GRAHAM EXCITED BY ADDITION OF HILL
Thursday, 11 March 2010 1:30pm
By Chris Pike
Emirates Western Force assistant coach Richard Graham is looking forward to the introduction of David Hill to face the Reds on Sunday to combine with James O'Connor and Mark Bartholomeusz.
Hill arrived in Perth two weeks ago fresh off playing in Japan with Toshiba and the former All Black and Chiefs playmaker looks set to start at No. 10 with the coaching staff now to decide whether O'Connor or Bartholomeusz will play at inside centre or fullback.
Graham felt that last week's bye came at a good time for the Force after a tough start to the season, and despite the good form of the Reds to win two of their first four games, he and the team is heading to Brisbane expecting to win.
"I felt so (the bye came at a good time). The introduction of David Hill also came at a good time with no pressure at the end of the week in terms of a game and it gave us an opportunity with injuries and to get ourselves right going forward," Graham said.
"Certainly it wouldn’t be a boil over. We've played three games and through circumstance we haven’t got the results we wanted to get. If we got there and won, we would have deserved to."
Hill has already fitted into the team well in the limited time he has been in Perth and Graham is looking forward to seeing how his quality and experience helps the team, with O'Connor and Bartholomeusz as his supporting cast.
"He has slotted in very comfortably and we certainly haven’t brought him over from Japan to sit on the bench. He will be an integral part of the team this weekend," he said.
"Obviously with his experience at 10 in controlling the team and giving us a bit of guidance and shape around the field. You don’t obviously learn that over night. Whilst James did a very good job in those two games, he's obviously got some way to go if he's going to be a regular No. 10.
"We're still reassessing a number of the other outside backs. We'll make a decision there and announce it on Thursday. The obvious benefits of having guys like James and Mark Bartholomeusz is that both can play in those playmaking roles so we've got a few options there."
Will Genia and Quade Cooper have starred so far in the Reds' 2010 season, so Graham knows the Force must be mindful of them and an overall very confident Queensland outfit.
"They are playing well. Winning gives you confidence and their wins have been very good. They've also played for 80 minutes in all four of the games and were very unfortunate against the Waratahs. They are playing with some confidence at the moment," he said.
"Will and Quade as a No. 9 and 10 are giving their game some good shape. Quade has come a long way in the last couple of months from the end of the Wallabies season last year to where he's at now. One or two of the forwards like Humphreys who have been around for a while are giving some leadership there."
