Reds sharpen axe as Richard Graham fails to save Queensland

QRU powerbrokers are expected to reach a decision that Richard Graham’s position as Reds coach is untenable.

Luke Morahan of the Western Force scores against the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium

Queensland Rugby Union powerbrokers, chairman Damien Frawley and chief executive Jim Carmichael, are expected to reach a decision within days that Richard Graham’s position as Reds coach is untenable.

Frawley missed the Reds’ shattering 22-6 loss to the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium because of pre-existing commitments in North Queensland and was still making his way back to Brisbane yesterday.

While Carmichael was reticent to outline what they would be discussing today, he didn’t attempt to disguise the seriousness of the situation.

“Well, last night happened,” he said, referring to the defeat. “It really was disappointing for everybody that we served that up. But that’s the reality, we know that.

“From my part, I’m a businessman, and we’ve had to support a position for some time now and make the best of it because that’s the decision we came to. And so we pushed on.

“But in the next couple of days there will be conversations had.”

Almost certainly the Reds will entrust the job to assistant coach Matt O’Connor, whose CV includes coaching the ­Leicester Tigers and Irish powerhouse Leinster, although there is some support for Nick Stiles, who has coached Brisbane City to two NRC titles and done marvellous work with the Queensland scrum.

The Reds have finished third last for the past two seasons and now have opened the 2016 ­campaign with comprehensive defeats at the hands of the Waratahs and Western Force.

Graham, who started the year with a 28 per cent winning ­record, is slipping further into oblivion and there are no signs of a turnaround with the next match against the Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday.

Insiders have described the Reds environment as “soulless” and said it had become embarrassing whenever Graham spoke to the team because players could be seen “switching off” around the room.

That’s hardly surprising given that 12 months ago a delegation of players went to officials to complain about him and were ­directed towards the front door if they weren’t happy.

Since then it has almost reached the stage of a player revolt, with one source telling The Australian that the Reds had reached the end of the road with Graham, who they seem as aloof and autocratic. How dysfunctional the rugby department has become was revealed by sources who said that Jonno Lance, the 25-year-old former Reds player who masterminded the Force’s game from five-eighth on Saturday night, had attempted to return to Ballymore this year.

“They didn’t even entertain the idea,” said a source.

Instead, Lance left Sydney, where he was off-contract with the Waratahs, and headed to Perth, leaving the Reds to entrust their playmaking position to 21-year-old Jake McIntyre.

At this stage of his development, McIntyre should he coming off the bench, learning his trade, not having to run the team’s attack.

While the Reds were left to stew over what could yet be the dramatic consequences of their defeat, the Western Force will be on a high going back to Perth where they will play the undefeated Brumbies on Friday night.