Where to for the Reds

Despite people's state allegiances, the saying "When Queensland Rugby is strong, Australian Rugby is strong" still holds true even with two extra teams since that saying was coined.
Rugby needs to be strong across the board however it especially needs to have a real depth in the two traditional heartlands of Australian Rugby to ensure we are atracting as many juniors to the code as possible and to encourage competition for all Wallaby positions as well.

So, where to for the Reds into 2009 and beyond?
I really believe they have the makings of quite a strong squad based on some of the future stars of Australian Rugby.
Queensland continues to do well at the Under Age Nationals and feeding players into the Australian Schoolboys etc, they do junior development very well.

In my mind the Reds could really do with shifting the rest of the old brigade out now and really putting some trust in the new kids they already have.

Those that are or that need to go IMHO are:

Sam Cordingley
Ben Coutts
David Croft
Sean Hardman (Though may keep him as the one "heart and soul Queenslander" warrior)
Van Humphries
Herman Hunt
Peter Hynes
Chris Latham
Stephen Moore
Ed O'Donoghue
John Roe
Clinton Schifcofske
Morgan Turinui
Henari Veratau
Andrew Walker

Yup, that's sixteen players that I reckon have no place in a successful Reds future.
Give the Squad an enema, retain the really good young players they have by ensuring they get match time now (ie '09), recruit like buggery to snare some mid twenties players of note and then head overseas for an extensive Queensland tour.

Assuming fitness in the remaining Squad, that would leave a first pick XV something like:

1. Greg Holmes
2. Saia Faingaa
3. Rodney Blake
4. Hugh McMeniman
5. James Horwill (c)
6. Josh Afu
7. Poutasi Luafutu/AJ Gilbert
8. Leroy Houston

9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. Berrick Barnes
13. Lloyd Johansson
14. Chris Siale
15. Brando Va’aulu

16. Sean Hardman/Ole Avei/Geoff Abrams
17. Dayna Edwards
18. Rob Simmons
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. ???
21. Ben Lucas
22. Charlie Fetoai

Some good points. Interesting that some are saying that Qld will really miss the experience of Cordingly and Latham. Truth is that these guys have played very little rugby for the Reds in the last 2 years due to injury.

I hope that McMenimen can get a decent run without injury - he is a good prospect but the Reds have had little value for money from him over the last two and a half years.

You really need to get a blog Burgs. Share your wisdom with the world

Why have a blog when you can have a decent Supporters Forum ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Burgs

1. Greg Holmes
2. Saia Faingaa
3. Rodney Blake(France)
4. Hugh McMeniman
5. James Horwill (c)
6. Josh Afu
7. Poutasi Luafutu / AJ Gilbert(released?)
8. Leroy Houston

9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. Berrick Barnes
13. Lloyd Johansson(Japan)
14. Chris Siale(released)
15. Brando Va’aulu

16. Sean Hardman/Ole Avei(released?)/Geoff Abrams(released)
17. Dayna Edwards
18. Rob Simmons
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. ???
21. Ben Lucas
22. Charlie Fetoai

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as for the player they should cut away, i agree with a lot of them, but Hynes and Turinui? Hynes has being one one of the form Australian wingers this year, and Turinui's form in the second half of the season has being some of his best for years, they are both only 25 and 26 respectively, also Hynes just re-signed for another 2.

Walker, Veratah, Coringley, Siale, Cordingley, Latham, Croft, Johhanson and Blake are the players who are leaving/released/retiring at the end of the season.

Turinui, Shifcofske and Cooper all have contracts on the table waiting, with Shifcofske probably going to take a contract overseas, Turinui is also a possibility depending on a ARU top-up.

Each one of the Super 14 teams has a hell of a lot of potential. The talents coming through but the only problem is that the talent is still only 17-21 years old. Its easy to forget when they play so well that James O'Connor isn't even 18 and Kurtley Beale is only about 20. Imagine what they will both be like at 25?! We might still have one or two lean years as a few players retire and the four teams struggle a bit to put together a complete 30 player squad that doesn't have too many rookies but once those young guys have had the experience and are a little older and wiser they'll be primed to kick some ass.