Richard Graham must produce instant success at the Queensland Reds next year or he will face the sack that he somehow avoided on Tuesday.
Graham has signed a one-year contract extension to stay at the helm of the Reds, a decision that has trigged a furious backlash from supporters, who have flooded social media to express their anger.
Despite just a 28 per cent winning record in his time as a Super Rugby head coach, Graham has retained the faith of the Queensland Rugby Union board and management, who all believe that under a new structure he is capable of turning the Reds into a force once again.
But the fact he has been kept on for just one more season is a clear sign of how little time he has to work with.
The highly rated Nick Stiles was promoted to senior assistant coach earlier this year and stands as the likely beneficiary should the Reds start badly under Graham in 2016, along with Brad Thorn, who will shortly begin his tenure as a forwards development coach.
Still, it appears the QRU’s patience runs for much, much longer than that of their fanbase.
Supporters almost immediately began making their dissatisfaction clear on social media following the announcement on Tuesday, with many vowing not to renew their memberships for next season.
But QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael told Fairfax Media it would have shown “weakness” as an organisation to bow to external pressure.
“Of course there is going to be expectation from the fan that looks from a passionate position and wants to see their team do well. They would think ‘why don’t you just move the coach’ without understanding all of the complexities,” Carmichael said.
“What I know is fans, during the course of the next number of months, will still love their team.”
Players also won’t be pleased. It’s understood a group of them have been petitioning the QRU for a change of coach for weeks.
But the only change at the top is the instalment of former Reds and Wallabies centre Daniel Herbert as executive general manager – a new role recommended by the Queensland Rugby Union’s long-running high-performance review.
Graham will report directly to Herbert, who, together with new head of pathways and list management Sam Cordingley, will look after almost every aspect of the Reds operation so that the coach can focus on winning games.
John Connolly appears to be the only real victim of the QRU’s review. The former Wallabies coach was brought in by the QRU as a coaching advisor to Graham in May on a contract that ran to the end of 2016 but there is no room for him in the new structure.
Graham is being shielded by the QRU, with media told no press conference will be held to discuss his re-appointment and that the coach will not be available for comment.
But in a brief statement, Graham said: “I am humbled by the opportunity to coach this team again in 2016. As a squad we will not tolerate any excuses that compromise our preparations or performance in order to achieve success in 2016.”
SandBox
Roar Guru
Congrats to marto, taking the discussion off topic. Are you here as a QRU plant? Here to distract us from this ridiculous decision
AJ
Guest
No, his point is that we don't know what we're talking about, we should just shut up and be good fans and not question their superior knowledge and management skills. They've conducted a Mickey Mouse review, formulated some positive phrases around a management reshuffle (as though that might be the magic wand) and then reinstated the coach as they always intended to do. They either think they know better, or don't want to admit to a massive blunder. Given the complete silence throughout this disastrous year indicates to me that they lack accountability and resent the completely well founded anger from the fans. Is what's above here supposed to be an explanation of their "structure, going forward"? an appeal for some understanding? Now there's some indication that he must have immediate results....how likely is it that results will be good? He is doomed.Why put the bloke out now, bring in Stiles and try to keep some of the fans on side.
Adsa
Guest
. The Fans obviously do not pick the coach, how ever the fans will stop coming to games and then revenue falls because the current coach has a 30% success rate . If a fall in revenue does need to be responded to as an external influence! then that is breath taking arrogance.
Tim
Guest
How condescending can Carmichael get ??? "The fans don't understand all the complexities!!" You have got to be kidding. Does he think we are all dunces? Obviously he does as he goes on to say the fans will still love their team. Yep they will love the Broncos and spend their money their. QRU are the dunces.
Handles
Roar Guru
No Mick, that is not correct. 3 players in the 31 man (likely) squad must be an absolute low for Queensland. By contrast. there are also 14 of the squad who went to school in NSW, and 9 who played their first super rugby at the Waratahs, but they have 10 playing for them next year. This is an unprecedented player drain, players fleeing the Reds to seek new starts. And the Wallaby squad is only a snapshot, there are plenty of young guys leaving. As for players lifting their game - all the players you mention debuted for the Wallabies when Ewen McKenzie coached Queensland, except Greg Holmes who debuted when Jeff Miller was the coach, and Kerevi who has not debuted for the Wallabies!
So Cal Ray
Guest
I have kept this quote for over 20 years - "We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganized, I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any difficult situation by reorganization and what a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress, while only producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization." - Petronius Arbiter, Greek Navy, 210 BC Add dismal failure to the list and nothing much has changed in a couple of millennium for the QRU. A very disappointing result. If reports are true, Richard Graham has already lost the trust of the locker room. No amount of restructuring can regain lost trust. I do hope I'm wrong, but next season could be very dismal..
Dave_S
Guest
Sure, the fans ultimately pay the wages and have to be looked after, and his choice of words is unfortunately insensitive, but "breath taking arrogance" is a bit too far - he's not Bronwyn Bishop!! His point is surely that the appointment process for a coach cannot ever be a fan-ocracy. In no professional league anywhere in the world do the fans pick the coach (or the players). What are they supposed to do, run a facebook campaign to select the next coach? Did "the fans" organise for an application to be made an alternative suitable coach who had their overwhelming support? No.
Don
Roar Rookie
If I'm a sponsor or a potential one or a fan, and the QRU tells me they are installing a caretaker coach without telling me what is happening down the track. I'm not sponsoring, buying my corporate box or buying season tickets until I know more.
Pete
Guest
Well said.
Pete
Guest
Not to mention the number of wallabies available on their roster. The cattle were the same only the coach was different. Even when we had a full team free from injuries we still looked like a rabble! I was surprised Graham lasted the season last year, his rhetoric of "still being able to make the finals" was laughable. The Reds board should have secretly started looking for a new coach THEN not waited until now. That is of course if they were serious about selecting a new coach. Yes we have all been through the good times and the bad with the Reds and it's not a sense of too great expectations. I'd be happy finishing where the rebels and showing as much fight as they did also.
Pete
Guest
Interesting theory on a new coach but truth is none of the 20 were interviewed. Also it would make more sense to install a caretaker for next year in stiles and see if he can stop the rot. Also it would be bad practise nominating a coach for 2017 as any number of things can happen before then and it may not actually happen.
Pete
Guest
Well put LFrank. The ignorance of the QRU board not to bend to "external pressures" when referring to the members!! I call that "internal pressure" we are inside the gates at every home game and are a part of the Reds! Stupidest comment, Charmichael says that after a couple of months after this has all blown over and a couple of NRC games and we will love the Reds again. EXCEPT membership sales would already have been decided and they will be looking at swathes of members not resigning. I will continue to support the Reds but will not renew my membership after 6 years to voice my displeasure and a vote of no confidence in the board.
Jez
Guest
Has Graham any evidence to justify his retainment? He has failed wherever he has coached and jumped ship at the Force during the season showing total lack of management and player loyalty. Where is the evidence???
AJ
Guest
Thanks, I was trying pin down what really pissed me off the most about that quote. I think Jim needs to realise that a lot of these fans stuck around through some heart breaking hollows and have in fact invested significantly in the Reds, well before he came along. Ok if he wants to laud his own decision, then he too should depart if Richard doesn't take the team to the finals next season. And what are the success parameters referred to in the article.
RT
Guest
The CEO's reference to the fans as "external" pressure displays a breathtaking arrogance and is indicative of all that is wrong with Australian rugby.
Ken
Guest
Higgers playing for NRC???? He should have been In the Cheiks 23 last week..
RT
Guest
"If he's a good coach he's a master at hiding it." Comedy gold!
bazza
Guest
Welll looks like Brisbane city and their fans wont see their WALLABY allocated players at BALLYMORE this year..Cities next home game is 10th september and Horwill Quade Genia will be on their way the ENGLAND by then...
Harry
Guest
Radike Samo! Awesome ... also good to see Arnold's twin brother in there. Really exciting teams.
marto
Guest
Bond University Queensland Country side to face the Melbourne Rising on Sunday, 23 August. Name – Club/Region 1. Haydn Hirsimaki – Sunnybank/Sunshine Coast 2. Campbell Wakely – University of Queensland/Gold Coast 3. Sef Fa’agase – Reds/University of Queensland/Beaudesert 4. Phil Potgieter – University of Queensland/Toowoomba 5. Richie Arnold – Bond University/Gold Coast 6. Jack Cornelsen – University of Queensland/Gold Coast 7. Conor Mitchell – University of Queensland/Sunshine Coast 8. Radike Samo – GPS 9. James Tuttle – Reds/GPS (C) 10. Sam Greene – Reds/Brothers 11. Izaia Perese – Easts 12. Matt Gordon – Easts/Toowoomba 13. Chris Feauai-Sautia – Reds/Souths 14. Tom Pincus – University of Queensland/Gold Coast 15. Jamie-Jerry Taulagi – Reds/University of Queensland 16. Alex Mafi – Bond University/Gold Coast 17. AJ Campbell – Easts/Gold Coast 18. Reuben Leilua – University of Queensland 19. Milton Sikuea – Bond University/Gold Coast 20. Maclean Jones – University of Queensland/St.George 21. Scott Gale – Reds/University of Queensland 22. Dion Taumata – Bond University/Gold Coast 23. Duncan Paia’aua – Reds/GPS/Rockhampton