THE cracks, near invisible at the time, started to form around 1996, when CEO Terry Doyle and the Queensland Rugby Union parted ways.
A forthright, outside the square thinker, Doyle had run a very smart ship during the amateur days and was probably just the man to steer the Reds through the transition to professionalism. Not to be.
The cracks widened in 2000 when John Connolly was sacked despite an outstanding coaching record over more than a decade. He irritated too many string-pullers.
His successor, Mark McBain, the last coach to take the Reds to the finals, was shuffled off after two years, to be replaced by me. Bad call by the QRU, bad call by me.
Jeff Miller was the CEO at the time, and I daresay stability may have been attained had he stayed in that position. Selflessly, he took over the coaching reins I had vacated.
He would have been of far greater value in the office.
When the Western Force were formed, the cracks were getting wide enough to be alarming.
They were large enough to drive a truck into when a divisive Eddie Jones was lured to Ballymore.
A couple of CEOs who haven't got the job done, a chairman who, in fairness, tried hard for what seemed the right reasons, but who also ultimately failed to attract and retain proven players, and what we have at Ballymore now is an abyss.
Climbing out and finding firm footing will be a major slog.
Berrick Barnes' decision to walk out has for many, been the last straw. From casual observers to diehard fans of more than 50 years standing, I've been told by all and sundry this week that it's all over for them. The Reds are off their radar.
It's a heavy weight for Barnes to carry, and while it's quite clearly not all his fault, his departure was, for some, the one final act which turned dire into irretrievable.
Berrick is universally liked, but again it is the "it's all about me" approach of the modern athlete which is irritating the loyal fans who are left to wonder how much emotional energy they can continue to waste while supporting their team.
Why did he go? It appears to be one of the very rare times when money was not the deciding factor. In the Barnes camp, there was apparently as much dissatisfaction with middle management issues as with win-loss ratio.
After announcing his decision, he was asked if he had a problem with the coaching set-up at the Reds. He replied: "I'm not going to get into a slanging match with them or you guys (the media) about that sort of stuff."
In other words, yes, he did have a problem with aspects of the coaching.
What player in the history of any sporting code hasn't endured some problems with one coach or another?
Whatever happened to riding the tough times to the bitter end? Sure, Barnes has given his all for Queensland for little reward while wearing red. But he gained a World Cup berth, arguably when his form didn't demand it.
I am sure he does not realise how contagious the "it's all about me" bug is.
His defection already has Digby Ioane and Will Chambers getting a severe dose and you can bet your boots there will be others who have got the symptoms.
The buck stops with the QRU and the hierarchy have clearly been consistently incompetent.
However, you'd like to think there would be one player of influence who would back himself to survive and prosper whatever the difficulties, and in so doing, set the example. Barnes was many people's last hope.
