The Queensland Reds must sack Richard Graham

Here we go again. Think this article will be pulled out shortly if no big improvement in the next couple of weeks. Brumbies too good

Here we are in the lead-up to the big REDS V TAHS game and I would wholeheartedly support the QRU if they held on to Richard Graham for another 4 or 5 years. After all I am a looooooong suffering TAHS supporter. What a masterstroke recruiting this clueless individual. He has picked up coaching in the UK and really tried hard to make this square peg fit in the round Super rugby hole here in Aus. As a TAHS supporter I really went off rugby for around 5 years because of the lack of entertainment. Even the Wallabies were pretty bereft of exciting rugby with the Dingo in charge of them. So I didn't bother going to any games and only went back on Sunday AFTERNOON (a great idea NSWRFU) with my 16 yo son, his 16yo cousin and another friend of my son. We watched the TAHS blast past the Highlanders in the second half with skill and entertainment. QRU take note and see if you can repeat the mistakes of NSW of the last 5 years.

Interesting the number of Force fans above who are glad to see the last of Grahm. QRU made a big mistake. If he's still there next year, the Reds will lose at the gate. So I doubt he'll be there.

I agree with 99% of this Michael with the exception of Mike Harris. I actually believe he is a better player in the last 12 months and one of the few within the Red's backline that poses a potential threat. Tapuai however is immensely unfit, anyone that watched the crusaders game would have witnessed him walking around on the field and standing out on the wing. It is clear to me that he is a better 12 option than a 13 because of his play making abilities and well... his lack of defensive capabilities. The reason why he hasn't be selected in this position is yet another reflection of the poor coaching that Graham brings to this team. I have it on good authority from sources that were part of Graham's Western Force side, that key players were perplexed (to say the least) as to why the QRU snatched him up. Various comments have been made as to the recruiting that needs to occur to fix the issues plaguing the reds currently. My question is why a rugby organisation with some of the best member numbers, crowds and endorsements failed to secure an international standard coach. The fact that two highly paid marquee players (both of which loved playing for the Reds) left the club in the recent past, gives credence to this question. The underlying fact is money is being spent on either the wrong personnel or wrong avenues. Jim Carmichael needs to take accountability for this and should be afraid that his head is also on the chopping block. There are plenty of players within this team that also need to go as they are simply draining funds. i.e. The Faingaa brothers are past their prime and don't have the physical powers (A. Faingaa's lack of speed being the major factor), from all reports they will be departing for France soon enough and this isn't a major loss. Ben Lucas tries his heart out but isn't super rugby standard. Various comments have been made about recruiting players, the simple matter is we need a 110kg plus backrower, a 100kg plus outside-centre and an outside back that knows how to defend without coming off his position!!!! The latter can be fixed with pursuing JOC. I realize he has issues and well let's face it, is one of the spanners in the shed, however the guy can play and as a winger play very well indeed. With new staff and a few new players (even if they are international recruits), the Reds will be back with vengeance. The QRU needs to listen to its fans or even the statistics, goodbye Graham.

couldn't agree more, for a team who were the best in the australian conference only three years ago to sink to the bottom of the ladder is bloody embarrassing.

I've been waiting for this article to be written for some time. Graham has been a major disappointment and needs to go. I've written previously on The Roar that the Reds need to make some major changes if they are going to improve. The first needs to be a change of the coach. Graham is not capable of achieving success at this level and he's proven this yet again this season. He was rubbish at the Force and he's rubbish again at the Reds. The Reds look like a much deflated team this season and they'll be lucky to win another game before the year ends. Jim Carmichael needs to make a tough call now and replace Graham for next season. If not, he'll be jeopardising the fantastic supporter base that the Reds have built up over the past four years. I'm sure no one would be happy for this to happen as it wasn't too long ago that the Reds were the envy of all the other Australian Super Rugby teams, both financially and on the paddock. The other issue the Reds need to fix is their recruitment of quality players. Many readers here have stated the obvious so I won't bother going into detail but this is certainly an issue that needs urgent addressing. We need action now as the likes of Genia and Cooper won't be around forever and if we're going to win another championship, we've got to rectify this dilemma immediately.

MM, thanks for your NZ-centric message that had nothing to do with the article. I'm sure your arrogance will be appreciated more come the mid-year tests against England. Let me guess, you're probably one of those people in the crowd who still boo Quade Cooper everytime he attempts a kick?

Yeah, it is odd. I don't know what either does to keep getting hired...

Add a blind side flanker to that list

I saw this coming a mile away, in fact I saw this coming the day it was announced that he was coming to the Reds. I wish I was wrong but unfortunately not. I've never liked this guy's coaching style and don't think I will. I bet he'll get one more season, have just a terrible record as this on. It'll run fans out of Suncorp and we will have a player exodus and won't get big names to sign. Welcome back to 2007

Could not understand why the poached him in the first palce and he is proving an absolute disaster

Harry, some good points but not regarding Timani. Big and inept. Slow to reposition, slow to understand the concept of taking the ball at speed and when tackled the trick is to bounce up and do it again, generally a dinosaur in comparison to Hugh Pyle. The creation of the 5th province is working well. Whilst you are right there are probably only enough good players to have 4 excellent sides but the creation of the fifth team is bringing on players like Hegarty, Pyle, Goodwin Angus Cottrell etc and allowing the once discarded such a s Matt Hodgson and Morahan prove talent everywhere, it just needs to be unlocked.

It's a tough comp, with some outfits probably capable of beating most leading test teams. Someone has to finish in the bottom spots on the table but that doesn't mean they're bad or poorly coached teams.The Reds not long had a couple of amazingly successful seasons but you can't expect a repeat every year. Actually, I think if a couple of things had gone their way they could have been in strong contention for a playoffs spot now. It's sometimes a fine line between success and failure and the Reds haven't had too much good fortune this year. And chewing up and spitting out coaches is no recipe for success, no matter how much you're hurting and how rapidly your knee is jerking.

I don't get what he did to warrant hiring in the first place??? For all the nauseating triumphalism coming out of the QRU (and from their fans) over the last 3 or 4 years, what a dumb decision by them! Just goes to show the Tahs aren't the only ones with an imperfect governing body.

I don't think the Reds want to play to his stodgy game plan and it doesn't suit them. There are rumours of player discontent and that's when a coach's head is likely to roll...

are you disagreeing with someone by repeating their statements? odd.

Didn't like that coach. He keeps on telling players to lose matches.

Wish I had the Reds history down pat, but isn't it the case that the Reds were in the wilderness for a long while before Ewen came along? Which concided with a blossoming of talent? And then was followed with an exodus, based on building the Rebels and the Force? And before that, the Brumbies? For sure the coach is part of the problem, as he is part of the success when that comes. But unless a change of coach is accompanied by a change of players, not much can change. How is the Reds' program of talent identification coming along? The Brisbane Broncos had the legendary Cyril Connell touring the state and bringing on talent. Is that kind of active and informed assessment going on with the Reds? As for the present on-field attitude - it seems poor. No real communication going on - no sense of enjoyment, no pleasure in team-mate's achievements. Just dour following of what seem to be prescribed routines, with a "well, I did what I was told" kind of reaction when things go wrong. When backs always seem to run as though they expect to be tackled, you know there's an issue with attitude. Genia used to bark at the forwards and get them going - now he seems to be playing a "keep my mouth shut and do my job" approach. I can't see Horwill as much of a tactician - and with his head in the scrum and in rucks it is not easy to play that role. Let Genia organise the on-field arrangements and Horwill can do the post-match chat. But I reckon Graham looks like he has been backed into a corner by someone at the Reds and has been told how to run the team - a recipe for what we are getting: aimlessness and arse-protecting by the players. With just the occasional creative flash from Genia and Cooper, almost out of frustration rather than consideration.

I hope they give him more than a week UA. Besides, I don't think anyone will be tipping against the Crusaders next week. What I'm looking for is what new signings RG has arranged last year and is lining up this year. The weaknesses were exposed after the game against the Tahs, and become more clear as the season unfolded. But a wise coach should have spotted that much earlier. For example Cheika signed a 120kg back recently - someone he was speaking to last year. If RG hasn't in the past - the Reds need to pull out the chequebook, and start looking at the current roster.

You could also say those coaches were learning the trade. I reckon Henry was a dud. Even R Graham would win with the players he had. Pulled the players out of Super 12 in a World Cup year. Choked in the World Cup final again by not bringing on SBW much earlier in the World Cup final. Lucky to get away with it. But obviously good enough to get the gig in the first place. Mitchell was also a failure as All Black coach. Seems to be able to get the jobs and not deliver. He wouldn't play Carter at the start of his career in the World Cup here when he was easily the best player in the game time he did get.