The Queensland Reds want to win for Ewen Mckenzie, but are buying in for new boss Richard Graham

THE Queensland Reds want to win for Ewen Mckenzie, but are buying in for Richard Graham as the club re-signs three stars.

Liam Gill

THE Queensland Reds want to win for Ewen Mckenzie but are buying in for Richard Graham.

Graham, who will take over as coaching boss at the end of the season, has been endorsed by three of the prime movers expected to extend the team's dynasty beyond the McKenzie era.

Wallabies forwards Liam Gill, James Slipper and Rob Simmons gave the Reds a shot in the arm ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby qualifying final against the Crusaders by re-signing with Queensland until the end of the world cup in 2015.

The Courier-Mail revealed in April that Slipper and Simmons had agreed to contract extensions but it took until this month for their contract top-ups to be finalised by the Australian Rugby Union.

Coming on the back of the Reds' retention of Slipper and Simmons, and a two-year agreement with captain James Horwill, the new deal with Gill is the ultimate sign of faith in Graham's stewardship.

McKenzie breathed life into the formerly struggling outfit, and steered them to the title in 2011 and the next two finals series.

All his work would have counted for little if the players did not buy into Graham as they did in McKenzie.

"He's made a massive improvement on our defence throughout the year," Slipper said of Graham.

"I think he's been learning off Link (McKenzie), and he'll bring some of his own ideas in.

"It's been seamless.

"We're grateful we've had access to two great coaches this year."

A former Wallabies assistant and premiership fullback for Brisbane Easts, Graham was signed from Western Force last season.

Reshaping the football department structure to position him as head coach under coaching director McKenzie had the potential to cause communication problems but the Reds' success, and the re-signings, have only reinforced the transition plan.

"It's (the re-signings) a good show of faith in the rugby program," Graham said.

"I've been fortunate to have been part of the organisation for 12 months. The players have got to know me and I've got to know them."

Gill's commitment to Queensland rugby could be the key to maintaining a Reds dynasty.

The former Australia under-20s captain is already considered a leader in a team that includes Wallabies and Reds skipper Horwill, and recent Queensland stand-ins Slipper, Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

"Right from the start I made it clear to Richard that the Reds was the only Australian province I wanted to be a part of," said Gill who faces a brutal breakdown battle against Matt Todd and Richie McCaw on Saturday.

"I've loved the culture I've been a part of the last three or four years and I've only wanted to move forward in that space."