Reds coach Richard Graham ‘open minded’ about signing James O’Connor — as a winger

REDS coach Richard Graham has an open mind about the potential signing of James O’Connor but only as open as seeing him as a winger.

James O'Connor, seen at Wallabies training at Ballymore. Pic Jono Searle.

REDS coach Richard Graham has an open mind about the potential signing of James O’Connor but only as open as seeing him as a winger.

Graham today addressed speculation that the talented yet tarnished O’Connor was top of the hit list of recruits being sought by the misfiring Reds for 2015.

“There’s a lot of speculation. Certainly nothing has been put to James at this point of time,” Graham said.

“As Jim (Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael) said the other day the Reds, as an organisation, are open minded. I’m open minded.

“At this point of time we are looking at a huge range of options both in the backs and throughout the backrow.”

James O'Connor training with the Wallabies at Ballymore. Could he be headed there with the Reds? Picture: Darren England

That Graham is giving thought to O’Connor’s case is a leap from their uneasy 2011 status.

Graham was coach at the Western Force when O’Connor moved on amid a storm of commentary that the then-20-year-old was self-centred.

O’Connor, 23, has just finished a season with London Irish where coach Brian Smith, the former Wallaby, said he “didn’t put a foot out of line.”

How much or how permanently O’Connor has matured off the field is the huge question the Reds must weigh up.

“Well, there’s a history there isn’t there? It’s important as an organisation that we go through due diligence but it’s the same with any player. You check the background,” Graham said.

James O'Connor has finished up a stint at London Irish.

Graham was more definitive on the talent coursing through the 44-Test Wallaby, one of the few Australian players to enhance his reputation at the 2011 World Cup.

“I was with him in 2010 in the Wallabies (when Graham was assistant coach) and I thought him the best winger in the world at that point of time,” Graham said.

“There is absolutely no doubt about his footballing quality.”

Interestingly, O’Connor’s own zeal to extend his game by playing at No. 10 and inside centre might not have been the route chosen by Graham.

“Over time, potentially moving from wing or fullback into the inside backs compromised his development,” Graham said.

When put on the spot about whether O’Connor might purely be a potential back three recruit for the Reds, Graham was clear.

“Based on history, if we went down that path he’d be a winger,” Graham said.

Whether O’Connor’s ego would be prepared to again accept life as a roaming winger is another part of the intriguing puzzle after putting so much time into building up his playmaking skills in the midfield.

Originally published as Reds coach Richard Graham ‘open minded’ about signing James O’Connor — as a winger