Ewen McKenzie is at, or near, the top of a “long list” of candidates to be embattled Queensland’s seventh Reds coach in a decade of turmoil.
But the man whose own axing in 2000 triggered a domino-like sequence of short-term coaching stints, John Connolly, is near the bottom.
McKenzie has emerged as a favourite for what’s been a poisoned-chalice post after the sacking of a shattered Phil Mooney, two unsuccessful Super 14 seasons into his three-year contract.
McKenzie led the Waratahs to three Super 12/14 finals series in five years in charge and is a close friend of new QRU chairman Rod McCall, who delivered the news to Mooney on Friday morning.
McCall admitted he’d already sounded out an interested McKenzie just days after his 1991 World Cup-winning Test teammate had himself been sacked as coach of Paris glamour club Stade Francais.
The Melbourne-raised former Wallabies prop has been seen as a leading contender as coach, or even chief executive, for the proposed Victorian team in an expanded Super 15 in 2011.
“He has been lined up with all this talk of Melbourne but the only thing he said to me was `Melbourne is a long way away’ and of course he’d be interested,” McCall said.
“Other people, and Ewen included, have mentioned that this is a great challenge and something they would look forward to.”
The QRU have only once in their long history recruited an outsider to coach the Reds and that ended in disaster when Eddie Jones took them to the wooden spoon in 2007.
But McCall stressed maroon blood was not a pre-requisite, as they look for a “quality” coach whose reputation can help overturn their perennial problem of luring stars from interstate and overseas.
“I think we’re about getting the best coach available, a high-profile person who can attract a couple of international players from other franchises,” he said.
But McCall bluntly denied Connolly, who last coached the Wallabies at the 2007 World Cup, was a prime candidate.
“It’s a long list and I don’t know how close to the bottom he would be but he’d be pretty close to the bottom,” he said of the former 12-year Reds mentor.
“I just think John hasn’t coached for a while and there’s quite a lot of blokes right in the middle of high-level professional coaching delivering good results and we need to be focussed on someone like that.”
Connolly’s long-time lieutenant Michael Foley, now forwards coach at NSW, who played a key role in Reds vice-captain Berrick Barnes’ defection to the Waratahs, also looms as a potential successor to Mooney.
The QRU will aim to have a short-list in place in a fortnight with a view to appointing Mooney’s successor well before players reassemble for pre-season training in five weeks.
Mooney, who initially did well to instill spirit and an attacking brand of play after Jones’ forgettable tenure, wanted to see out his contract.
But McCall was against the idea, stressing that appointing a new coach was the only way to prevent extra instability at Ballymore when 23 players are due to come off contract in 2010.
“With a new Super 15 franchise expected to begin recruiting in Australia very soon we could not have afford the risk of being stranded in no man’s land,” he said.
QUEENSLAND REDS COACHES SINCE 2000 (coach, tenure, results):
John Connolly (1989-2000)
Mark McBain (2001-2002) – fourth and fifth
Andrew Slack (2003) – Eighth
Jeff Miller (2004-2006) – 10th, 10th and 12th
Eddie Jones (2007) – Last (14th)
Phil Mooney (2008-2009) – 12th and 13th
Hendo
Guest
Invictus agree - Michael Cheika would be my #1 choice.
Knives Out
Guest
Scott Johnson is currently coach of the Welsh region the Ospreys.
tarpo
Guest
Ko D, McMeniman is gone, doesn't start his gig in Japan until next season & will be gone for at least 2 seasons. If the media are to be believed he will be picking up about 500kpa more than if he had stayed. Not bad for an injury prone 26/27 year old, as talented as he undoubtably is.
Next year !
Guest
When does Scott Johnson's tenure with the US expire ? Could he be a candidate ?
King of Dubai
Guest
Just a question regarding home grown talent, and specificlaly QLD in this instance. Is High McMeniman aiming to make the WC side in 2011 or has he gone for good? That guy is a seriously good back up to Elsom or any lock for that matter.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
I seem to recall Foley wanted to quit for family reasons, but the Tahs convinced him to stay for another year. As such, they might have problems if he wants to go back to the Reds, and coach, to be better set up with the family. However, if the travelling was the reason, rather than home base, the Reds won't be any more attractive.
Jets
Guest
I think Pat Howard should be in the mix. He left the ARU to spend more time in Brisbane. He has a history of winning from his time in the UK at Leicester Tigers. Jim Williams could come on board as Forwads coach. Or they could make it a family affair and get Jake Howard to coach the forwards. I don't think Jake White would be welcomed in Queensland, although if the Reds start to win they would take anyone. I also doubt that he would have any interest in coaching the Reds.
Invictus
Guest
Definitely need an experienced coach. And that means experience in the top job. This limits the options somewhat. How long does Nucifora's contract with the ARU run? Would Jake White be interested? A forward dominated game would not necessarily be out of place in QLD. You could almost say it was traditional. I think that the faithful would be quite forgiving if Qld were winning some matches. What's Michael Cheika's contract status at Leinster?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I'm pretty sure foley isn't available next season anyway. He still has a year to go with the Tahs.
couchnorm
Guest
The decision for coach will be interesting. How much influence is the ARU going to have? Like Melbourne I would think the ARU would like someone who is going to be in the same camp and would 'fall into line' with the ARU wishes. The feeling I have is they have that contol in every state now. The strong periods of Rugby in Australia was when the states Tahs, Brumbies and Reds eached played a different style of game. And, can someone tell why you would want Jim Willams or Foley as Head Coach. I agree Foley is a good specialist coach. That's where it stops. Williams, just because he is on the Wallaby staff, does make him a automatic selection.
Chunks
Roar Pro
They need to do everything in their power to get Williams or Foley.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
Connolly and CentreLink coach the same brand of Rugby - Boring brand. Sad to see Mooney leave. Jake White is a good coach, but he is very much a typical BOK coach where he will rely heavily on 1 to 8 to do the aggressive work, but Aussie teams are not styled like that so it may be a frustrating marriage if it happens. Who ever it is, I hope he coaches an exciting brand of Rugby.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Link is a good guy, based on the way be carried himself after being sacked at tahs and SF. He is also a laid back, analytical type of coach. But, a warning sign: he had lost the players, at both Tahs and SF. This is a disaster waiting to happen for the koalas. they need the best coach. and that is Jake White. What ever it takes.....jake white. tell me if there is someone better? the Koalas cannot afford another coach who is untried, unproven (McBain, Slack, Miller, Mooney) or coach with obvious flaws (Jones and Link).