Richard Graham Goes, Reds Set for Upheaval
The Reds' embattled coach is on his way out, and that could just be the start of the changes for the struggling Queensland franchise.
Richard Graham walked out of Ballymore today after overseeing one of the great declines in Super Rugby history. Yes, he walked out, but it was the Reds board that opened the door – a board that is about to get a major shake up of its own.
According to sources close to the team, Graham has been a dead man walking since last season, when interim Chairman Damien Frawley presented a report to the board that recommended Graham be relieved of head coaching duties before the end of the 2015 season. That report was blocked at the time, but any pushback has, this year, evaporated faster than the Reds’ season hopes.
Moreover, Frawley – a board member of the Reds since 2013 – has made no secret of his wish to undertake more cleanout work in the organisation. Current CEO Jim Carmichael may well be looking over his shoulder, given the fact the Reds boasted crowds of 34,000 in the 2011 and 2012 seasons, yet on Saturday struggled to reach half that number at Suncorp Stadium.
The board will meet on March 19, at which point it is understood up to four positions on that board will be contested.
Graham’s struggles to get the necessary buy-in from the team are not new. Rugby Pass has discovered that a number of high profile players had in recent seasons voiced their concerns about Graham to the board. Not every player revolution is justified, but given the subsequent sacking of the coach, it seems those concerns were both prescient and wrongfully ignored.
So where does this leave the team? Matt O’Connor, who has extensive experience in European Rugby with Leicester and Leinster, has been appointed interim co-coach with Nick Stiles. O’Connor has been the attack coach at the Reds, while Stiles has been looking after the set piece.
It looks likely that the Reds board will allow O’Connor and Stiles to continue in the role at least until the end of the season. O’Connor will be under the most scrutiny given the former Brumbies player and one-cap Wallaby’s attack plan has so far netted one try and just 16 points in the first two rounds of the 2016 season.
Stiles enjoyed success with Brisbane in last season’s Australian domestic NRC league with insiders wonder whether that success was entirely attributable to coaching or the fact the Brisbane side boasted more full-time professionals than any other side.
Whatever the relative merits of O’Connor and Stiles, and regardless of what happens at the crucial meeting on March 19, the Reds board’s first priority must surely be to give its coaches – interim or otherwise – the peace of mind to build a rugby programme again.
As one notable Queensland rugby identity said, “Queenslanders don’t like hanging around with losers. If this team wants the fans back, they had better start winning.”
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Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
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