Will Genia demands more from Reds defence as he looks to avoid repeat of schoolboy nightmare

WILL Genia has demanded that the flawed Reds defence regroup to cut down Crusaders star Nemani Nadolo before he has to relive a schoolboy nightmare.

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 03: Nemani Nadolo of the Crusaders runs in to score a try during the round 12 Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Brumbies at AMI Stadium on May 3, 2014 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

MIGHTY mite Will Genia has demanded that the flawed Reds defence regroup today at Suncorp Stadium to cut down 122kg Crusaders juggernaut Nemani Nadolo before he has to relive a schoolboy nightmare.

Before halfback Genia and winger Nadolo were teammates in the 2005 Queensland Schoolboys side they shaped up against each other in a pivotal GPS schools clash at Nudgee College.

“My old school BBC was heading for an upset in the final two minutes when Nems got the ball 50m out and ran past several defenders so it was just me and the tryline in front of him. It wasn’t pretty,” Genia said.

There is a massive 40kg size difference between the pair today. This David and Goliath match-up wasn’t so different nine years ago, only in this telling of the age-old tale Goliath won.

“I’ve still got a photo of the moment somewhere. Will didn’t make the tackle,” Nadolo said.

Genia did find one way to fell the giant. Mischievous teammate Quade Cooper, in his proud mullet-wearing days, glued Nadolo’s feet together while he slept when the pair were pranking on tour with the Queensland Under-16s side in Sydney. Nadolo tumbled out of bed.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.

Presuming Nadolo won’t stay still long enough for that technique to be repeated at Sunday’s 4pm kick-off the Reds have to stop his rampages by more traditional means.

Reds winger Dom Shipperley has been assigned to skittle him before he winds up but he must also run with the theory of former Reds coach Eddie Jones: “Nadolo is defensively fragile so throw questions at the 122kg monster.”

The Reds leaked nine tries in two games against Kiwi opponents in New Zealand. The naivety of some of the defensive reads out wide is part responsible for the team conceding 29 tries in 10 games compared to a miserly 23 in 16 last season.

“Big defence has always been the backbone of this team. We are leaking too many tries, missing first-up tackles and giving opponents the advantage line too easily. We’ve got to turn that around,” Genia said.News_Rich_Media: Former Wallaby George Gregan believes coach Ewen McKenzie is unlikely to select a Reds player for the leadership roles, claiming the side needs captains with a winning mentality.

More than 30,000 fans are still expected for the marquee Mother’s Day match, including a 300-strong group from hooker James Hanson’s former school Nudgee Junior College.

Skipper James Horwill was swamped by kids when visiting his old junior club Wests on Friday night. Players across the squad experienced the same thing during the Family Round visits to their grassroots bases which reinforced how much welded-on support they have even during a four-game losing streak.

Today, the under-strength Reds have to rediscover the same brilliant, bold mindset they hurled at the rattled British and Irish Lions when outscoring them two tries-to-one in the thrilling 22-12 loss 11 months ago.

Horwill’s rallying call is just that: “We have to have a real crack and forget any worry about losing.

“We’ve done too much talking and not enough of putting actions on the field. We’re a far better team than we are showing.”

New flanker Curtis Browning can make a name for himself immediately while bullocking 115kg lock-flanker replacement Dave McDuling has overcome two knee reconstructions to reach this point where he can smash and crash in a long-awaited debut.