McKenzie engineering slow Reds recovery

Queensland Rugby, once a bastion that was counted among the most powerful domestic unions in world rugby, has seen some hard times of late, but their second high profile kiwi scalp this year showed that the Reds could again be a power in the Rebel Sport Super 14.

Nothing quite beats that winning feeling.

All the players, systems, back room staff, intentions and desire can’t substitute for a team winning games.

Winning sparks a golden and cascading waterfall of events that often leads to bigger crowd numbers, high revenue, a successful culture and the myriad of joys and delights that any player can easily attest to.

Queensland Rugby has had a difficult run of late. In the last five years, they have won (not including this season) only 15 of 63 Super rugby matches.

After their sixth consecutive season finishing no better than 10th on the table, Queensland Rugby endured a complete clean out. First, their highest profile player, Berrick Barnes, signed with the old enemy, moving to NSW. Then Chairman Peter Lewis left, as well as coach Phil Mooney and most support staff.

And last week, the Reds accepted a financial bailout from the ARU, with a five-man Special Executive Committee (SEC) chaired by ARU Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill, established to review and run the business.

But as former Wallabies captain and Queensland stalwart John Eales said this week, admitting the gravity of their problems is the beginning of a new future.

Only one thing remains, for the team to achieve on the field.

And boy, have they what!

Two wins from four isn’t the beginning of a new dynasty, and the Reds have been here before. In the last two years they have won two from five to begin their seasons and still finished towards the bottom of the table.

A win over the Crusaders was huge, but one victory always makes even the most optimistic supporter wary that it is nothing more than a mirage.

But to travel to Waikato and come back to with the scalp of New Zealand’s best team last year, overcoming a 15-0 deficit, shows that the team is beginning to turn around.

And Ewen McKenzie always believed in his young side.

'It was a pleasing win, but we did go there to win,' McKenzie said.

'Even with the changes we made for the match, we knew we were in with a good chance. If you look at the form line, the Chiefs were sitting on top of the ladder, but they had beaten three teams sitting at the bottom of the ladder. We had played some hard games and with the fatigue factor [affecting the Chiefs], we knew if we got the game plan right, we knew we were a chance.'

'Early in the game we kicked to the midfield. They counter attacked and scored. That wasn't the plan. Once we got on task, we were OK. We were confident.'

This week it gets even better. They play the wounded Western Force at home next week, and it will be fascinating to see how many Queenslanders turn out to see their growing team.

On the injury front, the good news continues, with Wallabies Digby Ioane and Peter Hynes likely to return.

It has been a long road for the Reds, but it seems as if they may have rounded that all elusive corner.

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