On the back of a rough 2018, the Reds will be hoping their fortunes turn around during 2019, but it looks like another tough Super Rugby season ahead for the Queensland outfit.
In the second part of our 2019 Super Rugby preview series, we go over the Reds’ chances.
Reds
Coach: Brad Thorn
Captain: Samu Kerevi
Major signings: Sefa Naivalu (Rebels), Bryce Hegarty (Waratahs), Matt McGahan (Yamaha Jubilo)
Major departures: James Slipper (Brumbies), Kane Douglas (Bordeaux), George Smith (Bristol), Quade Cooper (Rebels), Jono Lance (Worcester), Izaia Perese (rugby league), Karmichael Hunt (Waratahs)
Squad
Samu Kerevi (c), Harry Hoopert, Gavin Luka, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Taniela Tupou, Efi Maafu, Alex Mafi, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Blyth, Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Adam Korczyk, Fraser McReight, Angus Scott-Young, Caleb Timu, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright, Scott Higginbotham, Tate McDermott, Moses Sorovi, James Tuttle, Matt McGahan, Hamish Stewart, Teti Tela, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Duncan Paia’au, Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Will Eadie, Sefa Naivalu, Jordan Petaia, Aidan Toua, Bryce Hegarty
Last season
Won 6, lost 10, finished fourth in the Australian Conference, 13th overall
The season could have been worse than it ended up for the Reds, but still, they wouldn’t have been happy in the slightest with where they ended up.
The Reds kicked 2018 off with a 45-19 drubbing at the hands of the Rebels in an Australian derby, and that set the tone for the year ahead, with a struggling defence and a lack of consistency.
After beating the Rebels, Bulls and Jaguares to go three from four, they went on to lose nine of their next ten matches, including an embarrassing blowout at the hands of the Sunwolves, when they conceded 63 points.
Their defence and discipline were poor, and both are areas Brad Thorn will have to focus on if the Reds are to improve.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Strengths
The addition of Wallaby Sefa Naivalu gives the Reds some excellent options out wide in attack, alongside exciting young talent Jordan Petaia. Petaia is yet to make his Wallabies debut, having been ruled out of last year’s match against Italy with injury, but it’s surely a matter of when, not if, he pulls on the gold jersey.
With captain Samu Kerevi in the centres, there’s plenty of attacking talent in this side, while recent signing Bryce Hegarty – who joined the club from the Waratahs in a direct swap with Karmichael Hunt – could provide a spark.
If their kicking game is good enough, then they will be good enough to turn around some of the scoring issues they had last season.
In the forwards, they also have international experience through the likes of Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Izack Rodda. If the trio can guide the rest of their forwards through the season, then the Reds could be in for improvement.
Powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Weaknesses
The Reds’ defence was a major problem last season. The 63 points they let in against the Sunwolves was the lowlight of a rough season, but by the time it was all said and done, they had the fourth-worst defensive record of all teams – and with the exception of the Sunwolves, there were only eight points separating those sides.
As with any squad featuring a lot of youth and inexperience, that porous defence is likely to be an issue again. If the Reds continually struggle without the ball, their playmakers aren’t going to have the field position to have much of an impact on the game.
Hamish Stewart and Tate McDermott are likely to line up in the halves together, having both played in their impressive last-start win in 2018 – a thrashing of the lowly Sunwolves. They’re not exactly the highest-quality halves combination going around, but at just 20 years old each, Thorn will be hoping he can nurture them into a potent pairing.
Alternatively, new signing Matt McGahan could line up in the number 10 jersey for the Reds. With a dozen Super Rugby caps under his belt from his time with the Blues, he offers a slightly more experienced option to Stewart.
Related
Prediction
The Reds are in for another difficult year, even if there are a few positive signs for the Queensland franchise.
They’ll be hoping to pick up some cheap wins and potentially force their way towards the lower finals spots late in the season, but there are probably going to be plenty of tough days for Brad Thorn’s side.
Prediction: Fourth in the Australian Conference, 14th overall
The Roar’s 2019 Super Rugby preview series
4. Highlanders
5. Chiefs
6. Rebels
7. Sharks
8. Waratahs
9. Jaguares
10. Brumbies
11. Bulls
12. Stormers
13. Blues
14. Reds
15. Sunwolves
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Is he related to Hugh?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I don’t recall the game but close to the best performance by an Australian 9 in SR last year was McDermott. It was in a win and behind a dominant pack but I think he’s the goods
Over here
Roar Rookie
best of luck to Hamish. but this reds flyhalf situation strikes me as very much groundhog dayish. remember young Jake McIntyre? back to the future. he had to go to French rugby to get some coaching and development.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Hi Andrew, I'm hoping that Stewart does develop into one of the great Qld 10's. And we've had a few. Ideally I would have thought that any development of new players would come from within the existing Qld ranks, rather than outside. But that might not reflect the realities of the modern game. Pity Qld sacked a quite good fly-half, one who may have been an excellent mentor for Stewart.
Andrew Joseph
Roar Rookie
I detect you are a Hamish Stewart fan, and that is fine. Going to watch the Reds games, and may become a Stewart fan myself. The below list has all the SR player transfer for season 2018-2019. Some of the new Reds recruits were Hegarty, Hardy, Campbell. Or Brumbies have Murray Douglas (Hurricanes) and Samu (Crusaders). Are these players entitled to compete for positions in offseason and during 2019, or are they not entitled to compete for positions? Any team applying a rule where only the season prior counts would handicap themselves in the tournament. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2018%E2%80%9319_Super_Rugby_transfers
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Hey Andrew, Well I wouldn't have sacked Quade. But I can't quite follow your train of reasoning on this one. Is competition for positions important or not?
Andrew Joseph
Roar Rookie
No idea RO, you tell me. Just pointing out there are two fly halves listed in the Reds squad. With Quade going to Melbourne, who would have been your pick as another fly half to bring into the squad?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
"As a new signing he was not doing anything with the reds last year…" Yep which kinda makes Andrew's comment about competition for places redundant don't it ??
Azza
Guest
No one will be a future wallaby number 7 until 2024 at the earliest.Hooper is still contracted.
Azza
Guest
Sorry buddy but Stewart is pedestrian and a midget .Latho was a super quick and powerful had a booming left foot was 6'4 and 105 kilos. No comparison.
Matt
Guest
Massive losses. Last place finish for me.
Jacko
Guest
With Lynagh and Carter i think it was what they saw and reacted accordingly rather than x factor .....they seemed to see opportunities others didnt
Jacko
Guest
As a new signing he was not doing anything with the reds last year...he was with his Japanese side that he was contracted with for last season.....i guess Hunt and Cooper will be terrible because they didnt train with their 2019 teams last year???? I dont rate him from his time at the Blues but havnt seen him since...
Jacko
Guest
I 100% agree that its not good TWAS but it is what it is and helps the Rebels...the Tahs and the Reds so i guess its making the best of a bad situation......
jacko
Guest
charlie from what i can gather the Reds pay Cooper around 450 and the RA pay him the rest....he has signed for the Rebels for 200 I believe.....With Hunt he was on around 400 from Reds and 250 from RA and I hear the Tahs are paying 250 meaning the Reds pay around 50% of the two combined.....If it was worse than that I believe the Reds said they would just bank them and that is why the contracts were well known about but not really settled for a few weeks. Hunt in particular was drawn out.....
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm expecting some musical chairs between Hunt and Beale between 12 and 15, Rona and Izzy on the wings. Roets is only on a one year contract, if he isn't ready to perform then Gibson and Cron need to have a long hard look at themselves. Is all speculation at this stage - I had fairly different views from Gibson regarding the set up of the pack last year. He's admitted they were under-powered so hopefully we'll see something more like I've been thinking. Anyway it's February so as a Tahs supporter I think I'm meant to be saying they are a lock for the Premiership!
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Depends on where they play Hunt as to whether he can improve the defence, if Beale is at 12 and Folau at 15, with Hunt as a sub, it will still stink. AAC should improve it a bit whether he plays at 13 or on the wing, but I can’t see it offsetting the benefits of what they are losing in attack with TQ gone. I’m pretty skeptical about Roets, he is only a Currie Cup player and at that weight, I suspect he might have trouble keeping up with the pace and in the lineout in Super Rugby.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Unfortunately I missed the match JJ, but I think we will see a lot of the Stewart/Timu combination this year. From 4.20 on this highlight of last year’s Wallabies trial, you can see what chaos Timu can wreak off a fly half who has no fear of running straight to create space, and the passing skills to getting to the big man while he is on the run. https://tenplay.com.au/sport/rugby/extra/season-2018/wallabies-trial-match-highlights
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Thrust? He barely wore 10 last year with Supercoach Brad opting for a retiree parachuted in for one season. They've done the same again this season. Only way for Stewart to get a decent run under a decent coach right now is to go to a new team. Maybe he should play up and get kicked down to premier grade to get access to a skilled head coach. Would do wonders for his game to actually get game time.
jeznez
Roar Guru
:D