The 'hidden gem' the Reds are set to unleash as they eye Super Rugby AU title
Liam Wright has reflected on Queensland rugby’s ability to hang on to local talent and unearth “hidden gems” as they eye a Super Rugby AU title this year.
The Reds boast a host of fresh and experienced Wallabies talent in their squad finalised on Monday, the addition of star NRL winger Suliasi Vunivalu one of domestic rugby’s most anticipated storylines of 2021.
James O’Connor, Taniela Tupou, Harry Wilson, Jordan Petaia, Filipo Daugunu, Tate McDermott, Liam Wright, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Hunter Paisami, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Fraser McReight were all part of Dave Rennie’s maiden test squad last year.
The addition of Josh Flook, Zane Nonggorr, Mac Grealy, Kalani Thomas and Ilaisa Droasese on full-time deals has meant former Wallabies back and nine-season veteran Chris Feauai-Sautia and Samoan halfback Scott Malolua both missed new contracts.
Twins JP and Ruan Smith are the other notable omissions after the props sealed a move to American Major League Rugby franchise LA Giltinis this year.
Brad Thorn took the reins as coach in 2018, controversially axing five-eighth Quade Cooper as he attempted to rebuild a side that had flailed since winning the 2011 title.
Central to that rebuild was internal development, with 89 per cent of the Reds’ 37-man squad graduating from the Queensland development pathway.
Wright said that connection had started to benefit them on field as they reached last season’s Super Rugby AU decider.
“The best thing I can tell you is in games last year, defending our line, there was no quit from the boys,” captain Wright said.
“That’s something special; everyone knows they’re doing their part.”
The Queensland Reds have named a youthful squad for the upcoming Super Rugby AU season as they look to build on their runners-up finish last year.https://t.co/aOLvcVgRd7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 18, 2021
The Reds’ stability took a hit last season when Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda and Isaac Lucas all left to pursue overseas contracts during the COVID-19 shutdown.
But Wright said the emergence of talented fullback Jock Campbell showed their system was working.
“When Thorny came in he wanted to make sure Queensland had a really, really good pathway and in times before we let a lot of good players go,” he said.
“But guys like Jock, who spent four, five years in club rugby before getting their chance, it shows the hidden gems we have at club level.
“It is that conveyer belt … and with 11 or 12 Wallabies guys away (to begin preseason) it’s given others a chance to step up, talk in meeting and lead that on-field chat.”
REDS SQUAD: Matt Faessler, Feao Fotuaika, Harry Hoopert, Alex Mafi, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Dane Zander, Angus Blyth, Ben Grant, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Ryan Smith, Tuania Taii Tualima, Fraser McReight, Angus Scott-Young, Seru Uru, Sam Wallis, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright, Lawson Creighton, Bryce Hegarty, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Moses Sorovi, Kalani Thomas, Hudson Creighton, Josh Flook, Isaac Henry, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Hamish Stewart, Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Ilasia Droasese, Mac Grealy, Suliasi Vunivalu.
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments