A little over a year ago, after another insipid Reds loss to the Waratahs, I banged out an open letter to the Queensland Rugby Union.
I was trying in vain to convey to them the pain their inept management of my beloved team was causing me and my fellow fans on a weekly basis.
That letter was shared all around the world, and I was taken aback, though not completely surprised, by the level of support I received. Several news organisations picked it up, and two weeks later, Richard Graham was sacked.
Despite our dire predicament, there seemed to be some slight sense of hope on the Reds’ horizon.
That hope had all but burned out this year as the Reds limped to two wins from the opening two months of the completion. Sure, there were some bright spots, but the revival we had pinned our hopes on appeared to be non-existent.
An entertaining win over the Kings a fortnight ago was some cause for optimism, particularly after the Waratahs went down to the same team a week later, but it was obvious there was still a long road to travel to get the Reds back on track.
So here I am, a year after I first tried to type my way to a solution, walking out of Suncorp Stadium after another loss to those bloody Tahs. Again, I head to the keyboard. Again, I hope that I can make sense of my feelings through words. But tonight, I feel very, very different.
Yes, I am absolutely gutted at the fact that our losing streak to the old enemy continues. And yes, I cannot begin to fathom how much that referee wanted to gift victory to those blue invaders. But tonight, there is something new.
Something I haven’t felt in a long time. Something I’ve missed even more than the feeling of victory. For tonight, I feel pride.
I am bristling with it. I cannot remember the last time I was this proud of my Reds. Cannot remember the last time I wasn’t embarrassed to say that I’m Red to the bone. Tonight, they are my team again.
Maybe it was Karmichael Hunt’s relentless charges into and through the line. Maybe it was Higgers and the Tui twins throwing their weight around like the madmen they are.
Maybe it was Steve Moore remembering that yes, he was in fact a Queenslander. Maybe it was Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi and Duncan Paia’aua combining skill and power like a well-oiled machine. Or maybe it was George Smith showing that you don’t need to be a Queenslander to know how much this game means to those with Maroon blood.
But you know what? It was all that and more. It was every single man in a maroon (yes, Maroon!) jersey, putting their bodies on the line time and again, from the first whistle to the last, even when those whistles were some of the worst I have ever seen.
We kept coming, kept showing up like all of those great Queensland teams have for decades before. I can’t count how many times I stood and applauded tonight. Not because I thought they needed it. Not because I thought I could cajole some more effort from them. No, tonight I stood and applauded because they deserved it.
They had earned it. And I was only too happy to oblige.
A part of me wants to talk about how diabolical that refereeing was. A part of me wants to go the whinge. But that would be doing our Reds a disservice. Because they will not want to use that as an excuse, as much as they could.
They are not here to be gallant losers anymore. Winning is the only currency they recognise, and as poor as they appear to be right now, they have banked something very valuable tonight. Because I can guarantee that every one of those Reds fans, sitting in the stands just like me, is heading home feeling something that they haven’t felt in a long time. Just like me, they are proud.
They are Queensland rugby when nobody wants to be Queensland rugby. They are Red, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
So now, a year after my first letter, I finish this one in a very different frame of mind, despite the similar result.
I need every one of those heroes in maroon to know that I am proud. I am proud to wear your colours. I am proud to take my seat behind the bench every week. I am proud, like I used to be, of being a Red.
Neil
Guest
No, what was truly horrendous was the number of Reds players showing so little control (were they simply over-eager) and continually getting pinged. A number of the calls at first seemed a bit rich to me, however, when replayed, it was obvious the penalties were correctly called. Even the commentators were absolutely specific they were the right calls. One classic example is, it would appear very few Queensland players realise you have to be on your feet to play the ball. The number of penalties given for players on the ground playing the ball was a high as I’ve seen in a while. Even Hunt, who played an otherwise best-on-field game, was guilty of it on a couple of occasions but was pinged once only that I could see. There is no point whingeing about the ref, when the players let themselves down.
DOUBLES
Guest
Cynical is scared of what the stats will say . If he ever looks one day, he will surely then have to tear down his Bernard Foley poster on his bedroom wall, change his Michael Hooper screensaver and stop dancing around the loungeroom in his Dean Mumm pyjamas ..
DOUBLES
Guest
^^ 16-4 penalty count..Pretty hard to win a game when the Referee camps you in your own 22 for 30 minutes and sin bins one as well.. I went back over the tape and found at least 10 penalty infringements that were not given to the REDS .Paul Williams or the linesman missed them. (OFFSIDES and SIDE ENTRIES) also the absolute howler, the blatant knock on from Lucas which led to 3 points . It could have been 45- 20.. would have.. could have...Hooper was penalized twice but no yellow ??..He also came in the side twice, but was not penalized..Also the Waratahs were offside 4 times out wide and 2 in tight, but no penalty.. I don’t know what state or country the linesmen are from but would not be surprised if they were from NSW and were wearing baby blue tinted contact lenses. .Also their was no clear grounding of the ball in Phipps try . replay after replay after replay after replay showed this ( i was sitting 20 meteres away).... But alas as the rookie ref said try on field, it had to stay a try… What is the point of a TMO Then??.. TMO said no conclusive evidence it wasn't a try, go with your original decision .. “ TRY “ Doesn’t the rule state you have to see a clear grounding ?? QLD Best Higgers Smith Hunt Tuttle Quade Kerevi NSW Best Paul Williams TMO linesman
Link
Guest
The rookie ref was horrendous..
David Warriner
Guest
18000 is the biggest crowd of 2017 ? Qld Rugby had a unique culture that had its beginning at Ballymore. There is no point continuing a association with Suncorp that without 25000 spectators is a loss making venture. We need that culture reinvented with families attending afternoon games . We need kids kicking balls because without them we have no future. At Ballymore gate receipts ,Bar takings and merchandising goes to the QRU.
piru
Roar Rookie
Did they wear a different colour this week?
Neil
Guest
Usually once or twice in every game. Possibly enforced more now that R. McCaw has retired.
Bushranger
Guest
The whole 'Reds' thing is stupid. They looked great in maroon. Other teams are already red (Crusaders, Lions, Sunwolves) why does Queensland need to be red as well? I had my doubts about Hunt but I have to say he looked good and I'd like to see him in better company in the national side. Cooper on the other hand looked pretty ordinary. Defence is still an issue.
boonzie
Guest
was at the tahs match the week before.... only way was up after that...
ajg
Guest
I agree with a lot of what you're saying here, but its still real dissappointing how much the Reds fade away in the last 20mins
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Boonzie! Hell you're easily pleased mate, ~ You say it was worth watching!!!! that was an awful game! ~ But Onya' for getting some enjoyment out of it, everyone to their own! The Highlanders game was the game worth watching no doubt about it!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
J.J, ~ Neither Waratahs or the Reds played well at all and you're spot on with your account of the Refereeing quality, it was as you say emphatically, "Rubbish''! The best of the Aussie' Conference teams in my book was the Force, they played as they did the last round against the Chiefs, ~ really took it to them and rattled the hell out of those Lions. It was the way the played that I liked, because with the horrid injury count they have, they just went out and played rugby like there was no tomorrows! They played with style too but just didn't have the weight in the right places to force the Lions onto the back foot more than they did, ~ I would say that had a few of their top injured players had've been on the paddock, the Lions wouldn't have beaten them! The Brumbies and theRebels may have well just stayed home they were awful!
Harry
Guest
My turn to agree Harty - kick chases are an excellent indication of a team's morale and willingness to work hard. The Reds kick and chase effort is bad at any level and appalling for a professional side. I'm at a loss to what they practice all week as the backs kicking, handling and ball retention is terrible. As Tongan Thor is a great prospect but as I said weeks ago its clear he is not yet able to hold his side of the scrum up properly, and thus should not be picked.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
I think he was run ragged this game too, and on top of that he was made captain, having to make decisions while buggered from his last play.. not sure that is a wise choice.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
And all pigs are equal except....
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Agree, a draw would have been a fair result - i was thinking that towards the end but sure nuff the ref sorted that :) ..
William Tell
Guest
How long is it in super rugby that anyone was pinged for side entry to a ruck?
William Tell
Guest
Well, I do recall chanting red, red, red.....at Ballymore. And "we want 50..." at that first momentous turn-around in Queensland fortunes.
achilles
Guest
tahs just got beaten by kings and about 30 pts behind the best team in comp. reds relied on change of jersey color and old fashioned hype from a bereft coach who is out of his depth. thank goodness for George smith a great game. tahs pack were worst seen for years and managed a lucky win;says it all. cooper intercept try good for him but sorry youre past it mate as are a few reds. Australian results again poor and hardly get me back to watch or get excited by performance. rather watch league or samoa C
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Exactly, the big game at Ballymore used to be advertised as "Boo a Blue" The Reds could lose every game but if they beat NSW it was a successful season.