Richard Graham has five weeks to save his coaching career.
That much is clear after the Queensland Reds installed former Wallabies coach John Connolly as an all-encompassing coaching consultant for the remainder of this season and all of 2016.
It is telling that Connolly is now tied to the club longer than Graham, who is out of contract at the end of the year.
Dead last on the Super Rugby ladder, the Queensland Rugby Union looks set to axe their embattled head coach unless the Reds show significant improvement over the remainder of the season’s campaign.
“I welcome the help, there’s no doubt about it,” Graham said.
“We’ve had some really good discussions on everything this morning, from the way the game’s played currently to the way we’re playing the game, and it’s just about coming up with the best way forward.
“I’m still clear on the direction we want to go but bringing in someone of John’s experience, at times you need to listen.”
The Reds have also appointed former All Black and Queensland State of Origin player Brad Thorne as a specialist coach and are expected to publicly announce his signing on Tuesday.
While Graham will ultimately retain the final say in any decision making, Connolly will lend his expertise however and wherever it is needed in his first senior rugby role since the 2007 World Cup.
That is including but not limited to tactics, selection, recruitment and strength and conditioning.
Connolly clearly relished his return to Ballymore, running his eye over all aspects of the Reds operation in the team’s first training session since their embarrassing 58-17 capitulation to the Crusaders on Friday.
“As much as the game’s changed it’s stayed the same,” Connolly said.
“You’re still an ardent watcher and you’re still involved at club level. The similarities are much the same.
“Things don’t just turn around overnight but I think there’s a tremendous will here for that to happen so we’re very hopeful that we’ll move forward quickly – but there’s no promises in this business.”
Connolly compared his role to that of AFL coaching legend Kevin Sheedy, who is back at Essendon this year in a broad mentoring capacity.
“It’s a big organisation, a lot to do, and I guess the experience is helpful,” he said.
“Getting around talking to all the players at the moment, there’s a pretty good feeling here.
“Last week was a kick in the pants … you’ve just got to draw a line under that and move on.”
Graham is equally certain he has not lost the faith of the playing group, but he knows there is only one way he will be able to keep his job.
“Sport’s about winning,” Graham said.
“I’m a realist, but at the same time I’m a fighter.
“We’ve got five games to go and I’m very keen to see us be as successful as we can.”
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
What you need to understand, Woodsman, is that during John Connolly's 40 odd years in rugby nothing changed. Players ran up and down the field doing the same thing week after week , month after month, decade after decade - southern hemisphere, northern hemisphere, didn't matter. He has never experienced change. Super 15 rugby didn't even exist when he was coaching at State level - sheeesh! Further, he is very, very old. By the time the weekend games are telecast up there on the Sunshine Coast he'd be slumped over in the lounge chair snoring. Now and then he'd wake up to murmur "Haven't spotted Stephen Mortlock for a while - must be out injured." No good can come of this, a "traditional 10 man rugby coach" without earphones and an iThingy.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
K was b in 1951 R, I'm fairly sure he'd use the perfectly descriptive and readily understandable word that existed before D became fashionable. I think it's pretty amusing, D, used to signify close understanding and intimacy and involvement and wisdom in the g I suppose ... in inverse proportion to the fact. I wonder if K has any X factory?
Matthew Skellett
Guest
well neither of them are shining examples of success but maybe Brad Thorne will trump both ;-)
Danoz
Guest
I am only speculating, but it does seem a bit strange to bring in Knuckles and Thorn if they are not there for a bigger purpose. My guess is, it is cheaper to keep Graham on till his contract runs out than to pay him out. Either way, I hope they do get a new coach next year and we see an improvement in the team. They have the players to be much better, just need the leadership to pick them up again. At least there hasnt been talk of player power and revolt like Brumbies and Force have had in the past. Looks like it is being handled from a board/management perspective. Lets hope the reds finish the season with a few wins and lifting of spirits and then start 2016 with a more effective setup.
Bakkies
Guest
Some clubs have Director of Rugby to oversee coaches. Some amateur clubs push coaching the coach.
Bfc
Guest
TWAS...agree that Stiles appeared to have a done a good job with Bris City...good scrum (highlighted by the progress made by Talakai et al..) and ball running by the backs.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Vince. Seems whilst acknowledging that some good is coming from the Reds, one of Knuckles objectives is to remove the bad. I hope their D improves pronto. If its too late to adjust their D pattern. At least shore up midfield and scramble D
pieceofmerce
Guest
Its ironic that Todd Blackadder is most likely going to be canned ahead of RG and SJK. Yet it is the crusaders that have put the blow torch up the reds.
Handles
Roar Guru
RG is accepting Connolly just like I am accepting Joe Hockey's budget - because no matter how much I scream it isn't going to change. I am betting that the first change Connolly will make is that there will be a 5/8 in the number 10 jersey on Friday, and probably another one on the bench!
Schadenfreude
Guest
The defensive structure and plan is terrible. That's what causes the lapses. Even FTA and Taps look all at sea.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Where do the Reds get money from - well they sell stuff, merchandising, tickets to the game, memberships things like that. Crazy notion isn't it selling stuff to get money.
Lara
Guest
RC is smart enough to accept help in the form of Connolly, but is Connolly the right person.The Reds have been terrible this year, but is it all the coaches fault.The Reds has been unlucky with injuries to players in critical positions, so you can't be to hard. Do the best for the rest of the year and wait for 2016 and recruit wisely.
riddler
Guest
Melon. . Well said... like English football.. throw out the coach... There is a lot more behind the scenes for sure. . I think Scott has better things to do than try and enlighten the know it alls of what actually may be happening.. Pity because a bit of unbiased actual facts would sure be interesting. .
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Steve Meehan is off to Toulon.
Anto
Guest
Same goes for Steve Meehan, the attack coach. Total points scored by the Reds this year, by game: 3, 18, 13, 5, 0, 17, 15, 22, 18, 19, 17. They've scored a total of 19 tries all year (which includes 2 penalty tries). By contrast, the Blues and the Force have each scored 24. The Sharks and the Cheetahs have actually let in more points this year than the Reds (with the Blues close). But, at 147 points scored in total, the Reds are well in last place. [Next worst, Force at 199 and Blues at 236, and less than half the Hurricanes' 312.]
ken
Guest
http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/super-rugby-queensland-reds-sign-all-blacks-star-brad-thorn-to-forwards-coaching-role/story-fndpt9s1-1227351729397
Spanners
Guest
If Graham is going (and he is), how do you think the defence coach Peter Wilkins feels about his job security at the moment? The Reds have been hemorrhaging almost 30 points a match (again). The Rebels have been brilliant in improving their D over the last few years. They were around 35 points a match in their inaugural season and are now under 20 points a match this year. Attitude is everything.
Spanners
Guest
Geez I don't know about that. Who ever heard of a coach coach? Can you imagine someone being appointed to coach Wayne Bennett or Craig Bellamy (or any decent coach for that matter). Knuckles is there for the sole purpose of moving Graham out, there is nothing else to read into it. What happens over the next 5 weeks is irrelevant. And I'd prefer to see Brad Thorns role retitled to the "Hard-Up Coach". I suspect that is why he was actually hired and for mine, looks to be a brilliant buy. I think he can really help drive a new culture through the Reds.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
He's still the Messiah Brett. I should know - I've followed a few!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not exactly "Jobs for the boys". Stiles was the coach of the winning NRC team, which had a fairly low Wallaby representation (only Gill and Schatz, with Schatz uncapped at the time). Also a reasonably low Super Rugby experienced list with only McDuling, Browning, Gill, Schatz, Frisby, Kuridrani and Va'alu from the GF winning team. He's overseen the Reds set piece go from poor to excellent and have the strongest scrum in Australia. Just because he is from QLD, that's not something that should be held against him if he has the required credentials.