Pick'n Go: Why Reds can't afford to go back to Genia, Cooper

News - AU Rugby

Pick'n Go: Why Reds can't afford to go back to Genia, Cooper

Sam Bruce

April 11, 2016

© Jonathan Wood/Getty Images

Welcome back to the winner's circle, Queensland Reds.

They may have got a little nervy down the home stretch, going away completely from what had worked so well in the first half against the Highlanders, but they were still deserving of their 28-27 upset triumph over the defending champions.

The video certainly won't make pleasant watching for the Highlanders, who looked anything but the team that lifted the 2015 Super Rugby trophy.

But that's not to take anything away from the Reds, who, in opening up a 22-6 half-time lead, attacked the breakdown, ran with purpose in midfield, were strong in support and fronted up at the set-piece - as they have done throughout their recent struggles.

In fact, they looked a lot like the title-winning Reds if 2011. A team that featured the names Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Scott Higginbotham among others.

© Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Rumour has it those three Wallabies are interested in a return to Ballymore, which would appear to be a dream result for a franchise that only recently announced a massive loss for the 2015 financial year; for if Genia and Cooper, in particular, were to return it would likely see an immediate upturn in crowd attendance.

Saturday night's crowd of 17,199 is actually pretty healthy when you consider the Reds had failed to register a win at home since Round 14 of last year, but it's nothing like the consistent 30,000 figures that flooded to Suncorp when Genia and Cooper had the Reds rolling.

Yes, the logic in bringing back Genia and Cooper, who boast a combined 124 Test caps, and Higginbotham, who was among Super Rugby's premier back-rowers for the best part of six seasons, appears sound.

But it isn't.

For on Saturday night the Reds turned a corner, starting the slow climb up from Super Rugby obscurity, and the players who started that journey deserve the right to continue it.

© Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Half-back Nick Frisby served a lengthy apprenticeship under Genia, filling in when the Wallabies veteran was sidelined and also occasionally deputising at fly-half when the Reds were hit hard by injury.

Frisby is by no means the finished product at No. 9, but a wonderful running game, an improving box-kick and pass, and support play that is probably bettered at scrum-half only by the Hurricanes' TJ Perenara, have seen him mentioned in Wallabies discussions for the three-Test series against England.

At fly-half, Jake McIntyre is a few seasons shy of Frisby's experience. The 21-year-old made his debut only last year and it has been a tough initiation, particularly in the early part of this season.

But there were some excellent signs in his game on Saturday as he steered the Reds around the paddock, kept things simple by hitting Samu Kerevi up in midfield, and finished the match with 13 points from two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal.

There may well be plenty of tough times to come at Ballymore as Frisby and McIntyre continue to learn their trade. But we should remember that a young No. 9 and No. 10 helped dig the Reds out of a horrible Super Rugby hole when they were at rock bottom towards the end of the last decade.

© Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

There is no hiding from the fact the loss of Liam Gill, who was simply outstanding against the Highlanders, will hurt at the end of this season.

But in Kerevi, Japan international Hendrik Tui, hooker Andrew Ready and Wallabies James Slipper and Rob Simmons, the Reds have the nucleus of a side that can only get better. NRL converts Karmichael Hunt and Eto Nabuli had their best games in rugby on Saturday night, too.

Coaches Nick Stiles and Matt O'Connor have had an immediate impact and are showing faith in their young halves to direct the team, and any decision that would see Genia and Cooper return would be a backward step that would put the Reds at risk of falling into the same situation they were in earlier this year.

The Reds' recruitment policy can't be a case of back to the future.

© Sam Bruce

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Pick'n Go: Why Reds can't afford to go back to Genia, Cooper