Wallabies Jordan Petaia, Fraser McReight and Hunter Paisami will see immediate action when the Queensland Reds launch their 2023 plans in Perth on Saturday.
The pre-season trial against Simon Cron’s new-look Western Force side at McGillvray Oval from 4pm (Perth time) is a key stepping stone with Super Rugby Pacific looming large
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Cron is eager to judge what his playmaking capabilities are when he unveils seasoned former Red Hamish Stewart as his new No.10 beside English centre recruit Sam Spink.
Equally, the Reds enter this season without a Wallaby in the front-row because of the Achilles injury that has grounded scrum dominator Taniela Tupou.
The reign of coach Brad Thorn has been underpinned by a powerful scrum for five seasons but nothing is so guaranteed in 2023 without Tupou.
Former Australian Schoolboy Phransis Sula-Siaosi will get first crack at showing what he’s got at tighthead before a baton change to 125kg Zane Nonggorr in this trial.
The signing of Fijian Test prop Peni Ravai is further evidence of how much depth you need when a team’s entire season can swing on the effectiveness of the scrum anchor role.
“Losing Taniela for the season is massive but we have a strong mentality to improve as a collective at scrum time, to aim for every scrum being our best scrum,” Nonggorr said.
“We’ve been working hard to step up and I’m very grateful to ‘Nela’ for the big help he’s been with advice.”
Nonggorr said all scrums would use the pre-season to literally get up to speed with the new laws around scrums forming within 30 seconds of being awarded.
“It’s a move to speed up the game. It tests your fitness and you have to get stable and balanced immediately," Nonggorr said.
It will be a challenge first up with temperatures expected to reach 39 degrees in Perth on Saturday. Regular drinks breaks and unlimited interchange of players will only help so much.
For centre Paisami, he will relish getting back into rugby after his Wallabies tour of Europe was cut short by a knee injury against Ireland.
His misfortune enabled Petaia to play nearly a full game from the bench. How well he performed against Ireland was the powerful message that he’s a matchwinner when sticking to what he does best...strong, elusive running, elite aerial work like catching kick-offs and tackles that count.
Flanker McReight looks to have added a few extra kilos to his upper body. At his best, he’s a superb No.7. A strong Super Rugby season and giving away fewer penalties is what he needs when the fellow World Cup contenders in his position, Michael Hooper and Pete Samu, are also so skilled.
Flyhalf James O’Connor’s progress from off-season ankle surgery has gone well but he is being held back until Saturday week’s trial against the NSW Waratahs in Narrabri during the Santos Festival of Rugby.
At No.10, the Reds will start with Lawson Creighton before giving Tom Lynagh time off the bench.
The son of Wallabies legend Michael Lynagh won a Colts premiership with University of Queensland last year. The slickness of his pass and a fine boot were there from the outset last season as he showed as a teen in a trial against the Force at Ballymore.
For the Force, new coach Cron will be delighted to have experienced Wallabies lock Izack Rodda back after a lengthy spell dealing with a foot injury.
Rodda’s all-purpose game, with its multiple efforts, is just what the Force pack needs to add expertise in key areas.
He’ll have a new lineout thrower this season with Folau Fainga’a to play in the opening trial at hooker after moving on from the Brumbies.
How Stewart runs the show at No.10 is the all-important piece. It’s the position he played under Cron with the Australian Under-20s and where he made his first mark at the Reds before shifting to inside centre.
“Hamish offers really good leadership to the backline. He’s got experience, he’s a good communicator and I’ve rated him as a No.10 since our Under-20s time together,” said Cron, who is without the injured Reesjan Pasitoa for much of the season.
Queensland Reds v Western Force, Saturday, February 4 Forwards Connor Anderson – Wests
Richie Asiata – Easts
Angus Blyth – Bond University
Alex Davies – University of Queensland
Ethan Dobbins – Wests
Matt Faessler – Brothers
Luke Jones – Wests
Fraser McReight – Brothers
Zane Nonggorr – Bond University
Peni Ravai – TBC
Ryan Smith – Brothers
Phransis Sula-Siaosi – Souths
Keynan Tauakipulu – Wests
Seru Uru – Wests
Harry Wilson – Brothers
Liam Wright – Easts
Dane Zander – University of Queensland
Backs
Floyd Aubrey – GPS
Lawson Creighton – Brothers
Filipo Daugunu – Wests
Josh Flook – Brothers
Mac Grealy – University of Queensland
Isaac Henry – Wests
Tom Lynagh – University of Queensland
Ben Navosailagi – Wests
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – Souths
Hunter Paisami – Wests
Jordan Petaia – Wests
Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland
Louis Werchon – Wests
