Recruiting shortcomings at the heart of Reds’ Super season of despair

THE Reds must ditch their “Made in Queensland” tunnel vision to rise again as a Super Rugby force, writes Jim Tucker.

It’s an indictment, Jim Tucker writes, that Quade Cooper is leading the ball-carrying stats for the Reds.

THE Reds must ditch their “Made in Queensland” tunnel vision to rise again as a Super Rugby force because lame recruiting has led them to their crisis.

Signing a bullocking winger and a big backrower with some running thrust and footwork must be top of any shopping list for next year.

Those shortcomings have been exposed again and again this season as the former rulers of Super Rugby have stuttered to just three wins in 10 starts.

How much the Reds have missed winger Digby Ioane has hit the Reds like a forearm to the chest.

News_Rich_Media: Reds prop Ben Daley insists his side still has belief they are in finals contention, despite slipping to 13th place after four consecutive defeats.

Ioane could create go-forward from a standing start. He instinctively worked off Quade Cooper and Will Genia so they were always a triple threat.

It is an indictment that Cooper is leading the ball-carrying stats for the Reds. It is great credit to his willingness to work but where is a power runner taking on that load?

Just check YouTube of this week’s Top 14 action in France. Ioane was yellow carded for dumping Springbok legend Bryan Habana with a tackle straight from the wrestling ring.

The standout feature was just how strong and physical Ioane is.

He might only be 96kg but he always plays as big as Israel Folau and with the same appetite for involvement.

News_Image_File: Forget his breakdancing, the Reds have missed Digby Ioane’s thrust and imposing physical strength.

The Reds have not really been in the hunt for Nick Cummins (Western Force) and Joe Tomane (ACT Brumbies) as top wingers who might offer some of the same impact. They are signed and sealed elsewhere.

The Reds have an import spot that tradesman Ed O’Donoghue has taken up for two seasons as a big-hearted Brisbane lock, whose Ireland A appearances made him an international signing.

As stoutly as he has performed, the Reds must start thinking outside the box again.

The Brumbies certainly did when they investing wisely in Fijian winger Henry Speight.

South African backrower Andre Vos and All Blacks flanker Daniel Braid were two excellent imports to Super Rugby that suited the Reds’ needs of the day.

News_Rich_Media: The Reds' Super Rugby season appears all but over after the Queensland side went down 44-14 to the Blues.

That moment has arrived again. The Reds recruiting cannot just centre on the Queensland schoolboys ranks or their academy. The need is far more urgent than that.

Find the best big bopper abroad who can inject some fear and steamroller damage and sign him.

That player can be a bruising backrower or a winger. If it is not the No.1 priority of the Reds they are sitting on their hands.

The Reds recruiting was too passive for this season. Lachie Turner, coming off a leg fracture, was the only signing and an ankle issue now has him sidelined.

Sometimes, just injecting one or two missing X-factor ingredients can elevate the whole team, which is what the Reds desperately need.