Well after 3 coaches in 3 years the author is feeling slightly pissed off.  It’s getting as bad as NSW.  Hell after the legacy of Templeton and Connolly to this pathetic merry go round situation, I am definitely not impressed.  Now combined with the retirements of Qld and Australian rugby stalwarts a lot of people are starting to dismiss the QLD chances next year and I’m going to put you heathen disbelievers back into your place. Praise be to Qld Rugby!

For those living in a cultural desert, Miller is now the coach.  His last serious appointment as a coach was his son’s U12 side!  Before that he was an assistant Wallaby coach. He was also the bloke who appointed Slack (the old one year wonder).  He will perform and unleash the true potential of the followers of the faith onto the unbelievers.

I am more confident about this year’s chances than I was about last years.  QLD has pruned its trunk (but not fully) and allowed some young shoots to finally emerge.  The greatest weakness or potential for the QLD is still within the front row and now the new centres. 

There has been a loss of rugby stalwarts retiring and/or going OS: Totai Kefu, Daniel Herbert, Mat Cockbain, Glen Panaho, Tune (out of season).  You could say we are rebuilding but I reckon its time to unleash the youth brigade that is going to smite the atheist.

I want a rough and hard hittin Red produced this season that makes you wondering what the hell happened to the opposition.  I want to see raw passion and bone breaking tackling that puts the heathen disbelievers in their place before the backline puts the sword into the foes of righteous.

Yet again Qld has to battle the devilish NZ teams first before it gets into the easy SA and those 5 gimmie NSW points.  Qld will surprise everyone in their opening match and then march onto victory by sealing a top four finish with a home ground advantage and from there they won’t be threatened.

Forwards

A couple of nice young blokes in the making here. What am I saying they aint nice and they are going to hurt some also-rans in the other sides and make them wish they didn’t underestimate the maroon jersey that inflicts pain on the unjust.

Front Row:  Stiles, McIsaac, Scott

Players:  Nick Stiles, Fletcher Dyson, Angus Scott, Anthony Mathison, Pete Niumata, Rodney Blake

Hookers: Sean Hardman, Tai McIsaac, Stephen Moore

I am concerned with the front row especially the appointment of Stiles as VC (see Blackadder’s comments re definition of VC), I wanted Pete Niumata.  Pete collected more man of the match awards than a front row should ever receive.  He is an absolute workhorse in any game that I have seen him in. Great hands and a side step that puts Dunning to shame.   I am expecting Stiles to either lift dramatically or get shoved out of the way.  Hell he won’t be the first VC to be given the arse during a season!

In fact anyone but Dyson in the tighthead spot. I don’t know who he passed the medical or the liability exam.  No I do know how he passed as a liability.

McIsaac will lay down a serious challenge for the wallaby hooking spot and Paul won’t even make the squad while Cannon will ride the pine.  While Moore, the goto bloke for QU, will kick Hardman to the wilderness.

Locks/Back Row:

Sharpe, ? , ? Roe and Croft.

Squad: Nathan Sharpe, Rudi Vedelago, Van Humphries, Daniel Heenan, Adam Wallace-Harrison, David Croft, John Roe, Tom McVerry, Luke Doherty

The battle is on to see who will partner Sharpe in the second row and who gets the no. 6 jumper.   Inside betting is that the two spots being split between Vedelago, Heenan and Wallace-Harrison.  Be warned who ever comes off the bench is going to be pissed at missing a run on spot and will want to hurt someone, hopefully the opposition!

You have seen Vedelago destroy the Maoris (2002) and Heenan has been nominated as a potential wallaby of the future.  But you won’t know Wallace-Harrison.  He did his knee last year in the opening minute of the warm-up games last year, he is big and mean.  You have been warned! Who ever gets the no.6 for QLD will be worth buying in the FR comp especially if Wallace-Harrison gets selected.

The prodigal son Humphries returns after giving up on NSW and will probably be on the bench but will have a lot of pressure on him from McVerry and Doherty.  For the true game style to be employed by Qld this year check on the number of forwards in the reserves.

I reckon its going to be hard forwards who’s aim will be to clear a path for the backs to exploit a retreating oppositions backline with plenty of tries out to the back three.

Backs:

9. Valentine, 10. Flatley, 11. Hynes, 12. Kefu/Atkinson, 13. Pelasasa,            

14. Sailor, 15. Latham

Josh Valentine, Tim Atkinson, Damian Hoo, Elton Flatley, Steve Kefu, Junior Pelesasa, Sailor, Peter Hynes, Drew Mitchell, Scott Barton, Chris Latham, Voodoo Doll.

Flatley’s shrine received a double shot of square bear when he was named captain for the year.  Hasn’t that capped off a good 12 months for a bloke who got dropped for missing a recovery session.  (You ####ing dolt Chucky).

I am sorry but this pathetic experiment of the Voodoo Doll in the 5/8 role, during the warm up matches, will not last.  After he gets humiliated again in the opening 20 minutes against the Highlanders he will disappear into thin air, Flatley will take his proper spot in 5/8 and lead QLD to a memorable victory.  Unfortunately there is no backup for Flatley in the 5/8 apart from the Voodoo Doll so I am currently trying my best to appease the gods of rugby through blackmail, cohesion and bribery so that Flatley doesn’t get injured this year. While funding advanced cloning technology to have fully developed replacements on hand if he does get injured.

There is going to be a real battle for spots in the centres.  Pelasasa should nail down the OC spot after a couple of years breaking his leg, twice.  I am looking forward to his return and anyone who saw his efforts against the Lions knows his potential.

IC should be interesting Atkinson v Steve Kefu.  Tune for those who don’t know is recovering from yet more surgery and won’t play in the Super 12 this year. Atkinson has a real chance to take over from the only surviving member of the Kefu clan in the Qld squad (I have no idea what happened to the other 2).

Hynes is only member of the back three you blokes don’t know.  He did play a couple of Super 12 games last year, made the World U 21 side and was a real attacking spark for UQ this year in the Brisbane club comp.  I am expecting big things from him during the Super 12 and is a bargain in the FR comp.  I think he will be better than Damien Smith and faster than Tune in his heyday.

Reds Draw

Head Coach: Jeff Miller

Manager: Anthony Herbert

Asst Coach: Adrian Thompson

Backs Coach: Phil Mooney

Strength & Fitness coach: Damian Mednis

Fitness Consultant: Steve Nance

Skills Coach: Alex Evans

Doctor: Dr Mark Young

Physio: Cameron Lillicrap, Cath McDougall, Tom Hillier

Life Skills: Miranda Banks

What the hell is a life skills person?  Do they teach the player to brush their teeth?

I realise that I have provided more ammunition to the unbelievers so I know that the QLD Reds players wont let me down again with another pitful excuse for a season.