Queensland Reds 2024

[RugbyReg]

Nothing against James but you’d think there’d be more creative and inspired choices for director positions at a professional sporting franchise, assuming they’re aspiring to be a greater organisation than the past? What point of difference does he bring? More group think occurs with this type of appointment which is a common mistake of Boards particularly sporting ones.
And it does nothing to dispel the old GPS school tie connections running things.
Just disappointing.

why do you say that? Because he’s a player? He’s got some pretty good credentials. Professionally and education wise.

 

[Confucius Say]

He’s a tremendous ex-rep of QLD rugby undeniably but sport is now a business and the successful ones have more diversity of thought on their boards. That’s all. He’s a players association nominated rep so fair enough he’s probably as well qualified as anyone.
However, I can’t see him challenging this group who haven’t brought a lot of innovative ideas to QLD rugby in the last 5 years.
And the disconnect with clubs is palpable. There’s club trials on the same day as a Reds trial with the game desperately needing alignment and support. Do these bodies even talk and compare calendars of events? Don’t think so.
The Reds are pretty insular.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Nothing against James but you’d think there’d be more creative and inspired choices for director positions at a professional sporting franchise, assuming they’re aspiring to be a greater organisation than the past? What point of difference does he bring? More group think occurs with this type of appointment which is a common mistake of Boards particularly sporting ones.
And it does nothing to dispel the old GPS school tie connections running things.
Just disappointing.

How many people who have never been involved with rugby put their hand up for these jobs mate? F me.

Seriously the bloke loves the Reds, played for them and the wallabies and beyond anything wants them to succeed. He has also got an MBA at Cambridge and has been involved with his family's massive international business for a number of years. The bloke isn't a dummy.

 

[Sully]

Nothing against James but you’d think there’d be more creative and inspired choices for director positions at a professional sporting franchise, assuming they’re aspiring to be a greater organisation than the past? What point of difference does he bring? More group think occurs with this type of appointment which is a common mistake of Boards particularly sporting ones.
And it does nothing to dispel the old GPS school tie connections running things.
Just disappointing.

I'm not sure what you were expecting from a player rep.

 

[RugbyReg]

He’s a tremendous ex-rep of QLD rugby undeniably but sport is now a business and the successful ones have more diversity of thought on their boards. That’s all. He’s a players association nominated rep so fair enough he’s probably as well qualified as anyone.
However, I can’t see him challenging this group who haven’t brought a lot of innovative ideas to QLD rugby in the last 5 years.
And the disconnect with clubs is palpable. There’s club trials on the same day as a Reds trial with the game desperately needing alignment and support. Do these bodies even talk and compare calendars of events? Don’t think so.
The Reds are pretty insular.

James is a pretty smart guy. He’s in a Group GM role at EGR. Some people may cry nepotism but that’s a very senior role in a very successful business. He’s also got his MBA from Cambridge. I can’t recall his thesis topic exactly but I believe it was sports admin focussed.

he has also been on the Board previously from back in his playing days. Which were obviously pretty successful days. He was also on the panel that selected Les Kiss.

so as a RUPA rep, that’s pretty damn good.

 

[RugbyReg]

The comment about a reds trial on the same day as club trials is just odd. Such a strange axe to grind. Do you think they are competing for spectators??

 

[PhilClinton]

No issue with the Horwill appointment, he’s a quality bloke and respected in the QLD rugby community.

But let’s also not sit here and circle jerk him. He’s pretty much the poster boy for a white collar QLD rugby player who’s made the transition into post rugby executive life - he was placed into a Director role with the EGR Group immediately after retirement.

I can appreciate those who might think it’s a bit of a nothing move in terms of moving the dial for QLD rugby. There is a strong old boy flavour of a particular era coming through the Reds now with BMS (Steve Moore) sponsorship as well.

 

[RugbyReg]

It’s a RUPA. Appointment. It HAD to be an old boy.

and I guess, yeah, they should have turned down the BMS sponsorship because of Moore’s involvement….

 

[PhilClinton]

Who said to turn down the sponsorship? I’ve clearly been a Moore supporter on these forums for a long time.

Simply stating the obvious as some posters here clearly don’t agree with some voices in the Reds room and they’re entitled to that opinion.

Wait and see what happens.

 

[Wilson]

James is a pretty smart guy. He’s in a Group GM role at EGR. Some people may cry nepotism but that’s a very senior role in a very successful business. He’s also got his MBA from Cambridge. I can’t recall his thesis topic exactly but I believe it was sports admin focussed.

he has also been on the Board previously from back in his playing days. Which were obviously pretty successful days. He was also on the panel that selected Les Kiss.

so as a RUPA rep, that’s pretty damn good.

Yeah, I believe his final research project for the MBA was on Private Equity in Sport and most of his focus through that period was on sports administration. He's clearly engaged in sports administration and was on the shortlist for the RA High Performance Director position. I think it's a fantastic appointment and he should bring a lot to the organization.

Who said to turn down the sponsorship? I’ve clearly been a Moore supporter on these forums for a long time.

Simply stating the obvious as some posters here clearly don’t agree with some voices in the Reds room and they’re entitled to that opinion.

Wait and see what happens.

They're entitled to not like the appointment, but don't expect it others not to back the appointments they agree with, particularly when there is plenty of evidence to support them. I get the opposition to old boys with little to no relevant experience using rugby as a play thing after their playing days, but we that couldn't be further from the case here. Both Moore and Horwill are bringing significant value and contributing to the game. At the end of the day there always has been and likely always will be a fairly strong old boy flavour, better that it's those with something to offer.

 

[Adam84]

The comment about a reds trial on the same day as club trials is just odd. Such a strange axe to grind. Do you think they are competing for spectators??

By who?

 

[PhilClinton]

@Wilson yep agree with everything you’ve said. I’m just sympathetic towards the people who clearly have a lot of distrust with our game at the moment and from the outside it must look like we are going to roll through another generation of old boys with their own agendas. This feeling isn’t just at state level, example being a number of fans weren’t happy about the Phil Waugh appointment. So far though everything we have seen has been positive.

Your point around there always being old boys flavour is right, it’s unrealistic for fans to think we were going to fly in Bill Belicheck and have some newfound regime which also would hold no relevance.

I’m just not a fan of the black and white views where posters who disagree are told to get into rank and file because it’s all going to be fine. History has shown that isn’t the case. Let there be some uncertainty and hopefully everyone wins in the end.

 

[SouthernX]

I am ok with people being critical of a hire when all we do is hire in-house. If you ask my personal opinion the best CEO Rugby has had in recent years was Raleigh Castle (from RL)

Horwill is a great stalwart of Queensland rugby and does have some quality education behind him. It would be hard pressed to find a better candidate with the same amount of passion for his state.

but the “jobs for the boys” culture needs to stop in this game - We need to make sure great candidates are not being left by the wayside just so some old rugby frat boy gets promoted.

I’m personally skeptical about Herbert/Waugh pairing at Rugby Australia.. I will hold them both accountable how this Rebels fiasco is navigated (especially after they took a massive loan / not private equity deal)

in saying that - Big Kevs grass is greener at Ballymore and I suspect we will see a lot of great years ahead - unlike RA who has dark clouds on the horizon & monumental mission to tackle.

congrats to Jim & James - welcome to the team!

 

[Adam84]

’m personally skeptical about Herbert/Waugh pairing at Rugby Australia.. I will hold them both accountable how this Rebels fiasco is navigated (especially after they took a massive loan / not private equity deal)

PE deal was rejected before Herbert took office, and even then PE deals aren’t the holy grail, and RA certainly weren’t bargaining from a position of strength so it was IMO the right call at the time to not sell when the org was undervalued.

 

[Ignoto]

but the “jobs for the boys” culture needs to stop in this game - We need to make sure great candidates are not being left by the wayside just so some old rugby frat boy gets promoted.

Take away the name and the fact he was both an winning captain for the Reds and Wallabies.

How is his business CV and education not a perfect fit for a director? I'd love to know what more a candidate needs to bring to our sporting organisations?

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

but the “jobs for the boys” culture needs to stop in this game - We need to make sure great candidates are not being left by the wayside just so some old rugby frat boy gets promoted.

Positions of power and responsibility in a sport funnily enough attract people who are interested in that specific sport.

While I agree with the sentiment, until you review the credentials of the losing candidates how do you actually know it is jobs for the boys (if a genuine recruitment process has taken place)?

 

[SouthernX]

Take away the name and the fact he was both an winning captain for the Reds and Wallabies.

How is his business CV and education not a perfect fit for a director? I'd love to know what more a candidate needs to bring to our sporting organisations?

Think I covered this Ignoto in my original response.

I am not disagreeing James wasn’t the best candidate for the role.

still don’t like the “jobs for the boys” attitude this game has & I don’t feel too confident with the leadership at Rugby Australia. (It would be like having Laurie Daly as ceo and Shane Webcke as your chairman - 2 random x-players at the helm… nope rugby league bought in PVD for fresh ideas & direction)

 

[SouthernX]

Positions of power and responsibility in a sport funnily enough attract people who are interested in that specific sport.

While I agree with the sentiment, until you review the credentials of the losing candidates how do you actually know it is jobs for the boys (if a genuine recruitment process has taken place)?

I was flabbergasted when Phil Waugh got the job.

Rugby Australia said they went thru a extensive process with a recruiter yet we landed on another X-player… I guess it wasn’t that extensive (or nobody wanted the role) because I hadn’t heard any other names.

 

[wamberal99]

I was flabbergasted when Phil Waugh got the job.

Rugby Australia said they went thru a extensive process with a recruiter yet we landed on another X-player… I guess it wasn’t that extensive (or nobody wanted the role) because I hadn’t heard any other names.

Deep experience and a reputation in our code would be an essential requirement. We are at a crucial crossroads now, we cannot afford hiring somebody who needs a year or so to get up to speed with the local and especially the international environments.

Waugh brings a lot to the table.

 

[SouthernX]

Deep experience and a reputation in our code would be an essential requirement. We are at a crucial crossroads now, we cannot afford hiring somebody who needs a year or so to get up to speed with the local and especially the international environments.

Waugh brings a lot to the table.

lol… why not have a fresh set of eyes? Looks to be working in rugby league with “the horse racing guy”

Whoever got the role would have a wealth of knowledge to lean on with Rugby Australia filled with rugby ppl.

if we keep with the same blinders on/narrow vision we will never pull ourselves out of this mess.