Reds 11th and skating on thin ice

[The InnFORCEr]

AAP
Jim Morton
April 6, 2014, 6:09 pm


Has the Queensland Reds' slide begun?

So it seems after their gut-wrenching 32-29 Super Rugby loss to the Western Force at their own Suncorp Stadium fortress.

The defeat to a reborn team that's playing with the belief and spirit they themselves first showed in their revival under Ewen McKenzie in 2010 has the Reds' 11th and skating on thin ice.

For the first time in more than four years, Queensland (3-4) has an inferior win-loss record and the 2011 champions now face a crucial must-win home clash with the Brumbies on Friday night.

"It's a huge game for us," skipper James Horwill said after the three-tries-to-two loss. "It was always going to be but this result has magnified that.

"We've got six days to get it right."

With the second-placed Brumbies (21), Waratahs (20) and Force (18) all in the top five, any further derby losses will have the Reds (15) falling out of finals contention - even in a tighter-than-ever competition.

Most troubling for Queensland in 2014 is the fact that, apart from the round two hammering by NSW, they fail to capitalise on try-scoring chances and also can't put teams away.

It happened again against the Force, hitting the lead four times after bouncing back from an early 12-0 deficit - and then allowing Jayden Hayward to slip through for a 79th minute match-winner.

"I'm disappointed, and we're all disappointed," coach Richard Graham said. "We gave ourselves the lead at 29-25 and at that point there I thought we'd done enough."

Like last year, when they still made the finals on the back of gutsy defence, they still lack attacking options outside Quade Cooper and Will Genia and are crying out for a dynamic back-row enforcer.

One positive is the expected return of Chris Feauai-Sautia from a hamstring injury but the return to form of Ben Tapuai could see him start on the wing.

Although Graham is confident Lachie Turner will also play the Brumbies, the former Wallabies flyer has been in a moonboot and will visit a specialist on Monday.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...g-on-thin-ice/

[hertryk]

Would they have even got a "sniff" if we weren't down to 14 men ? I somehow doubt it..

[Invictus]

Damn right hertyk! They wouldn't have had a sniff without that yellow card.

[AndyS]

Anyone want to guess who will suddenly find JOC an attractive option despite his baggage...?

[Kept One]

Anyone want to guess who will suddenly find JOC an attractive option despite his baggage...?

And they can have him, why would we ruin our team with that selfish pratt!!!

[brokendown gunfighter]

not after JOC sends the Reds a list of KPI's they need to put in place before he considers joining them!

[The InnFORCEr]

ARU HQ - ring ring, ring ring

RG - Hi Bill, it's Dick here.

BP - What are doing up there mate, we got you out that mess you created over West, now your screwing Queensland Rugby.

RG - Yeah I know Bill, I should never have bought Stilsy with me he's just brings me bad luck! Anyway, I had a thought Bill. You know that young fella James O'Connor, well I taught him everything he knows, so I think you should find a way for him to come home to Queensland so he can fill the spot you reserved him for RWC 2015.

BP - I might just be able to swing that one Dick. Do you think you will lose any more fixtures this year?

RG - Without doubt Bill, did you see Quade and Will fall off Mozza on Saturday, and that bloody drop goal attempt, does he think he's Dunning or something??

BP - OK mate se how you go and if the trend continues well run with the old homesick story again, seem to work well up there.

RG - Thanks Bill, by the way, when do you want me to start at the Tahs?

BP - silence

[SinBin]

Good old Wrecking Ball Dickie...

[valzc]

Anyone want to guess who will suddenly find JOC an attractive option despite his baggage...?

Last I heard JOC wanted to join the Reds! But that might change cos JOC's only interested in joining a WINNING side! There sure ain't no room for him at the Force!

[Sheikh]

"I'm disappointed, and we're all disappointed," coach Richard Graham said. "We gave ourselves the lead at 29-25 and at that point there I thought we'd done enough."

"I thought we'd done enough." That, my friends, sums up what was wrong with the Force in the Graham years and what's wrong with the Reds now. You've done enough when the referee signals the end of the game - never before.

[Tonkar]

The Reds will be asking Pulver for next yr salary cap this yr to pay for JOC and then have to sack 10 players to get back under the cap as you cant tell me Horwill ,Genia ,Cooper dont chew up at least 1/3 of the salry money now if not poss 1/2

[Sheikh]

The Reds will be asking Pulver for next yr salary cap this yr to pay for JOC and then have to sack 10 players to get back under the cap as you cant tell me Horwill ,Genia ,Cooper dont chew up at least 1/3 of the salry money now if not poss 1/2

Their salary money might be quite low - depends on the size of their ARU top-up!

[GIGS20]

and then have to sack 10 players to get back under the cap as you cant tell me Horwill ,Genia ,Cooper dont chew up at least 1/3 of the salry money now if not poss 1/2

reds will never have to sack anybody to get under this mythical "salary cap" of which you speak. It doesn't apply to the heartland of Aussie rugby!

[hertryk]

"I thought we'd done enough"..WT!!! What a PLONKER!!

[chibi]

He'll be talking up the bonus point next