Rugby Confidential: Reds star Fraser McReight to spurn monster offer to stay loyal to Wallabies

Queensland Reds star flanker Fraser McReight is set to spurn an eye-watering, mammoth deal which would have made him one of this country’s richest footballers to re-sign with Australian rugby.

Fraser McReight scores a try for the Reds. Picture: Getty Images

Fraser McReight is set to spurn a mammoth $1.3 million a year deal in Japan that would have made him one of this country’s richest footballers, re-signing with Australian rugby until the end of 2028.

Rugby Confidential understands the star Queensland Reds flanker is on the verge of accepting far less money to remain here with the goal of winning the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

But the decision to knock back the huge offer from a Japanese club is one that prevents McReight from stepping into rarified air. The annual salary of $1.3 million would have matched the deal just signed by NRL star Dylan Brown to join the Newcastle Knights from Parramatta.

Fraser McReight has starred for the Reds and Wallabies. Picture: Getty Images

Only Richmond’s AFL superstar Tom Lynch ($1.45 million) and Brown’s future teammate, Knights captain Kalyn Ponga ($1.4 million) have higher annual wages.

We understand that McReight’s deal in Australia will leave him up to $1 million out of pocket over the next three years, but that he’s banking on making that up later in his career.

McReight, 26, is a key weapon locked in for the Wallabies as they seek to build a team capable of claiming the William Webb Ellis trophy at home in two years.

It follows a major week of re-signings for RA this week, with Reds hooker Matt Faessler signing a two-year extension until the end of 2027, and Brumbies lock Nick Frost doing the same.

The remarkable aspect of McReight’s retention is that there still remains uncertainty around who will be the Wallabies coach beyond October.

Joe Schmidt is stepping down after The Rugby Championship due to family reasons, and while it’s widely tipped that Queensland’s Les Kiss will step into the role there are no guarantees.

Fraser McReight will stay loyal to the Reds and Australian rugby. Picture: Getty Images

RA and the Reds’ ability to have numerous stars re-sign amid this uncertainty deserves applause.

Queensland have managed to retain Faessler, Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson, lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, and soon should have McReight.

Neither RA nor the Reds would comment on McReight’s contract situation.

The retention of McReight now puts focus on the other major off-contract Wallabies players.

As we’ve tipped before, playmaker Noah Lolesio is leaning towards an overseas deal. Prop Taniela Tupou, currently on $1.2 million a year, is also set to head overseas, with RA unable to offer him anywhere near that amount of money.

Centre Len Ikitau has signed a deal with English club Exeter Chiefs for next year, but RA is enticing him with a three-year offer to come back after the 2026 season, that he is carefully weighing up.

Ikitau’s Brumbies teammate Tom Wright is also weighing up the option to head offshore or remain in Australia for a shot at the World Cup.

REDS AND A RIVALRY

Waratahs women’s forward Adiana Talakai threw out one of the best sledges of the long rivalry between NSW and Queensland when discussing the interstate battle to take place between the teams this Sunday in Brisbane.

“It’s better dead than red is the casual quote that gets thrown around along these halls,” Talakai said.

Waratahs’ Adiana Talakai threw out one of the best sledges in the rivalry between NSW and Queensland. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images for Rugby Australia

“We’ve never lost to an Australian team and I don’t want to start this week or moving forward.

“I don’t know if that’s a reflection of how much I don’t want to lose to the Reds or whatever. But, yeah, we’re not losing.”

But the “better dead than red” has a different meaning altogether for Tahs men’s fullback Andrew Kellaway.

“I think if I said I’d rather be dead than red, I’d be dead,” Kellaway said, “unfortunately with the hair colour”.

Waratahs star Andrew Kellaway. Picture: Getty Images

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Nearly 12 years ago, Frenchman Loic Fougere took a huge gamble and moved to New Zealand to experience the rugby culture and picturesque landscapes.

He found a place to stay at the Marshall household – including James Marshall – in the south island.

So it was quite the irony that last week, Fougere returned to Christchurch as the Queensland Reds logistics manager, preparing the team against the Crusaders, whose assistant coach is none other than James Marshall.

It was quite the reunion.

Originally published as Rugby Confidential: Reds star Fraser McReight to spurn monster offer to stay loyal to Wallabies