Reds coach Brad Thorn ponders flyhalf role for Isaac Lucas

Brad Thorn’s beleaguered Reds are tossing up the major gamble of playing 20-year-old Isaac Lucas in the hot seat at flyhalf in Tokyo.

Queensland Reds player Isaac Lucas during training at Ballymore. Pics Tara Croser.

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Brad Thorn’s beleaguered Reds are tossing up the major gamble of playing 20-year-old Isaac Lucas in the hot seat at flyhalf in Tokyo.

With Bryce Hegarty (ribs) sidelined, the choice is whether Lucas or Hamish Stewart have the most playmaking touches against the Sunwolves on Saturday.

If Lucas were to move from fullback to No.10, it would mean a recall at No.15 for Stewart, who would still step up as a second playmaker in certain plays.

Lucas has quicker footwork and the sidestep to find more gaps than Stewart but far less of a grooved partnership with likely centre pair Duncan Paia’aua and Samu Kerevi.

Isaac Lucas could slip into flyhalf against the Sunwolves. Picture: Tara Croser.

This must-win game against the Japanese side is really about how composed the Reds can be because jerky disorganisation can bring them unstuck.

Prop JP Smith highlighted how much the 63-28 loss to the Sunwolves still stung from last year’s flop in Tokyo.

“That was embarrassing and we had to admit we weren’t there mentally as we should have been,” Smith said. “There was no going out after curfew or anything like that but, with a lot of players in Japan for the first time, there were minds drifting to sightseeing.

“After three losses, we’re absolutely desperate to win in Tokyo on Saturday with the right mindset.”

Smith’s drive to atone has also been fed by reading the Facebook posts of Reds’ fans after last year’s debacle.

Reds prop JP Smith is keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s humiliating loss to the Sunwolves in Tokyo. Picture: AAP

“People who really care about the Reds, 10-year members, were writing how disappointed they were in us and we had to accept that criticism,” Smith said.

Smith said Thorn had gone old-school in trying to make players more accountable for the rash of handling errors and pushed passes that undermined the side against NSW last weekend.

“If anyone dropped the ball at training on Tuesday it was five push-ups on the spot because we do have to be harder on ourselves and cut our error count,” Smith said.

The Sunwolves have a wonderful knack for counter-attack and using the full width of the field which also puts the onus on sharper Reds’ defence.

Players were exposed when shooting out of the defensive line against NSW and clever Sunwolves backs like centre Michael Little will thread a pass to expose that.

Reds skipper Samu Kerevi knows the threat well having played with the son of former All Black Walter Little when they were both in the Fijian Under-20s side.

The Reds are limping at 0-3 and only back-to-back wins against the Sunwolves and ACT Brumbies in two Australian Conference games can steady the ship.