he didn’t play off the bench? Must have been mistaken
scottd
Guest
Here is the QLD team to plaly FIJi - just announced. Lance in at 10. 1. James Slipper – Bond University 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Sunnybank (uncapped) 3. Taniela Tupou - Brothers 4. Lukhan Tui - Souths 5. Kane Douglas - Norths 6. Caleb Timu - Souths 7. Adam Korczyk – University of Queensland 8. Scott Higginbotham (C) - Wests 9. James Tuttle - GPS 10. Jono Lance – University of Queensland 11. Izaia Perese - Easts 12. Duncan Paia’aua - Norths 13. Samu Kerevi - Souths 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia - Souths 15. Aidan Toua - Easts Reserves 16. Alex Mafi – Bond University 17. JP Smith - GPS 18. Sef Fa’agase – University of Queensland 19. Harry Hockings – University of Queensland (uncapped) 20. Angus Scott-Young – University of Queensland (uncapped) 21. Moses Sorovi – University of Queensland 22. Hamish Stewart – Bond University 23. Filipo Daugunu – Wests (uncapped) 26. Liam Wright – Easts (uncapped) 27. Tate McDermott – University of Queensland (uncapped) 28. Teti Tela – Souths (uncapped)
scottd
Guest
No TWAS - Wessells didn't bench him. What he did was to conserve him because Lance had recurring injury problems. This has been discussed at some length on this site. Lance is a very very good front on defender (the best defensive 10 in the country last year) but he got injured (and played injured) a lot.
ThugbyFan
Guest
G'day Brett, nice article and I think we all hope the Reds, and all the Oz franchises, will play great attractive and hopefully winning rugby for SR2018. Dwards is dead right with Winning = Crowds and fan fervour. Just look at SR2014 final and last years Sr2017 crowds for the Tahs. I think it was like 64,000 at the game to see that glorious victory in 2014. It was well over 30,000 to see the semifinal against the Highlanders at SFS. That year, as the victories mounted up, so did the crowd numbers. Sadly I was one of the 12,000 odd to see Los Jaguares belt the Horrotahs in July last year. :(
ThugbyFan
Guest
hey Marto, I hope your point #4 about S.Moore was said in jest. I guess you can't blame the player for wanting to play for his country but S.Moore should have retired after the 3rd Bledisloe. What a great way that would have been to finish his WB career. Instead he ends in on the disaster EOYT2017 and the ignominy of thrashings by England and Scotland. Worse still his presence impedes the gaining of experience for the next gun hooker J.Uelese.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Don, and don't the Tahs need him. SR2017 was an absolute disaster for the Tahs. The Lock stocks in Tahland 2017 looked like some Shute Shield club side. They had to do something about it and have picked up R.Simmons and T.Staniforth. A real shame they didn't loosen the purse strings and grab one of the Force locks as a back-up, there was plenty of them on the market.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I've heard they've got a 3 year plan so you should be specials for the 2030 title.
Fionn
Guest
I think the Waratahs are better than last year. Beale solves a lot of the issues in attack and Rona is assuredly a more capable player than Horne was last year. Simmons, meanwhile, will I think add a lot to the Waratahs' forward pack, especially in regards to the set piece. I'm not saying they (or any other Australian team) will be world beaters, but they do seem to have a better squad. Only question is, is Gibson up to the task?
ThugbyFan
Guest
Maybe Barker would be better cleaning the change rooms after training. Players see this happening and accept the idea that everyone is in this club together and no matter what our roles are, we do our best for the team. Making the CEO do push-ups must be one of them quaint NZ things. As a player I would have giggled and dialled 000 for the ambulance. :)
John R
Roar Guru
Hope springs eternal at the start of each season! I won't be holding my breath on the Tahs, but so long as one of our teams goes well then I'm happy aye.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Paia'aua - 91kg Beale - 90kg Karmichael Hunt - 93kg Farrell - 96kg Bundi Aki - 100kg Hadleigh Parkes - 100kg Huw Jones - 96kg I'd prefer a bigger 12 but providing he can defend there well he's not that far off the pace, and he's not too different from the other 12s that tend to be preferred over him by Cheika.
ThugbyFan
Guest
And TN is leaving at the end of the year for some English club. Strange that none of them want our "ned". Not to worry, Cheika will look after him. :(
ThugbyFan
Guest
Don, DP may have got a meat pie in that rubbish match against the "Alan Jones probables" but some of his L to R passing was pretty horrible. He didn't really take control and direct the backs and I have never seen DP chip or grubber kick behind a rush defence. A good #10 should have all of these qualities in spades. D.P also has repeatedly said in interviews that he prefers playing at #12. Though he is a mite too small for an international #12 I think he would make a good fist of it, but he needs a lot of practicing and playing at #10 before he could be considered to oust B.Foley.
jimbo81
Guest
I don't think the Rebels will come last with Wessels as coach and every fringe Wallaby in their team. He's too good and they have too much talent (plus the salary cap only applies in QLD anyway - brought in by NSW mafia to end QLD dynasty).
Fionn
Guest
This is a good comment, Thugby. I am still yet unsure if Hodge is better at inside or outside centre, but in my eyes an outside centre's most important quality is the ability to make his tackles and read the attack to be able to position himself in defence. Hodge looks like he would be able to do this better than he would be able distribute like a 12 needs. That said, he definitely has the look of a Frans Steyn about him in some ways, so maybe you're right and he is a longterm 12. Cheers :)
ThugbyFan
Guest
G'day Geoff, may you enjoy the rugby of 2018 and the year of the Dog. As you say below, D.Wessels likes the look of R.Hodge at inside centre. I totally agree and think therein lies Hodge's future in a permanent position rather than the bloke being switched all around the shop by various coaches as "best person to fill this hole". I would rather have R.Hodge start at #12 for the WB than K.Beale (sub). Beale may be better in attack but is a sieve in defence, and big matches are won on "de fence". I have only recently seen video of some of the Wallaby EOYT games from 2016 (I was in USA at the time and almost impossible to see a rugby international). The matches I saw all of (WB vs Wales and Scotland), Reece Hodge played at #12 and he CREAMED them. Hodge also looked pretty good in what I saw of the Ireland match (Aus lost 27-24). As an aside, Rory Arnold and A.Coleman also tore their opposition apart in the first few games, but once they were separated the forward pack lost heaps of power (Coleman injured and missed Ireland while both missed the England game); needless to say the WB lost those two games. For mine, that tour unearthed our two best 2nd rowers and the best inside centre in Australia. So what happens in the very first international matches for June 2017, Arnold had been axed and Hodge sent to coventry (the wing). This continued all through 2017, the disaster called EOYT2017 demonstrates what a good move that was. And you wonder why I lost faith in the WB coaching group. :(
jimbo81
Guest
Amen.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Actually I think he wasn't in 2017 because we all specifically noted that there was no back up flyhalf.