Recruitment and retention has been a high priority, says McKenzie
QR Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said retaining and attracting players to Brisbane for the future has been a major focus for the organisation prior to Australia's player market officially opening today.
All four existing Australian teams and the Melbourne Rebels are now allowed to sign players from other provinces into their squad ahead of the expanded Investec Bank Super 15 competition next year.
In 2005 a host of players decided to leave Queensland to join the then fledgling Western Force, but McKenzie said this time around the organisation had been working hard over an extended period to give players reasons to stay.
“I’m quite confident we’ve done a lot of work in terms of the future of the Reds,” McKenzie told a news conference in the wake of Sunday's record victory over the Force.
“I’ve worked very hard on the recruitment side of things and we’ve presented a good case off the field and on the field. Does that mean we keep everyone? Maybe, maybe not. We’ll see what happens.”
The Reds have commenced their season with three wins and two losses – their best start since 1999 – and now sit in sixth position on the ladder and just one point behind the fourth placed Brumbies.
Their 50-10 victory over the Force on Sunday was the Reds largest winning margin in Super Rugby history and the seven tries they scored equalled the record reached only twice before in 1996 (beat Blues 50-13) and 2002 (beat Bulls 48-12).
Under McKenzie in 2010 the Reds have gained victories over New Zealand powerhouse teams the Crusaders and Chiefs, while also securing their first back-to-back wins in four seasons.
“Playing in a team that is showing great spirit, aptitude and better consistency would be something as a professional footballer you would think would be attractive,” McKenzie said.
“The guys who are out there participating should be happy about their opportunity and their involvement, but in the end everyone’s circumstance is different and we’ll see what happens.”
The Reds now have a bye before travelling to South Africa for three games against the Cheetahs, Sharks and Lions, before returning to Suncorp Stadium for a blockbuster clash with the Bulls on April 17.
