Far from being left crippled by the Wallabies’ year of doom, Fraser McReight says he’s fresh and excited to start a new chapter under Les Kiss at the Queensland Reds.
Four years after leading the Junior Wallabies to the under-20s world championship final, the experience of playing at his first World Cup campaign could not have been starker.
Other than being a part of the first Wallabies side not to make the knockout stages of the tournament, their campaign was derailed by controversial selection omissions, curious tactics, injury headaches and Eddie Jones’ link to the Japanese head coaching role.
It led to some commentators, including World Cup-winner and former Wallabies captain Michael Lynagh, questioning what form of mental scarring it would leave on the group.
While McReight didn’t want to talk on behalf of others, the openside flanker said it was a “clean slate” now and he was eager to turn a new page under Kiss.
“The World Cup’s behind us now, with Eddie and all that chat – I wish him the best, but for us it’s done,” said McReight at the announcement of the Reds’ multi-million-dollar, four-year deal with new principal partner BMS.
“It’s a clean slate … (it’s) refreshing to come back to the Reds after there was this big hype to a point.
“It depends on the player you ask and what their mindset is and how they’re built. I know what they’ve done for me.
“I’m super eager to get back on the park and rip in with the Reds.”
The Queensland Reds celebrate the announce of their new principal partner BMS. Photo: Brendan Hertel, Queensland Reds
There was no shortage of drama in Australian rugby over the past four-year World Cup.
From the Covid-19 pandemic bringing the world to a crashing halt, a new Super Rugby competition and the return of the Western Force, two overhauls of the Rugby Australia board, two Wallabies coaches and six Test captains in one year, McReight said there was an element of a weight being lifted off their shoulders following the dramatic World Cup cycle.
“It’s exactly that. I think it’s refreshing,” he said.
“There’s a big hype up to a point. You come back here and it’s refreshing. We’ve got brand new people in the squad, new coaches, new facility, new partner, that’s the refreshing side of it.
“After a milestone that’s just happened, to come back here and be able to restart our game, I’ve still got a lot of growth. I’m fresh and ready to rip in.”
The person in charge of ensuring the Queensland Reds at least pull their weight with the rebuild is former State of Origin winger turned coach Kiss, who is back in Australia after the best part of two decades coaching overseas with Ireland, Ulster and London Irish.
After overseeing London Irish’s rise up the English Premiership standings before financial struggles saw the club go under, Kiss will be tasked with making a middle-of-the-road side a great one.
Fraser McReight is eager to put the year behind him and start again with the Reds and Wallabies. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Asked where the greatest improvement lay with the Reds, Kiss said helping them see – and land – the killer blow was essential.
“I just want them to be pull the trigger, have the confidence to play the game with courage and finish their opportunities,” he said.
“And just game management overall. The game’s getting tougher and tougher. Teams are getting better at defence, better at set-piece, you’ve got to be able to skin the cat in many different ways, so just to offer some variation about how we can approach different battles and different game styles, and still stay true to what we want to do.”
Kiss said they would only be able to achieve that if the team had a clear understanding of their principles of play.
“Once you’ve got key principles, you understand what they look like, smell like, feel like, sound like, you can act with conviction,” he said.
“Pulling the trigger when pictures are clearer is a lot better than pulling the trigger when you’re not clear.”
Who wears the No.10 jersey in 2024 will play a key role in delivering Kiss’ plan.
While Tom Lynagh, the son of Reds and Wallabies great Michael, finished his debut season this year in the jersey, he faces significant pressure from Lawson Creighton and fellow young gun Harry McLaughlin-Phillips. Veteran James O’Connor, meanwhile, is likely to continue to rotate between positions, especially as he makes his way back from another injury.
Kiss gave nothing away when asked who would wear the jersey.
“We’ve got options,” he said.
“Speaking to all of them, they’ve got some particular strength that can come to the fore. A style of game where they have the courage and comms to back the pictures that they see and play footy.
“I feel very comfortable that I can lean on the experience of a James [O’Connor] right down to the youth of a Harry and in-between you’ve got a Tom Lynagh and Lawson. It’s a good position to be. Who starts? We’ll find out.”
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Good reasons. I see Wright taking those close in balls that Wilson had to, leaving Wilson to use the skills he has, but people down south don’t recognise. It’s busy on both sides of the selection table. :happy: Hopefully it means better things for the Reds and therefore, the Wallabies
Don
Roar Rookie
I like Uru. Had hoped he’d add a little more bulk but he’s that hybrid 6/lock with a huge motor, gets to lots of rucks and defends well. He’s the type that can be very handy when you have 8s playing who aren’t great at the lineout like Wilson and Valentini. Uru also has great hands and supports well.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Good idea but the Gold Coast is a graveyard for professional sport. The World Rugby sevens were held there for several years, the crowds were abysmal. Some professional teams, soccer and basketball, have collapsed. Suns and Titans struggle for crowds.
Uncle Fester
Roar Rookie
Dare I say something of an armchair ride for the Reds BF?
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day Don. I think McReight is the 7 for Q’ld and Wallabies. I don’t quite see what others seem to in Uru. For me, he’s the lock that comes on at the 50-55 minute mark. Wright at 6 gives us two jumpers in the back row, the other I believe is Wilson. And to top it off, I reckon my back row is an 80 minute outfit. If there is an injury in the back row, Uru can cover, even if Q’ld ran a 5-3 bench. Lucky we’re not all on the selection panel. :laughing: Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Rest up big, it could be an exciting year for Reds rugby.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Just read the article- it’s clearly spelled out that NZR run the Super Round, it’s there in black and white. It’s not NZR running SR .
Don
Roar Rookie
To lockout a major rectangular stadium in Sydney or Brisbane intrudes on NRL and you won’t get it for 3 days without paying significant $. Best option is to have it on the Gold Coast and make it a party weekend/ festival of rugby. People will actually travel to that and stay on the GC and you could genuinely sell packages from Aus, NZ and OS. Great 25k seat stadium and loads of accommodation options. Could be a ripper annual event.
Don
Roar Rookie
Just lack experience at 10. Really hoping Kiss doesn’t play JOC there at all and develops Lynagh. Also hope Lynagh has added a bit of bulk.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Fair enough I like him coming on as impact player at loosehead around the 50 minute mark. Anyway lets hope for a strong scrum and indeed set piece generally from the Reds in 2024 as i think they have the backline and backrow talent to do well.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Nope. NZR does not run Super rugby Scrum. Id reckoned on you knowing that tho.
scrum
Roar Rookie
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/hits-and-misses-but-super-round-worth-a-second-shot-20220424-p5afp7.html
scrum
Roar Rookie
NZR in fact do run the whole thing. They have control of the Super Round. Obviously Victoria is paying good bucks to host and that the decision to play there was a financial one. NZR would have shopped the concept around and Vic came up with the best deal despite poor crowds which I agree is not a good look. See link below
Bennett
Roar Rookie
First time the Tahs play Fiji in Fiji since they joined SRP. That will hurt :laughing: :boxing:
Don
Roar Rookie
You are right about Ravi being a loosehead. He can play both sides. The game that I had in my head from last year when I was typing earlier today was the win away against the Chiefs when he started at tighthead.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Ravi is a loosehead. A good one at that and between him and Hodgeman and some of the young fella's (Blake) hoping that position is covered. Jeff Toomaga-Allen is signed and he is an experienced tighthead who along with Nonggorr should give us a bit of stability and presence in that crucial position (though he'll need to readjust to the fast pace of SR) . De Lutiis looks really good but tightheads take time. All in all, cautiously optimistic Reds will be able to get at least scrum and lineout parity with the tight 5 players they have with potentially some real strikepower in the back row with whatever combination. Michael Brials son Joe (via the Canterbury system) is also at the Reds and I hope he will bring something extra.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Why tho Noodles? Rebels yeah I get that but I see no reason for Melburnians to get all excited over Qld or the Tahs going well. I think the most intellegent thing to do with the "Super Round" would be to have it in a "rugby" city. Surely that would make sense. It seems they decided the worst place to hold it for rugby fans rather than the best. Personally Id do a split "super round". do all Aus teams in Aus ( Brisbane or Sydney ) and the NZ teams in an NZ city. Or completely do it in Japan or Europe. Not Melbourne tho where 3 people love rugby.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Oh dear..... Just hand it over and let NZR run the whole thing. The Melbourne round is dumb.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
It's not a Melbourne problem. It's a winning problem. If Qld and NSW and Rebels get some runs on the board, crowds in Melbun will be good.
Don
Roar Rookie
I just saw I didn't finish a sentence. McReight is a very good player, but I reckon we can have more impact in some games with Wright and have a dynamite lineout. I'd like to see Wright in the selection mix for the Aus 7 role.
Bluesfan
That Melbourne weekend is just a waste of space - poor crowds and does not do anything for the comp. And now their is an article in the AFR that the Melbourne Rebels are having problems paying their tax bill and venue hire for Stadium. Really has being a terrible year for Oz rugby. https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/super-rugby-s-melbourne-rebels-falls-behind-on-tax-bill-stadium-fees-20231212-p5eqti