Queensland rugby fans will undoubtedly have woken up on Sunday morning to the same state of irritation that I did, at our team being flogged 37-16 by the old enemy from NSW.
The Tahs were the better team on the night. In a game that was fairly reffed by Angus Gardner, Daryl Gibson opted for speed over power in his forward pack and it paid off, with NSW’s classy backline ultimately putting the sword to the Reds.
For Queensland, being nine weeks into the season with three wins and four losses, it is time for a bit of reflection.
Brad Thorn has done a lot to build culture around commitment, especially in defence, but there are other key elements to the way the team is operating which have not yet clicked.
If they keep racking up the big losses, disillusionment may set in and the good work will suffer. We saw a bit of that with a 72 per cent tackle success ratio on Saturday – poor when we consider the emphasis on defence.
Here are some suggestions about how they might get back on track.
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The tight five are functioning and the scrum is doing well, however the backrow underperformed at the breakdown on Saturday and the entire pack muffed four own lineouts, which is unacceptable.
The combination of Lukhan Tui at six and Caleb Timu at eight didn’t work. The six needs to revert to a lighter player who would be quicker to the breakdown and better in the lineout – probably Adam Korczyk.
The halves didn’t play well, with service from James Tuttle ponderous. The failure of the forwards in getting quick ball has to be part of the reason, but it isn’t an excuse, with some poor decisions by Tuttle. The meaningless box kick which initiated the sequence leading the first Tahs try is the prime example.
Slow service undermined Jono Lance’s running, which usually results in a couple of line breaks a game, but he did some silly things too. The worst of it was taking a clean ball from an attacking lineout and kicking it straight to Kurtley Beale. Both of the halves can do a lot better and should be given the opportunity to redeem themselves with a decent performance against the Chiefs next week, but they should also be feeling selection pressure.
Samu Kerevi is becoming a liability, even when he plays at 12, where he can defend better. He missed a critical covering tackle on Michael Wells when he had the pace and time to get around what was a pretty puny fend. Moreover, he missed three from four tackles.
In attack, Kerevi is running the ball too much – 14 times while passing only seven – resulting in his outside backs not getting enough ball in space.
Thorn might need to consider that while he dropped Quade Cooper to avoid the backline being run around one player, he has inadvertently allowed exactly that to happen with Kerevi.
The Reds need a second playmaker at 12 and Duncan Paia’aua, who did an excellent job last year and in the NRC, should replace Kerevi. Kerevi can’t be shifted to 13 either until his defence improves, so he might take a bench spot for now. It would be tough love for such a promising young player, but tough love is what Thorn is all about, isn’t it?
My final thought as I watched the Reds uncharacteristically wilt in the last ten minutes, was that these players might be overtrained in fitness at the expense of skills and tactics.
The words of Jake the Muss in Once Were Warriors comes to mind: “Too many weights, not enough speed work…”
Perhaps a recalibration of the training regime is in order?
Jacko
Guest
And a win record of 3/4 of the whole of last year
Jacko
Guest
They havnt played at home for 6 weeks...I wonder if that could affect a young team....Or an old experienced team for that matter
Jacko
Guest
Twas do you believe Brad Thorn sorts all that stuff out himself or do you think the Reds have people doing the expertise bit? So in 2017 he ran them arouind as an assistant coach but in 2018 he runs them around as the head coach....All anti Thorn eh?
RobC
Roar Guru
Perhaps, Train! though its a broad topic :)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Perhaps that wasn't something that Cooper and Thorn didn't see eye to eye on?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That's not any real analysis. The Reds also lost 4 games by less than 7 points to be competitive for at least half of the season. Without playing an NZ team yet the Reds have a PD one third of the way to their 2017 total anyway, and with all of their toughest games to come.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So what. Brad may be focused but lacks any expertise. For all we know the players are running around doing lots of what but not what yields actual benefit. Which is exactly what he had them doing in 2017.
rebel
Guest
Stade Francais used to have some rippers. I prefer slimming black myself.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Immature
Canetragic
Guest
The natty pink number the Bulls wear occasionally?
Steve F
Guest
My feelings exactly Malo.. Somehow Qld needs to retain the players that are developed in the nursery. The likes of Pocock and Folau were educated and developed their "football" skills in Qld.; Why can't they be retained!!!! I don't think I'll waste my time going to any Red's game this year; and I can't see the Wobblies making any improvements either. Waste of time and $$ . Too inconsistent, too fragile, too temperamental and a definite lack of basic rugby skills- not just for Qld; but across all Oz SR teams (I do like the old "maroon" jersey though - bring it back!. The fire-truck red ones look cheap- not serious! And if you look cheap , how are you going to play?) My tuppence worth.
RobC
Roar Guru
Yup. Samu could have rushed to the wing earlier after Timu prematurely rushed Rona. But I think he was already too far out. In that sequence there was around half a dozen coulda / shouldas It wasnt all about Samu
RobC
Roar Guru
Actually I think Jono is fine. The problem is the attacking structure, its too narrow. And also the tactics, its too predictable. And also I believe the selected players havent jelled yet. Other than that - its all good!
soapit
Guest
on the other hand questionable defence is easier to cope with from a 10 than a 12
Rucki Oaf
Guest
Nah it's obviously one where they grind out dour wins in the easier games, then get thrashed by the better teams. That's a great season that is
Tuc Du Nard
Guest
We had the Hivizlanders last week and the usual weird orange fluro from the Jags. What next? How can we create even worse jerseys to watch that perhaps go viral. We can do better. I mean worse!
Fionn
Guest
Slipper drawing even with Kepu in the scrum is pretty impressive actually. I suspect the amount of weight Slipper has added must make it much more difficult to maintain his regular work-rate?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Cheers Pete. I'd similarly say the defence is getting the job done - not that it is particularly impressive but good enough so far given the number of points the side is scoring.
Tuc Du Nard
Guest
Plus 1
jeznez
Roar Guru
I haven't seen Tupou apart from round one when the Reds pack was depowered due to cards and in the clips that NB shared on his article the other week. On that evidence though he looks like he should have at minimum the bench TH position nailed down. I similarly haven't caught many Brumbies games but I think there is risk in asking AA to just switch back across without any time in the jumper. Slipper had a quiet game based on his historic standards around number of tackles etc. At scrum time he and Kepu fought a draw on their side of the scrum with one notable exception when Slipper got the Tahs pack wheeling. Sio, Slipper and AA all have cases to make. AA's issue is that assuming Kepu and Tupou are fit he is effectively competing for a position he isn't playing. Those are the five I rate and hope to see in the squad come the internationals. (Assuming Slipper gets his work rate up towards where it has historically been).