Reds vs Blues trial match

[TOCC]

1. Greg Holmes (Sunnybank) (c)
2. Saia Faingaa (Souths)
3. Dayna Edwards (Sunnybank)
4. Robert Simmons (Sunnybank)
5. Van Humphries (Souths)
6. Hugh McMeniman (Wests)
7. Daniel Braid (Sunshine Coast Stingrays)
8. Leroy Houston (Norths)
9. Will Genia (Wests)
10. Quade Cooper (Souths)
11. Peter Hynes (GPS)
12. Anthony Faingaa (Souths)
13. Morgan Turinui (Sunshine Coast Stingrays)
14. Digby Ioane (Sunnybank)
15. Mark McLinden

Reserves:
16. Sean Hardman (Brothers)
17. Laurie Weeks (University)
18. Ben Daley (Gold Coast Breakers)
19. Scott Higginbotham (Wests)
20. Poutasi Luafutu (Wests)
21. Ben Lucas (Sunnybank)
22. Brando Va'aulu (Sunnybank)
23. Blair Connor (Norths)
24. Rod Davies (GPS)

The trial match will be played at Auckland's Waitakere Stadium on Friday, kicking off at 6pm local time.

[TOCC]

this is a lot closer to the S14 starting lineup then last week, still missing Barnes, Lucas and Hardman as the probable S14 starters though.

[AndyS]

Looks it, with a nice blend of youth - should be an interesting game.

[James]

I'm really keen to see how the Reds front and back rows do. Plenty of potential there.

Hopefully the Reds and Blues smash each other to pieces so that we can take two wins in the two weeks afterwards. Lets hope Adam Byrnes is a late sub in and lives up to the name NSW has given him.

[TOCC]

there are 7 players in the starting lineup under 22, im not expecting a whole lot from the front row, Faingaa is more of a Jeremy Paul type player and Dayna Edwards is still pretty inexperienced.

[James]

there are 7 players in the starting lineup under 22, im not expecting a whole lot from the front row, Faingaa is more of a Jeremy Paul type player and Dayna Edwards is still pretty inexperienced.

TOCC you can't tell me the backrow doesn't look good and to be fair Greg Holmes and Dayna Edwards could well be Wallabies props by the end of this year.

[Thequeerone]

Give him a break James - being a supporter won't be easy this year - he is obviously not counting his chickens - but here's hoping he and us are pleasantly surprised.

[mudskipper]

This season will test their coach... The Reds have talent but wont dominate matches…they’ll have to do their homework and play smart rugby to win matches... Teams that come unprepared beware the Reds are getting stronger and will surprise....

[TOCC]

TOCC you can't tell me the backrow doesn't look good and to be fair Greg Holmes and Dayna Edwards could well be Wallabies props by the end of this year.

yeah the backrow looks pretty good, it does rely heavily on Houston picking his game up in 2009 though, he played ok in 2008 but he needs to improve, from the trial match against NSW he has increased his workrate but i guess we wont know until the S14 season.

Give him a break James - being a supporter won't be easy this year - he is obviously not counting his chickens - but here's hoping he and us are pleasantly surprised.

I can confidently say, from what i have seen about the players, this will be the best year for the Reds in a long time.

[chiselhead]

How does Robert Simmons go?
Back row looks tasty.

[TOCC]

Robert Simmons goes very well, he is still only 18 or 19 though, whilst physically he looks more then capable of playing in the S14, im not sure if he is mature enough yet.

[James]

How does Robert Simmons go?
Back row looks tasty.

He was a big performer for the Australian under 19s back when they won the World Championship in 2007. At almost 120kg he's beefy up front too. Don't reckon he'll hit potential for a few years but its great that he's getting a run now.

Leroy Houston will definitely have a better year this year. He was out in the wilderness for a fair while and the extra time with both the squad and back in the saddle will make a big difference. Same applies for Tamaiti Horua- he'll be better this year having been through a full pre-season with the Force.

[chiselhead]

Great. 120KG is impressive
Byrnes looks like an angry young man
Horwill is great value
I like the looks of Higginbotham based on his cameos off the bench last year.
Qld are looking up. That's a very impressive backrow.

[TOCC]

Byrnes had anger issues apparently when he was in the NSW academy, got in a few tussles with players back then..

Im sure Horwill will be able to keep him in check when he gets back though

[chiselhead]

I don't actually see it is a bad thing.........he needs to learn to control it. At least he's got the minerals.