The Reds have settled on their Brad Thorn replacement, and it’s another former Queensland Maroons representative set to take the top job at Ballymore.
Les Kiss is understood to have agreed to terms with Queensland Rugby and expected to be unveiled by the end of the month.
The Reds have named Les Kiss as their new coach.Credit: Getty
Kiss has beaten out a long list of applicants, with more than 40 prospective coaches said to have put their hat in the ring for the prestigious position.
It’s believed Reds bosses were initially torn on whether they wanted an experienced coach or a developing coach supported by an experienced director of rugby-type role.
The deciding panel was split on the decision at one stage, before eventually settling on Kiss as the man to resurrect a stagnant Reds program.
Queensland Rugby bosses have remained patient in the process, not rushing into a decision after Thorn announced his resignation in April.
But, truthfully, they couldn’t wait too much longer if the new boss is to have much input on recruitment and changes to the high-performance program at Ballymore.
While there are some highly talented players in the current squad, there are missing pieces to make it a genuinely fearsome playing roster.
The tight five in particular needs an injection of size, starch and aggression.
Some senior Wallabies figures are of the opinion the Reds are “too small”.
The fact they made the Super Rugby quarter-finals the last two years, this season pushing the Chiefs in a tense do-or-die clash in Hamilton (after defeating the competition frontrunners earlier in the season) while missing some key ingredients to their playing stocks, highlights the potential of the group.
While recruitment needs a serious focus, whether other areas of the high-performance department will receive a makeover under Kiss remains to be seen.
It’s believed Kiss is unlikely to come in and make sweeping changes to personnel and practice, although many believe a real shake up is required.
The 58-year-old former Maroons state of origin winger is highly regarded both here and abroad and is the first really experienced head coach the Reds have appointed since Ewen McKenzie in 2010.
Kiss has been an assistant coach at international level (for South Africa and Ireland, was also interim Head Coach of the Irish in 2013) as well as spending seven seasons as an assistant at the Waratahs, during which time they made two Super Rugby finals.
He’s held roles as Director of Rugby and Head Coach at Ulster in Ireland and most recently London Irish, helping turn the struggling club around, just missing the top four this season.
While he’s not a former Reds player, the fact Kiss is a Queenslander – from Bundaberg – is believed to have been a factor in the decision, even if just a minor preference.
Kiss fought off challenges from Toutai Kefu, Mick Heenan, Nathan Grey, Brad Mooar and Steve Diamond, all of whom made it through to second-round interviews.
Diamond in particular is believed to have seriously impressed senior Queensland rugby figures.
Grey, Heenan and Kefu are all thought to have been longshots despite getting second round interviews.
One senior rugby official is believed to be unimpressed with Heenan missing out on the job, after the highly successful club coach – winning six Hospital Cup titles with University of Queensland – was at one point viewed as the successor to Thorn.
Other highly regarded candidates include former Wallaby assistant coach Matt Taylor, former Wallabies forward Matt Cockbain and Zane Hilton, who coaches in Japan but is viewed by many as a Super Rugby head coach in waiting.
One criticism to emerge from the whole process is that those who didn’t make it past the first round are understood to have not received phone calls informing them of their situation.
One candidate did, but it was from a member of the HR department at Rugby Australia, after the prospective coach made repeated requests to Reds bosses for feedback on their application and interview.
Whether any of those who missed the main job come into contention for assistant roles remains to be seen.
Cockbain would likely be interested, given his ties to Queensland and the Reds, while Hilton is considered a strong chance, if he wishes to leave his head coach role in Japan.
Heenan is highly likely to stay on in an assistant role, but could be deterred after missing out on the top job.
