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Time is a luxury the Queensland Reds need under Brad Thorn

By Ben Smith
Time is a luxury the Reds need under Thorn. (Photos/Gettys Images)

Brad Thorn’s Ballymore shake-up enters its second season, with the young head coach looking to build on his first season that started with some promise and fizzled away.

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After a horror start in Melbourne, the Reds won three straight to almost equal the win tallies in each of the previous three seasons (2017- 4, 2016- 3, 2015- 4). The bad news was that early form quickly dissipated and they went 3-9 for the rest of the season, with a thrashing at the hands of the Sunwolves in Tokyo a notable low point.

It would be folly to expect the Reds to compete for the Super Rugby title this year, and while the players might believe, history suggests otherwise. There have been only five instances of teams jumping more than eight places between seasons, so for the 13th-placed Reds, just obtaining a winning season would be a good start.

In 2010, the year before the Reds’ maiden title, the team went 8-5 having gone 3-10 in 2009, achieving their first winning season since 2002. It is this kind of result that will offer hope to those who have sat through five seasons of ineptitude. Just win more than you lose and prove that this squad is going in the right direction.

Thorn’s cultural rebuild of the Reds has seen fan favourite Quade Cooper officially shipped out (although he didn’t play at all last year), ex-captain James Slipper join the Brumbies and the troubled Karmichael Hunt link with the Waratahs.

Given the results of the side in 2017 when all three last played, the impact of losing such high-profile players hasn’t been material when it comes to winning.

Despite improving in the win column in Thorn’s first year, the team finished 12th in points scored, 13th in tries scored and second-to-last in line breaks, offloads, and passes. There are still major concerns over the Reds attacking ability, which will hopefully be improved by the arrival of new attack coach Jim McKay, which was widely regarded as an astute signing.

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The side has youthful exuberance that can bring much-needed spark to the Reds attack, both young halfbacks Tate McDermott and Moses Sorovi are livewires that are dangerous in and around the ruck channels.

The problem is they haven’t learned how to control the tempo and play at the speed required to break down the defences of top Super Rugby teams. Sorovi, in particular, is too slow in recycling and is indecisive at times, despite being a danger man when taking on the line.

The Reds young flyhalf Hamish Stewart has often played territory as a first priority, kicking away a lot of possession even in the pre-season trials. Often this seems to be because of a lack of shape, which is a bad omen.

The young 10 was shielded away from handling much last year, averaging 18.4 possessions a game compared to the Wallabies incumbent flyhalf Bernard Foley (41.7). He hasn’t shown much inkling when it comes to playmaking, ranking in the bottom five in the position at creating or making line breaks on a per run and per pass attempt basis. The lack of impact hasn’t come with stability either, Stewart has a top five turnover ratio, based on his number of touches, in the position.

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You can expect mistakes from such a young flyhalf, but this must come with an upside to be worth the risk. For a player who has been thrown into Super Rugby before he was 20, the question has to be asked whether the Reds will end up with Jake McIntyre 2.0.

In just a 20-minute cameo in the last trial, Isaac Lucas showed his ability with a brilliant solo break on the counter, beating a number of Chiefs defenders on a scintillating break. The youngest Lucas brother, also a flyhalf by trade, could be a breakout find for the Reds and could also fill time at fullback.

Captain Kerevi is a known quantity in both attack and defence – on his day one of the best talents in the competition with ball-in-hand, but also a shaky defender with a high missed tackle rate. As the new leader of the team, Kerevi will hopefully lead by example on both sides of the ball.

The Reds backs as a unit were some of the worst defenders as a group statistically last year, with Aidan Toua, Filipo Daugunu, Duncan Paia’aua, and Kerevi posting sub-70 and even sub-60 percent tackle rates.

The addition of defence coach Peter Ryan, who will double as a defence coach for local NRL side Brisbane Broncos, will hopefully bring some much-needed resolve and mold the unit to work together and defend as the situation requires.

The side has quietly said goodbye to other backs in the squad: Jono Lance (Worcester), Ben Lucas (Grenoble), Lachlan Maranta, Eto Nabuli, and Jayden Ngamanu, while the promising Izaia Perese switched back to league.

The most telling aspect of the Reds off-season was the absence of a ‘quick-fix’ headline signing to band-aid over problems. There are no new league wingers or splash signings like Hunt, James O’Connor or Ayumu Goromaru. The arrival of Rebels winger Sefa Naivalu was an unexpected bonus.

Instead, they have picked apples from their own backyard. Jock Campbell has been in a successful UQ side for a number of years who had a breakout NRC season and young Will Eadie is a burner with speed not seen since Rod Davies.

Another young pair, flanker Fraser McReight and lock Harry Wilson are top prospects at their respective positions, adding more youth stocks to the likes of Liam Wright, Angus Scott-Young, Angus Blyth, and Harry Hockings in the pack.

The Reds will hopefully achieve more breadth in the roster by continuing to sign the best young, cheap local talent instead of being top-heavy on a few overpaid stars. It’s a positive sign that McReight has been kept in town despite Wright being around the same age and playing the same position.

The more competition and depth in the Reds squad, the better, but there is no shying away from the fact that is such a young roster, and young players still need time to develop. As rugby players and as athletes, they need to be built over time.

That doesn’t completely absolve the need to win, as the past has shown that championship teams rise over a few seasons and signs start to show in the years before Super Rugby finals are reached.

The Reds need to give their fans a reason to believe this year.

IN: Feao Fotuaika (Brisbane City), Gavin Luka (Bond University), Efi Ma’afu (Queensland Country), Fraser McReight (Brisbane City), Harry Wilson (Queensland Country), Matt McGahan (Yamaha Jubilo), Jock Campbell (Queensland Country), Will Eadie (Brisbane City), Sefa Naivalu (Rebels), Jack Hardy (Western Force), Bryce Hegarty (Waratahs)

OUT: Sef Fa’agase (Highlanders), James Slipper (Brumbies), Markus Vanzati (Force), Andrew Ready (Southland), Kane Douglas (Bordeaux), Michael Gunn (Brisbane City), Reece Hewat (Brisbane City), George Smith (Bristol), Quade Cooper (Rebels), Jono Lance (Worcester), Ben Lucas (Grenoble), Lachlan Maranta (Brisbane City), Eto Nabuli (Bordeaux), Jayden Ngamanu (Brisbane City), Izaia Perese (Redcliffe Dolphins), Karmichael Hunt (Waratahs)

Squad: Feao Fotuaika, Harry Hoopert, Gavin Luka, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Taniela Tupou, Efi Ma’afu, Alex Mafi, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Blyth, Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Scott Higginbotham, Adam Korczyk, Fraser McReight, Angus Scott-Young, Caleb Timu, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright, Tate McDermott, Moses Sorovi, James Tuttle, Matt McGahan, Hamish Stewart, Teti Tela, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua, Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Will Eadie, Sefa Naivalu, Jordan Petaia, Jack Hardy, Bryce Hegarty, Aidan Toua

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A
Adrian 38 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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