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'Watch this space': Queensland Reds backline reshuffle could see some surprises
By AAP
Jock Campbell has emerged as a surprise playmaking option for the Queensland Reds while Jordan Petaia's first minutes at fullback only strengthened the argument for more.
But last year's domestic champions will still enter Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific opener against the Melbourne Rebels with many questions to answer after back-to-back trial losses.
The Reds were lucky just to get some game time in Roma on Saturday night, power returning just as officials were set to cancel their clash with the Waratahs after the regional Queensland town was plunged into darkness minutes before kick off.
The hosts struggled in a flat first half, Petaia's cameo at fullback and Jock Campbell's move to five-eighth two bright spots in a 21-14 loss.
Both men, as well as James O'Connor and coach Brad Thorn, missed last week's trial loss to the Western Force after contracting COVID-19.
O'Connor, last year's Australian Super Rugby player of the year, started at five-eighth and will look to dominate that position and entrench himself in Wallabies coach Dave Rennie's best 15 ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
But with Bryce Hegarty departing for the English Premiership, Campbell has surfaced as the Reds' new Swiss army knife.
"It's competitive ... James did a great job last year and if there's an injury you've got Jock there," Thorn said.
"We know he can play wing, at 15 and he's been working at 10 over the summer and he looked pretty sharp.
"He brings a big kick and he's a threat as well."
Youngsters Tom Lynagh and Lawson Creighton could also come into the equation, while Suliasi Vunivalu is nearing a return from a recurring hamstring injury to create further gridlock for spots on the Reds' edges.
Petaia could open up a spot on the wing for the former NRL star if he continues the shift to fullback many in Australian rugby have been long calling for.
Fullback remains a wide open spot ahead of the World Cup and Petaia's confident showing came with Rennie watching from a scissor-lift above the ground.
"It was good to see him out there, have a crack at fullback," Thorn said.
"He enjoyed that, looked good there and there's been a bit of chat about that last year.
"I was talking about it four years ago; he likes the fullback role ... at the minimum it brings competition."
Thorn admitted the Reds needed to improve quickly and that the COVID-19 cases over the last fortnight - Tate McDermott and Hunter Paisami missed the Waratahs game - had left them flying partially blind into the first round.
"You're probably right (we are a bit underdone)," he said.
"It affects you doesn't it; who you play and combinations.
"But some of the teams haven't had any COVID and most of our team have had it, even the coach.
"So watch this space as far as how it plays out."
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Latest Comments
Not if England are going to give him a couple o appearances a year for a 200k top up, he won’t need to break into the top group. This is not the ABs in more ways than just England matching them in loose fowards.
His skill set will be unique though!
Go to commentsThe extent to which rugby pundits in NZ rely on their rose tinted spectacles really baffles me. Anton Lienert-Brown has been a good but nothing more player for a few seasons now. For an experienced player he gives a maddening amount of penalties and yellow cards too so I don’t give him any credit for all that experience.
If you had a clean slate and knew nothing about history, the guy wouldn’t be anywhere near people’s choice for 13 (or 12) if you only watch super rugby the last couple of seasons. Bailyn Sullivan / Billy Proctor / AJ Lam / Tavatavanawai to just just a few have all looked miles better than ALB.
How on earth does that end up with people saying he should be in the squad let alone starting. We have to move on from these type of players - he was never a great player and we have so many alternate options.
There is a group of mediocre players that we need to clear out, or at least try other options. We know how limited that group are, now is the time to see if some other talent can step up (the time was last year, but anyway…).
Jacobson, ALB, Papali’i, Christie, Lord, Havili, Reece. Just move on from them all and try for some upside. Thank god Cane/Perenara have finally moved on because they were in this camp too.
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