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It only took two rounds of the Super Rugby season for the first coach to bite the dust.
Perenially under pressure Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham has copped the sack from Queensland Rugby Union, after back-to-back losses against the Waratahs and the Force.
Graham will be replaced by interim co-coaches Matt O’Connor and Nick Stiles until a replacement is found for the 2017 season.
The two convincing results have made the Reds backflip on the move to reappoint Graham at the end of last season, where the incumbent coach did enough to convince the powers-that-be at Reds HQ that he was the man to lead the team’s resurgence, having been forced to reapply for his job.
QRU Chairman Damien Frawley thanked Graham for his contribution to the Reds.
“I’d like to thank Richard for his contribution over the past number of years. Richard is a proud Queenslander who has spent his life in Rugby and while he hasn’t achieved the success we all would have wished for during his time as head coach, he leaves with our gratitude for his service to the game.
“QRU conducted a high-performance review in the middle of last year and as a result implemented significant change across our Rugby department. At that time the Board made the decision to reappoint Richard as head coach for a year, but we always said there would be periods within the 2016 Super Rugby season where we would take stock of how the team was performing.
“We believe, through our high-performance review process, we have implemented the necessary changes to support both interim head coaches during the 2016 season and whoever takes on the head coach role in 2017.”
QRU CEO Jim Carmichael praised Graham’s contribution to the Reds.
“Richard’s loyalty to the organisation is beyond question and we thank him for all he has done during a difficult time for the Reds.
“He has helped identify, develop and nurture many future stars of the Reds which fans will come to know and love in time as this young side reaches the potential we know it possesses.
“As he has done through his time at QRU, Richard handled this difficult decision with characteristic humility and stoicism.”
Graham said: “I’m naturally disappointed. I loved my role with the Reds and enjoyed my time with the QRU. I am in a high-performance environment and the results haven’t been to a satisfactory standard. I have to accept that and move on.
“I wish everybody the best and want to formally thank the competent and dedicated support staff I have worked with over the last three years for their tireless efforts.
“I really hope the team and Reds coaching staff have success going forward.”
Reds captain James Slipper said: “It’s disappointing it has to end like this for someone who cares so much about the place. Richard has always had the best interests of the players and the team in mind and we’ve always had respect for him and the genuine care he has for the Reds and Queensland Rugby.”
It was only August last year that Graham was reappointed as coach, and they said at the time he was the right man to lead the team to future success.
“The recent Reds High Performance Review made clear recommendations around the structure of our organisation,” the Reds said at the time.
“On the back of further recommendations from the review, QRU ran an open and thorough process for the roles of head coach and also attack and defence coaches. The Coaching Review Panel considered over 20 coaching applications from the local and international Rugby markets.
“We fully understand that the results of the Reds over the last two seasons have been unacceptable, however we feel strongly that Richard is the right man to lead us into the 2016 season under this new structure.”
Originally coming in as a successor to Ewen McKenzie after being head coach of the Force, Graham has not enjoyed much success at Super Rugby level, but it was believed he was the right successor to the Wallabies coach in waiting.
Under Graham’s coaching the Western Force won seven of 24 matches, while the Reds won nine of the 34 matches he was in charge for.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.