Super Rugby
Queensland Reds to use Wallabies' Cup heroics as inspiration
Sam Bruce
November 23, 2015
© Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Queensland Reds are hoping to build on the success of the Wallabies and National Rugby Championship winners Brisbane City as they set about reconnecting with a disillusioned fan base.

The Reds endured a disastrous 2015 season where they instigated a complete review of their rugby operations, including the advertisement of their head coaching position. Incumbent boss Richard Graham was eventually retained while former dual international Brad Thorn was brought in a development role.

Speaking to the media on Monday, impressive young centre Samu Kerevi said the squad was backing Graham "100%" and needed to look no further than the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup deeds as they seek to improve on this season's 13th place finish.

"We're very lucky - the Wallabies performed outstanding in the World Cup," Kerevi said. "Unfortunately they didn't win the Cup but they set a high standard for the rest of the world.

"For us, in Queensland, we want to bring that as well. We want to bring that intensity that the Wallabies had, and just give something to Super Rugby, you know, from a Queensland side of things.

"So we know we can be there and we've just got to work hard."

The Reds have been hit hard by injury despite the 2016 season still being three months off with star lock recruit Kane Douglas set to miss most, if not all, of the Reds' campaign.

Liam Gill and his Brisbane City team-mates celebrate their title victory, Brisbane City v UC Vikings, National Rugby Championship, grand final, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, October 31, 2015
Brisbane City make up a large portion of the Reds' squad © Getty Images
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Douglas was injured early on as the Wallabies fell to the All Blacks in the World Cup final, scans later revealing the former Waratahs forward would require knee surgery. James O'Connor has also left the club by mutual consent. But there was some good news in the form of Brisbane City who defended their inaugural NRC crown with a 21-10 victory over the University of Canberra Vikings.

Kerevi was a standout performer for City for the second straight season and the centre is keen to see the NRC club's positive culture spread to the Reds.

"Yeah, you know most of our squad is from the City aspect of things," Kerevi said. "And after the two seasons that we have had, (Nick Stiles) Stilesy created an awesome atmosphere for us and a culture.

"So we've brought that into our team, our Reds family, and hopefully we get that combination going.

"But even some players from (Queensland) Country have been playing well as well, so combining all those aspects for this new season - it's going to be interesting."

With Matt Giteau unlikely to continue his Wallabies' second coming and Matt Toomua set to take off for Leicester after this year's Super Rugby season, Kerevi could find himself in the running for a spot in the Wallabies' midfield.

A Test debut against Eddie Jones' England in June should not be ruled out; for now though, Kerevi isn't looking beyond the Reds' pre-season.

"Yeah I like to think I've grown as a player," he said. "You know I played four games in my first season of Super and I played most of the Super games this year and to top it off with NRC; just for myself I just feel like I want to keep growing.

'I don't want to be happy with where I am now, I just want to keep growing to the next level and try and become the best player I can be.

"So for me, it's just taking a step at a time with this pre-season and, like I said, I'm just happy to be fully fit for this pre-season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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