QLD Premier Rugby 2025

[hdnmstsnr]

Swain not the best example - he was too easily baited and ended up becoming a target for opposition and a card magnet.

Seems to have wound it back though, but the reputational damage might be done.

Swain was the perfect example. He was effective and up to the task of doing what so many did not want to do. True, he needed the control that Canham shows... but he was incredibly effective. As an All Black fan, I hated what he did to Tupaea...but as an Australian rugby fan, I was like 'that is EXACTLY the kind of mongrel' that Australian sides need. I stand by that belief today.

 

[HarryElite]

Just heard that representatives from two Shute Shield clubs were in attendance yesterday to see Heenan in action.

Will be telling if he takes a role in Sydney that he does in fact want to move into professional coaching as heading down to SS seems to be a logical step to bulk out the resume.

i believe there is only 1 shute club looking for a coach and thats sydney uni and they look close to securing their coach and from what i hear i dont believe its heenan.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

If Phil Mooney wants another crack at a Director of Rugby job, there's about to be an opening just down the road from his old employer.

 

[Oracle83]

Sounds like Michael Wood has gone from potential hero to a bit of a zero reputation wise down at Crosby.

I didn’t notice it much live but lots of Brothers supporters I’ve spoken too since the game have been critical about some baiting incidents towards Bond which clearly ended up biting the team in the arse.

Seemed like he took his eye off the ball and on the man in the 2nd half

 

[Adam84]

Yeh, I didn't see anything of note live.

But apparently, he was taking bows and spraying the Bond bench when he won some turnovers, did it two or three times and copped a clip from the coaching staff after the game about humility.

He did it after getting a crucial turnover, I was sitting behind the bench as he it was pretty innocuous. To say it’s taken his reputation to zero for that is a bit much.

If coaches are going to clip a player for firing up the opposition then they should be targeting Theo Fourie who was constantly at the centre if any off the ball scrap, even the missus commented on him.

 

[Adam84]

Seemed like he took his eye off the ball and on the man in the 2nd half

As unaligned supporter, I don’t think so.
He played a good game and did some good things in attack and defence. If they’re clipping him for that now, and saying he is a zero, they’re just looking for someone to blame..

 

[TSR]

There was a fair bit of niggle from both sides as far as I could tell - but in the first half it seemed to me that Bond were pretty deliberate in trying to get under Brothers skin. I noticed quite a few off the ball clean outs, cleaning the 1 defender a few times and guys getting held down/held onto. Nothing dirty as such and pretty common fare - but the sort of stuff in another day the ref would crack down on. And I thought it worked for them and the ref wasn’t stopping them so fair play. I thought Brothers seemed to lose composure a few times and make errors at key times on the back of some of this play.

 

[PhilClinton]

He did it after getting a crucial turnover, I was sitting behind the bench as he it was pretty innocuous. To say it’s taken his reputation to zero for that is a bit much.

If coaches are going to clip a player for firing up the opposition then they should be targeting Theo Fourie who was constantly at the centre if any off the ball scrap, even the missus commented on him.

I think it's more there is a difference between being in your face and physical with the opposition on the field and acting like a bit of an arse towards the opposition sideline that isn't warranted. Brothers have had a bad rap for years regarding their behaviour and I know the coaching staff have been trying to focus on humility, particularly in 2025 when they were the hunted and going for three straight.

And you're right, Fourie probably should have gotten the same treatment.

The hero to zero chat also isn't anything that has come directly from a coach - let's be clear on that. I used that phrase to demonstrate how Wood was very nearly going to be man of the match if Brothers had won, but instead his baiting behaviour drew the ire of the staff and supporters on the losing side.

 

[FNC Rugby]

what is everyone's thoughts on Tyler Campbell and super rugby? Outstanding all year and that grand final performance wow but is he past it age wise?

If I knew nothing about rugby and someone told me one of the two 12's playing yesterday was in the reds, I would have said it was Campbell.

As we all know Pakeho has been anointed on the Reds pathway since he was in nappies, there is no chance that the Reds would ever acknowledge that someone not on the pathway could ever get the Reds jersey, it would mean that the Reds would have to admit they get their pathways wrong

 

[PhilClinton]

As we all know Pakeho has been anointed on the Reds pathway since he was in nappies, there is no chance that the Reds would ever acknowledge that someone not on the pathway could ever get the Reds jersey, it would mean that the Reds would have to admit they get their pathways wrong

Samu Kerevi only signed an extended playing squad contract with the Reds starting in 2014 - he was 22 years old at the time.

He had been playing in Colts and Grades rugby at GPS for 3 years before getting signed and this was despite being selected for QLD schoolboys.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Samu Kerevi only signed an extended playing squad contract with the Reds starting in 2014 - he was 22 years old at the time.

He had been playing in Colts and Grades rugby at GPS for 3 years before getting signed and this was despite being selected for QLD schoolboys.

Similar story for Jock Campbell too isn't it?

 

[Major Tom]

As we all know Pakeho has been anointed on the Reds pathway since he was in nappies, there is no chance that the Reds would ever acknowledge that someone not on the pathway could ever get the Reds jersey, it would mean that the Reds would have to admit they get their pathways wrong

Weird to bring up Pakeho, he's a pretty big endorsement of the pathways getting it right.

 

[Wilson]

Similar story for Jock Campbell too isn't it?

Ryan Smith and Matt Faessler too. There is plenty of evidence that it's possible to make the Reds without coming through "the pathways". It's definitely not the norm, but if it was it would probably just be an indicator that the pathways were broken.

 

[PhilClinton]

Yep there are a number of examples - Faessler and Kerevi probably the most recent ones where someone has been picked up a bit later at SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) level and ended up becoming a first choice Wallaby in their position within a few years.

I think there were a few during the Thorn era who were picked up from obscurity, if I remember correctly Dane Zander was playing 2nds in high school and didn't make anything of note before being earmarked by Thorn.

 

[Punter Pete]

If Phil Mooney wants another crack at a Director of Rugby job, there's about to be an opening just down the road from his old employer.

I heard fall out between head coach and dor at uq and dor has resigned. All reports are gm has resigned too! Initial thoughts for one of the asst coaches to take over and head coach to take on dor but apparently that asst coach has accepted a colts head coach role at sunnybank. Interesting times in club land at the moment.

 

[Ras]

Can someone please confirm the below summary is correct, just based on the last week of forum comments we've got a lot of staff movement in QPR:
Italics representing claims I could not confirm.
underlines confirmed movement.

Norths - head coach?
Wests - Director of Rugby, Assistant Coach
UQ - Director of Rugby? GM?
Bond* - Head Coach? (Mick Heenan moving back to Brisbane? Speculated)
Brothers -GM, Director of Rugby?
GPS - Head Coach (Sio leaving)
Easts* - (Tony Mcgahan - Japan leaving), New GM (Mosese Rauluni)
SunnyBank - New Head Coach. Rex Tapuai (Confirmed)

* Updated

 

[Adam84]

I think it's more there is a difference between being in your face and physical with the opposition on the field and acting like a bit of an arse towards the opposition sideline that isn't warranted. Brothers have had a bad rap for years regarding their behaviour and I know the coaching staff have been trying to focus on humility, particularly in 2025 when they were the hunted and going for three straight.

And you're right, Fourie probably should have gotten the same treatment.

The hero to zero chat also isn't anything that has come directly from a coach - let's be clear on that. I used that phrase to demonstrate how Wood was very nearly going to be man of the match if Brothers had won, but instead his baiting behaviour drew the ire of the staff and supporters on the losing side.

Unless there was a second time he did the bow besides the one in the first quarter, then it wasn’t directed at the Bond bench, it was more in the general directions of the brothers bench who we were sitting behind.. coincidentally there was a camera directly in front of that so suspect that’s who it was for…

Whilst its not my cup of tea to celebrate, I think them making a deal out of it is sore losers.

 

[eldiablo]

Can someone please confirm the below summary is correct, just based on the last week of forum comments we've got a lot of staff movement in QPR:
Italics representing claims I could not confirm.
underlines confirmed movement.

Norths - head coach?
Wests - Director of Rugby, Assistant Coach
UQ - Director of Rugby? GM?
Bond - Head Coach? (Mick Heenan moving back to Brisbane?)
Brothers -GM, Director of Rugby?
GPS - Head Coach (Sio leaving)
Easts - Head Coach (Tony Mcgahan - Japan leaving), GM
SunnyBank - New Head Coach. Rex Tapuai (Confirmed)

Mosese Rauluni is the new Easts GM - https://www.facebook.com/EastsRugby...as-been-appointed-as-o/1382605900541815/?_rdr

 

[Adam84]

Weird to bring up Pakeho, he's a pretty big endorsement of the pathways getting it right.

Yeah it’s a weird example. Dre was U20s player of the year last year and Reds rookie of the year in 2025.

that’s a strong endorsement of the talent ID and development process I would have though. There’s other players in the academy or sitting on contracts that are questionable though.

 

[PhilClinton]

Can someone please confirm the below summary is correct, just based on the last week of forum comments we've got a lot of staff movement in QPR:
Italics representing claims I could not confirm.
underlines confirmed movement.

Norths - head coach?
Wests - Director of Rugby, Assistant Coach
UQ - Director of Rugby? GM?
Bond - Head Coach? (Mick Heenan moving back to Brisbane?)
Brothers -GM, Director of Rugby?
GPS - Head Coach (Sio leaving)
Easts - Head Coach (Tony Mcgahan - Japan leaving), GM
SunnyBank - New Head Coach. Rex Tapuai (Confirmed)

Re Easts - isn't Simon Craig the Head Coach? McGahan is leaving but was DoR or GM. Didn't know Craig was leaving if that is true.

Is Norths actively looking for a new Head Coach? They had their best season in years.

Heenan leaving Bond is complete speculation from myself (and others) due to rumblings about him disliking the commute. Now they've won the premiership I think we will either see him commit long term there and possibly relocate, or he will secure another role either in Brisbane or I have heard potential SS role interviews on the horizon. Lots of balls in the air there and can't imagine he will announce anything for a while.