New look QR Reds rugby squad back to work on Monday

[Burgs]

New look QR Reds rugby squad back to work on Monday

24 October 2008
Queensland Reds

A new look QR Reds rugby squad assembles at Ballymore on Monday (October 27) to begin preparations for the 2009 Investec Super 14 season.

The squad of 32 - more than a third of them new to the squad in 2009 - will go through hundreds of hours of pre-season training and three trial matches in the months ahead before Head Coach Phil Mooney decides which 22 players should open the Reds' 2009 campaign.

Three of the new recruits are graduates of the QAS Reds Academy - wing Blair Connor, hooker James Hanson and fullback Aidan Toua - while fullback Rod Davies was a Queensland and Australian Schoolboy representative before spending the past two years with the Brisbane Broncos.

Prop Jack Kennedy joins the Reds from the Brumby Runners and fellow prop Laurie Weeks has been recruited on the basis of his strong form in Sydney club rugby. Lock Adam Byrnes was a member of the Waratahs Academy in 2007 following a stint playing professionally in Europe.

ACT Brumbies twins Anthony and Saia Faingaa (centre and hooker) and Otago Highlanders No 8 Ezra Taylor have previous Super 14 experience, while fullback Mark McLinden arrives at the Reds a seasoned professional after more than a decade playing top level rugby league with the Canberra Raiders and London's Harlequins.

Kiwi international flanker Daniel Braid will join the squad in December.

Head Coach Phil Mooney said the playing depth of the 2009 squad should provide genuine competition for every position on the field.

"The coaching staff expect to be spoilt for choice when we sit down to pick the 22 for our opening game," Mooney said.

"I can't remember a season where so many positions will be up for grabs from game one. There will be genuine competition for every position on the field.

“We should also have serious speed out wide, which the fans always love to see.”

The Reds face an intensive pre-season between now and the end of November, with a pre-Christmas burst in December and a four day camp in early January followed by three trial matches against a President's XV (Toowoomba, January 17), the Blues (Auckland, January 24) and Western Force (Ballymore, January 30).

Following the success of their "meet the fans" open training sessions in 2008, the Reds will again open one Ballymore session a week to fans, in addition to holding off-site open sessions in November and December (dates and venues TBC).

The Reds' Wallaby contingent of Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Hugh McMeniman, Digby Ioane and Quade Cooper will rejoin the squad in the new year, while 2008 captain and Wallaby James Horwill will miss the early part of the season with a foot injury.

2008 QR Reds Squad

Berrick Barnes - Centre / Flyhalf
Daniel Braid - Flanker (formerly Blues, NZ)
Adam Byrnes - Lock (Waratahs Academy)
Blair Connor - Wing (QAS Reds Academy)
Quade Cooper - Flyhalf / Centre
Ben Daley - LH Prop
Rod Davies- Fullback (Broncos)
Dayna Edwards - TH Prop
Anthony Faingaa - Centre (Brumbies)
Saia Faingaa - Hooker (Brumbies)
Charlie Fetoai - Centre
Will Genia - Scrumhalf
James Hanson - Hooker (QAS Reds Academy)
Sean Hardman - Hooker
Scott Higginbotham - No 8
Greg Holmes- LH Prop
James Horwill - Lock
Leroy Houston - No 8
Van Humphries- Lock
Peter Hynes - Wing
Digby Ioane - Wing
Jack Kennedy - TH Prop (Brumby Runners)
Poutasi Luafutu - Flanker
Ben Lucas - Scrumhalf / Flyhalf
Mark McLinden - Fullback (Harlequins UK)
Hugh McMeniman - Flanker / Lock
Robert Simmons - Lock
Ezra Taylor - No 8 (Highlanders)
Aidan Toua - Fullback/Wing (QAS Reds Academy)
Morgan Turinui - Centre
Brando Va'aulu - Wing
Laurie Weeks - TH Prop (Sydney Uni)

The Reds have six home games at Suncorp in the 2009 season (please note: following dates still to be confirmed, depending on final draw):

Saturday 7 Feb v Hurricanes (NZ)
Sunday 1 Mar v Cheetahs (South Africa)
Saturday 14 Mar v Sharks (SA)
Saturday 28 Mar v Chiefs (NZ)
Saturday 18 Apr v Lions (SA)
Saturday 2 May v Brumbies (ACT)

(all dates provisional)

2009 season memberships are now on sale, with family packages offering a night at the rugby for just over $10 per head for a family of four.

The six game packages include a “two kids free” $250 season ticket option for families that works out to just over $41 per match for a family of two adults and two children (15 and under). For larger families, additional child season memberships are available in the same silver category for $60.

Individual season membership packages for six Super 14 games range from $125 (Silver) to $380 (Platinum) for new members, while Gold Family packages (2 adults and 2 juniors 15 and under) are $460 (Gold). Additional Gold junior seats are $80 for the season.

University students and other face-painted supporters will again congregate in the "Red Zone" behind the goal posts, where non-member season passes for over-18s only are $125 ($20.80 per game ) and just $95 for students over 18 ($15.80 per game).

Individual match tickets go on sale in January.

[TOCC]

blueandblack, you will be caring if the Reds beat the Force again in 2009

[oxleymoron]

The squad on paper looks better than 2008, however you don't win games on paper....

[TOCC]

i tend to think that 2008 was better, especially with the loss of players like Cordingley, Latham, Moore, Blake, Roe and Croft.

But, Cordingley, Latham, Blake and Roe were injured/bench players for the most of 2008 anyway.

[robyn <3]

blueandblack, you will be caring if the Reds beat the Force again in 2009

keep dreaming!

peter hynes fell in love with the subiaco crowd and handed us the game in 07. he'll do the same in 09

[TOCC]

Peter Hynes 08 is a different player to Peter Hynes 07, in 07 i thought he was decent but he definetly wasnt one of the certain starting players in the side. Phil Mooney has completely change him and the way he plays.

[Flamethrower]

blueandblack, you will be caring if the Reds beat the Force again in 2009

Arse covering???

[Burgs]

May not be the very strongest of combinations, but this would be my first pick to balance performance with development which I believe is where the Reds are at this year.

Burgs '09 Reds:

1. Greg Holmes
2. Sean Hardman
3. Dayna Edwards
4. Hugh McMeniman
5. James Horwill
6. Ezra Taylor
7. Daniel Braid
8. Leroy Houston

9. Will Genia
10. Berrick Barnes
11. Digby Ioane
12. Morgan Turinui
13. Charlie Fetoai
14. Peter Hynes
15. Mark McLinden

16. Saia Faingaa
17. Ben Daley
18. Van Humphries
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. Ben Lucas
21. Quade Cooper
22. Brando Va'aulu

[TOCC]

May not be the very strongest of combinations, but this would be my first pick to balance performance with development which I believe is where the Reds are at this year.

Burgs '09 Reds:

1. Greg Holmes
2. Sean Hardman
3. Dayna Edwards
4. Hugh McMeniman
5. James Horwill
6. Ezra Taylor
7. Daniel Braid
8. Leroy Houston

9. Will Genia
10. Berrick Barnes
11. Digby Ioane
12. Morgan Turinui
13. Charlie Fetoai
14. Peter Hynes
15. Mark McLinden

16. Saia Faingaa
17. Ben Daley
18. Van Humphries
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. Ben Lucas
21. Quade Cooper
22. Brando Va'aulu

I doubt Barnes will go back to 5/8, especially if Cooper embraces his time on Wallaby trip to develop as a player, i dont think you can keep Cooper on the bench.

1. Greg Holmes
2. Sean Hardman
3. Dayna Edwards
4. Van Humphries
5. James Horwill
6. Hugh McMeniman
7. Daniel Braid
8. Leroy Houston

9. Ben Lucas
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. Berrick Barnes
13. Morgan Turinui
14. Peter Hynes
15. Brando Va'aulu

16. Saia Faingaa
17. Laurie Weeks
18. Ezra Taylor
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. Will Genia
21. Charlie Fetoai
22. Mark McLinden

I expect the team will change through the season, with McLinden, Toua and Vaaulu all fighting for the fullback position. I would also hope that Fetoia starts more games at outside centre, relegating Turinui to the bench.

If Houston doesnt really start to pick his game up in 09 then he should be dropped for Ezra Taylor, Laurie Weeks was one of the best scrummagers in the Sydney comp, lets see if he can carry the momentum through to the S14.

[GIGS20]

Daniel Braid alone is better than Reds 2008.....but who cares

[TOCC]

if thats the case then he was also better then the 2008 Force

i dont think he is any better or worse then Croft was

[robyn <3]

Peter Hynes 08 is a different player to Peter Hynes 07, in 07 i thought he was decent but he definetly wasnt one of the certain starting players in the side. Phil Mooney has completely change him and the way he plays.

and the way he is no longer allowed to spear tackle force players??

good

[TOCC]

and the way he is no longer allowed to spear tackle force players??

good

hynes was only trying to show drew how to actually tackle and not just fall off guys..

maybe he went to far

[Dingo]

I'm suprised no one here is rating the Faiigaa twins
they are quality players and were starters at the Brumbies but predicted lineups here dont even have them on the bench.
I'd have Saii at start but Anthony will struggle for start with Barnes at inside. I reckon he could slot into outside if Turinui has another shocker start to the season.

Horwills missing the first half of the season.
The way Stephen Moore's playing with the Wallabies we are really gonna miss him but he usually plays shithouse for the Reds anyway.

[Burgs]

I've actually got him at #16 Dingo
I rate both of them but they are still developing players and to be fair they only played at the Brumbies due to injury (Anthony) and the sudden string of lost Hookers (Saia).
My selection is based on me Coaching it, not what I may expect someone else to select.
I would use Hardman as just that, the hardman for the first twenty five to thirty before bringing the more agile and skilled (but lighter and less imposing) Saia on to run free, safe in the knowledge that a Hooker is allowed back on if a replacement is required and Saia is unable to run out the full match. On average he would be seeing around fifty minutes per week.