A BACKLINE THOUGHT FOR THE REDS  FOR ROUND 4

ADDED MONDAY 03/03/2008

With all the speculation on axe wielding going on,  I couldn't resist throwing my 20 cents worth into the ring.  I thought I would run with a backline that looked like the following:

9. Cordingley

10. Lucas,  yep the first of the biggies,  I liked this kid at Terrace,  liked him when Qld played the Irish Schools side,  he tackled himself to death against a massive side when many of his team mates that particular day,  went to water and folded up.

11.  Peter Hynes

12. Clinton Shifcoske,  these league guys really know the importance of "winning the ground".  They talk about it all the time.  I think he is the hardest,  most direct runner that the Reds have,  let's get the pill in his hands and get it over the advantage/tackle line with some strong carries and play out of there.

13.  Charlie Fetoai,  at some stage we have to put some faith in younger guys,  the Brumbies have,  let's give this guy a chance to show his worth.

14.  Andrew Walker,  has to be in the side somewhere,  the Red's most dangerous attacking back.

15. Chris Latham,  he speaks for himself.

Reserve 1:  Berrick Barnes,  Barnes looks troubled at the moment,  bring him on at 9,  10 or 12 when the defences start to tire and rebuild his confidence.  He remains to this day the best footballer I have seen as a 15 year old,  not sure what happened to him in his stint at Broncosville but he has lost that "something",  or maybe it is rugby imposing too much structure on the kid.

Reserve 2: Quade Cooper,  big enough to cover 12,  13,  15,  depending on the strategy and who may be injured,  gives you plenty of ball players when the defence starts to wilt in half 2.

Reserve 3:  Caleb Brown,  seems this guy has fallen out of favour,  but he has plenty of toe and plenty to offer.

It is a given that these guys in the backs cannot perform if the 8 guys in front of them fail,  and the guys in the forwards do not seem to have any replacements,  I'd give Olei Avei a run,  he likes the physical stuff,  maybe Herman Hunt,  but someone has to make him a touch angry first.

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