JAMES Tuttle has been re-signed as the Queensland Reds’ top halfback with the growing bonus that he can become the elite goalkicker the team needs.

You can query Quade Cooper’s absence from selection consideration on several fronts yet goalkicking is not one of them.

Cooper slotted some memorable matchwinners for the Reds, including the penalty goal on full-time that delivered a 16-15 win over the ACT Brumbies in the fog last July.

Unfortunately, his career goalkicking rate of 69 per cent in Super Rugby is sub-par when the likes of NSW Waratahs sniper Bernard Foley operate at around 77 per cent.

media_camera James Tuttle denies Beauden Barrett a try.

Tuttle has slipped into the role of No.1 goalkicker for the Reds this season and the initial signs are promising.

His three-from-three effort with the boot, before Jono Lance repeated that perfect strikerate, was the ammunition to beat the Brumbies 18-10 last Friday night.

The underrated Tuttle has quietly built a Super Rugby career of 20 games amid the greater chatter about Will Genia’s choice of clubs and Nick Frisby’s 2017 fall from grace.

Tuttle’s diligence to become one of the team’s fittest players and a regular try-saver in defence comes on top of his improved pass and direction.

At 21, he also has the cool head to keep pushing for consistency, one of the Reds’ biggest challenges against the Bulls at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The handbrake on most young sides is a lack of it.

Repeating the sure handling, pressure and set-piece strength of the opening 25 minutes against the Brumbies is all-important for a fast start on Saturday night.

Coach Brad Thorn did his bit to sustain the rage in training and preparation.

“It was a good result but we’re not pumping up our own tyres when it’s a long season and that is only one win,” lock Kane Douglas said.

“The forwards were in (a video session) for more than an hour going through every lineout and scrum to see how we could improve.

media_camera Brad Thorn ran the club’s gym session on Monday.

“Thorny even ran the morning weights session himself so he was pretty pumped to get the boys back into the training routine of another week.”

At just 28, Douglas was the oldest head in the youthful starting pack against the Brumbies.

He admitted he’s trying to get more out of his game after two modest seasons at the club.

“There were less things to be angry about with my game last Friday after probably not being happy with the way I was playing the last few seasons,” Douglas said.

“I felt pretty old at the start of pre-season but it’s good being around our young forwards who are all pretty mature and willing to work.”

