Queensland Reds Super 14 season preview: playing depth biggest problem

By Greg Clark
Fox Sports rugby commentator
February 04, 2010.

Queensland Reds might have a new coach in 2010, but will it be the same old story for the perennial Brisbane-based battlers.

Former New South Wales Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has settled north of the border, but for how long? The Reds have made a habit out of sacking coaches, and McKenzie is the seventh in a decade of woe.

He might have been successful with the Waratahs - taking them to three semi-finals and two finals in a five-year stint - but he doesn’t have the same experience and overall talent to call on at the Reds just yet.

Playing depth will again be the Reds’ biggest problem.

If they can keep their top team on the paddock all tournament, they will cause some problems, for visiting teams especially. But they will be in trouble if injury strikes.

They should never have let Berrick Barnes move to the Waratahs, and they’ll need Wallabies Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, James Horwill, Sean Hardman and Greg Holmes to step up.

The Reds played some of the best attacking rugby last season, but they let themselves down on defence too often.

I’m expecting McKenzie to adapt a more structured game plan, and we won’t have to wait too long to gauge their chances as they start with home games against tournament heavyweights the Waratahs, the Crusaders and the Blues.

Fox Facts: Queensland Reds

Home ground: Suncorp Stadium
Coach: Ewen McKenzie
Best Super 12/14 finish: Third 1996, 1999
Last season: P13 W3 D0 L10 F258 A380 BP7 Pts19 (13th)

Squad:

James Horwill (C), Daniel Braid, Adam Byrnes, Will Chambers, Blair Connor, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, Rod Davies, Dayna Edwards, Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Will Genia, James Hanson, Sean Hardman, Scott Higginbotham, Greg Holmes, Leroy Houston, Van Humphries, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Jack Kennedy, Richard Kingi, Poutasi Vaiofiso, Tuasivi Luafutu, Ben Lucas, Luke Morahan, Rob Simmons, Ezra Taylor, Lei Tomiki, Morgan Turinui, Brando Va'aulu, Laurie Weeks

Gains: Lei Tomiki (Narbonne), Will Chambers (NRL)

Losses: Berrick Barnes (New South Wales Waratahs), Hugh McMeniman (Japan), Brendan McKibbin (New South Wales Waratahs), Mark McLinden (retired).


Reds' Head-To-Head Records

Week 1, v New South Wales Waratahs (home)
H2H: Played 14: Won 8, Drawn 1, Lost 5 +
In Brisbane: Played 7: Won 5, Lost 2 +

Week 2, v Crusaders (home)
H2H: Played 15: Won 3, Lost 12 -
In Brisbane: Played 8: Won 2, Lost 6 -

Week 3, v Blues (home, Ballymore)
H2H: Played 14: Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 7 -
In Brisbane: Played 7: Won 5, Lost 2 +

Week 4, v Chiefs (away)
H2H: Played 13: Won 6, Lost 7 -
In Hamilton/Rotorua: Played 7: Won 2, Lost 5 -

Week 5, v Western Force (home)
H2H: Played 4: Won 2, Lost 2 =
In Brisbane: Played 2: Won 2, Lost 0 +

Week 6, Bye

Week 7, v Cheetahs (away)
H2H: Played 4: Won 2, Lost 2 =
In Bloemfontein: Played 2: Lost 2 -

Week 8, v Sharks (away)
H2H: Played 15: Won 10, Lost 5 +
In Durban: Played 7: Won 4, Lost 3 +

Week 9, v Lions (away)
H2H: Played 14: Won 10, Drawn 1, Lost 3 +
In Johannesburg/Bloemfontein: Played 7: Won 5, Drawn 1, Lost 1 +

Week 10, v Bulls (home)
H2H: Played 14: Won 8, Lost 6 +
In Brisbane: Played 7: Won 6, Lost 1 +

Week 11, v Stormers (home)
H2H: Played 13: Won 5, Lost 8 -
In Brisbane: Played 7: Won 4, Lost 3 +

Week 12, v Brumbies (away)
H2H: Played 15: Won 1, Lost 14 -
In Canberra: Played 8: Won 0, Lost 8 -

Week 13, v Hurricanes (away)
H2H: Played 14: Won 5, Lost 9 -
In Wellington/Palmerston North/New Plymouth: Played 7: Won 2, Lost 5 -

Week 14, v Highlanders (home)
H2H: Played 14: Won 5, Lost 9 -
In Brisbane/Townsville: Played 7: Won 5, Lost 2 +