Reds 2010: Praying for a link between optimism and reality

Well hell has descended on earth for a second time. Yes that’s right the Reds have a non-QLD coach. And wasn’t the first one a disaster, it was my old mate Steady Eddie Chucky.

At least this time they have decided to employ someone that wants to build a forward pack and not just be a unit. The Link (Ewan Mckenzie) is now in charge of QLD after a decidedly interesting time being kicked out as coach for NSW (then guiding them to the finals) then in France coaching Stade Français to the semi-finals in his first year and then getting kicked out half way through his second season.

Link in almost an exact opposite of the last coach Mooney. He will build a pack concentrating on winning the forward battle first and go for the points where as Mooney tried to run the opposition off the park with speed. Mooney’s strategy when it came off was beautiful to watch but too many times the players went for the try in phase one and forgot to win the battle up front first. Mooney if anything was also trying to be the player’s friend rather than coach. With Link however, I expecting a greater distance between the players and management. If you don’t do your job or you are not fit (Huston) you will be dropped. I’m praying that in this reincarnation of the Link’s coaching career that he puts a spine into the pack but manages to keep some of the Mooney magic in backline play but tempers their timing and improves their execution.

Too many years now have past for the Reds to be considered a threat to the competition but scarily enough it’s arguably sitting on one of the greatest pockets of talented players that have been scooped up by the other sides in Australia. The ravaging by the Force and migration of players out of QLD (Barnes to NSW, Chapman to Force, etc, etc, etc) is an annual heart burn for supporters. But the Reds still have a number of current and quality wallabies in the side with Genia being arguably the wallaby find of 2009. Hynes (rookie of 2008) and Horwill (until injured) being the close to the best wallabies in 2008. While Ioane and Cooper show promise at developing into genuine and exciting players. If Mckenzie can work some magic the annual cellar dwellers with more youth than brains might just be able to force themselves out of the basement.

But then again another year of optimism over reality may just reappear like a dreaded slowly unfolding train wreck. As once again a new coach has to take the squad he was given to use and not choose. At the same time a new threat of Melbourne has appeared on the horizon and you can already hear the whispers in the wind of another great QLD exodus if things don’t solidify.

Best of luck Link as sure as #### you are going to need it.