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Fraser McReight has revealed the Reds’ playing group was not seeking a coach too similar to current boss Les Kiss to take the reins in 2027, but rather someone who would “find something different” about the group.
The Wallabies sensation will assume the Queensland captaincy in 2026, and his greater responsibilities included working alongside fellow senior players and Test great James Horwill in devising the criteria that dictated who the club would hunt to succeed Kiss.
That led to the appointment of Auckland Blues’ 2024 Super Rugby Pacific-winning mentor Vern Cotter, nine months on from when McReight and the players were consulted.
Fraser McReight will captain the Queensland Reds in 2026.
“We wanted someone who has had success and delivered, and who can ultimately make us improve in areas we know we can improve on, and find something different about us,” McReight said.
“I think we went away from wanting something similar to Les, I think we went the opposite and wanted something different. We were able to achieve great success with Les here, and maybe we thought if we changed it up, could that get even more success.”
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Upon his unveiling as the next Queensland coach, Cotter expressed his belief the Reds were not far off being a regular premiership contender – he simply needed to inject “a couple per cent more” to ideally help them over the quarterfinal hump that’s stymied their past three campaigns.
Speaking ahead of the Reds’ second preseason trial against the Waratahs, McReight was adamant the side had the ability to triumph in each of those defeats – all of which took place in New Zealand.
One area he did concede needed to take a stride forward, however, was their consistency of performance in the forward pack, as the club reels from the losses of Alex Hodgman to retirement, along with Liam Wright, Ryan Smith and Angus Blyth, who are moving to different clubs.
Sef Fa’agase, Connor Vest and Matt Gibbon have also departed, leaving the door open for a new generation.
Cotter has a history of building success from well-disciplined forward packs – culminating in a French Top 14 trophy with Clermont Auvergne.
Rising talents such as Massimo De Lutiis and Vaiuta Latu will be expected to take on greater roles moving forward, and McReight stressed that would take time.
“We’ve got such a great group of young boys coming through, but they’re only young and have to understand Super Rugby and how to be professional,” McReight said.
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“That takes time to develop, and whilst they’re doing such a great job that might – depending on how the season goes – might be an area.
“We’ve had two good seasons under Les and the current coaching group, and we know exactly where to work on – I think the struggle is actually executing week in and out against some really good-quality opposition, who are probably doing the same.”
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