Queensland Rugby. Annual Report

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Annual Report

2003 - 2004

Queensland Rugby

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SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Record 43,000 people now playing rugby in Queensland

• Record 91 non-traditional schools take part in Ballymore Cup

• Record Australian Super 12 crowd of 42,237 sees Reds retain Templeton Cup

• Queensland players make up half of Australian U-21 and U-19 World Cup squads

• Nathan Sharpe captains Wallabies

• Gold Coast Breakers win first ever Hospitals Cup

• New Ballymore administration building opens

KEY PARTICIPATION STATISTICS

1999 (Estimates only) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Junior Clubs 60 60 75 74 80 87

Senior Clubs 99 98 98 111 112 110

Junior club players 5,815 7,420 8,775 10,228 10,285 12,363

Regular School players 13,620 13,749 15,228 18,530 20,489 22,034

Senior club players 7,286 7,317 7,676 8,954 8,369 9,535

TOTAL PLAYERS 26,820 28,486 31,679 37,712 39,143 43,932

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Sponsorship 2,592,619 3,277,548 3,114,257 3,228,393 3,944,738 4,384,470

Match Day Income 3,332,916 3,152,176 3,655,746 3,778,106 4,331,331 5,597,825

State Government

Grants - Ballymore 1,174,772 3,745,597 2,056,660 1,991,854 Nil 771,253

Gross Trading income 11,319,637 13,115,893 13,918,297 15,340,259 17,362,957 18,622,991

Net Trading Profit/(Loss) 236,981 (298,776) 149,864 79,769 182,802 315,843

Members’ Equity 10,067,461 13,439,022 20,838,163 22,559,786 22,742,588 24,079,684

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01

The Values of Queensland Rugby 01

Chairman’s Report 02 CEO’s Report 05 Sponsors 08 Board of Directors 09 Finance Report 10 Commercial Report 12 Communications 15 Community Rugby 17 Reds Summary 22 Team Photo 23 Statistics 24 Honour Board 26

Energex Reds Rugby College 28

Qld Academy of Sport Under 19s 30

Premier Rugby 2003 Statistics 31

Club Reports 32

Queensland Suburban Rugby 40

Queensland Country Rugby Union 42

Qld Rugby Football Schools Union 53

Queensland Junior Rugby Union 55

Queensland Rugby Club Report 56

Obituary 57 Financials i

CONTENTS PAGE

THE VALUES OF

QUEENSLAND RUGBY

Standards

We uphold a high level of performance,

behaviour and appearance in all aspects of life.

Camaraderie

We operate in a spirit of mateship

and teamwork.

Heritage

We are proud of our history, as individuals, as

a state and as a nation.

Accountability

We take responsibility for our actions.

Discipline

We do what needs to be done and our

strength grows as a result.

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RECREATING HISTORY OR CREATING A NEW BEGINNING?

2004 has been a watershed year for Queensland Rugby, a time of new beginnings.

Rugby in Queensland is moving forward fast, but as we approach the tenth season of professional Super 12 rugby, it is perhaps important that we remind ourselves where we have come from and ask how we plan to position ourselves for the next decade.

In this report I plan to establish an historical context, hypothesise on the major issues confronting

Queensland Rugby and propose a number of solutions which I hope extend the thinking and behaviour of all in our organisation.

For example, what must happen for Queensland to remain a sustainable and prosperous Union?

What must be in place for Ballymore to be the ‘home’ of Australian Rugby and how do we position this Union to be the ‘thought leaders’ in world rugby?

How can we do all this, and create a sustainable and vibrant amateur rugby culture and still live within our means?

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

A perspective on the Queensland Rugby since 1995

Prior 1995 The professional era in 2004

Control of playing

program -Games QRU ARU Control of

leading Players QRU ARU Finance Game Program ARU supplies

40% of Funds Season/Club Valued by Local Media Minor media interest Competition And the Community very little interest to public Clubs Valued as a pathway Limited to no value

to Representative Rugby as a pathway Players Great majority aspire to Great majority aspire

play at a higher level to play at a higher level

These changes are a result of the decision to professionalise the game and it has had major implications for the State Unions.

It is interesting to reflect on why it took Rugby so long to move to the professional era and the fact that it took a ' radical ' move by an external body to precipitate the change. The establishment had to fight to retain control.

Some comparative facts: Queensland Rugby Union

1995 2004

Revenue $4million $18 million

No of Employees 20 40

No of Clubs (Brisbane) 34 24

No of Sub Unions 11 11

No of players in QLD 16,000+ 43,000+ POST WORLD CUP – 2004

The Rugby World Cup in Australia promised much and I have listed the amounts allocated for Queensland Rugby from the ARU Board as part of the RWC 2003 Surplus:

Our understanding of the status as at September 2004 is:

1. Try Rugby Grants – an allocation of $154,000 has been made for a total of 14 Try Rugby Centres. The location and timing of these centres is yet to be agreed with ARU Community Rugby but the understanding is that these will be held in 2005 and 2006.

2. Strategic Community Rugby project - an allocation of $360,000 has been made for a series of programs that are outlined in “QRU – ARU Strategic Funding 2004” document.

Again the understanding is that these initiatives will commence in 2005.

3. Funding for State Strategic initiatives – an allocation of $1,425,000 has been made and the formal request for these funds was made to the ARU Board meeting of 17 September 2004.

FUTURE CONTEXT Commercial

The International Game is the major driver of revenue with over 90% coming from this source. The focus at this level is a major challenge globally and I believe that for rugby to be sustainable into the future the focus needs to be at a regional level with a reduced focus on internationals.

The IRB is currently working on a project to establish the feasibility of a global season, and as you might imagine it is a challenging task. Soccer and Cricket however have, in time, moved in this direction and rugby will also in time.

The mid-year tours, while valuable to the game at the moment may well devalue the product at the same time. Watching Australia thrash England at Suncorp was no great Rugby spectacle - the public will wake up!

QUEENSLAND R UGBY ANNU AL REPOR T 2003 – 2004

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

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Ben Kehoe

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Recent statistics demonstrate that sponsorship globally is reducing with more sports competing for fewer dollars. Australia faces the same challenges in a much smaller market. Watching the evolution of a fourth Super 14 side will

be a valuable learning from a number of perspectives.

The proposed new broadcasting agreement establishes the structure and format of the season for the next five years but for there to be any changes post 2010 planning needs to be started now.

Professional Rugby

Continuing Internationalisation As with most professional sports, the increasing globalisation of competitions, plus the movement of players means that traditional models of clubs and tribal

loyalties are not the same. Current information which highlights this includes:

Queenslanders overseas:

Professional Players/ Community Rugby: 50+ Coaches: 14

Our challenge is to provide the best competition we can, but let’s not fool ourselves that players and coaches still won’t go overseas.

As mentioned earlier, the discussion on a global season will have a major impact on how we think about the Rugby program.

World Cup Dominance

The World Cup continues to dominate thinking about tours and selections. Test matches now have a different feel about them as coaches’ look for the best combinations and experiment with selections as their teams prepare for the next world Cup.

Rugby in the Olympics (Sevens)

The IRB has, as a part of its agenda, lobbied for the inclusion of rugby in the Olympics. This has major implications for us, as it impacts on the Super 12 season next year and in all future years. An Australian Sevens team is also due to play in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. One option is for Australia not to compete or to compete with a "modified selection". If Australia is to compete seriously in these competitions surely there must be a focus on 7's Rugby at every level - Queensland has no recognised 7's Competition The conduct of a 21st Century Global Business in a 19th Century political structure There are few professional sports which I can identify that have continued to maintain their connection to the amateur base.

Rugby is one of the very last to go professional and serious consideration must be given to appropriate structure to encourage growth in the game while retaining the ethos.

The current ARU policy which effectively limits each Union to one Super 14 team has implications as we move to future

growth strategies.

There are at least two structural options as we move to the future:

Option 1: establish ARU as body which directly controls all professional football in Australia. All Rugby “franchises” would be controlled centrally. This body would be separate and distinct from the Community Rugby body.

Option 2: establish a number of additional Unions with direct affiliation to the ARU. In this model each province will have some control over the regional professional rugby side.

There may well be other models.

Community challenges ahead:

Queensland Rugby faces many challenges over the next 10 years both in the professional game and at a grassroots, amateur level.

At a community level, are we ready to take advantage of the changing demographics in south-east Queensland and the predicted population boom?

Can we combat competition from other sports with a more user friendly program?

What needs to be done about the lack of meaningful competition for players of Elite Amateur standing and should we allow the continued playing of professional players in an Amateur Game?

The continued pressure to fund the Community Rugby system, the retention of players within that system, the availability of volunteers and the standard of existing facilities are just some of the other issues affecting the game as we currently administer it.

Board perspective:

There were many highlights in Queensland Rugby in 2004 and unfortunately some lows. As I said at the outset of this report, 2004 was a year of new beginnings

Highs

• New CEO in Theo Psaros and a new Coach in Jeff Miller –and the recreation that comes with fresh blood

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• A Super 12 record crowd of 42,237 for Queensland V NSW at Suncorp Stadium

• Returning home to Ballymore with a new administration centre

• The focus on Community Rugby – the paper “our strategic Intent” and subsequent workshop with the Clubs which endorsed the establishment of Premier Rugby as a State-wide competition

• Queensland-NSW joint Board meetings

• The great results in the Participation arena including the Juniors

Lows

• Inability to accelerate the establishment of 3rd Tier / Elite Amateur Rugby

• Inability to present Constitution for consultation before now

• The continuing disappointment of the Reds attempt to make the Super 12 finals

• The delay in receiving and thus re-investing Rugby World Cup funding back into the game in Queensland.

The Future is here now – can we see it? The 2004 Queensland-NSW match was a forerunner of things to come. No responsible Board can avoid the potential economic benefit to the game of moving to Suncorp Stadium, providing of course that the move in commercially viable.

The Queensland B program is being established. It is the embryo of an Australasian competition which will extend the development of many underutilised assets. (see below)

It is now nine years since Rugby was rudely dragged into the future. There has been a lot of turbulence as many traditional and cultural beliefs have been overturned but the challenge from this point is to build on the new beginnings and make Queensland a ‘rugby’ state, in the same way New Zealand is a ‘rugby’ country or Victoria is an AFL stronghold.

This may seem like a pipe dream but so did professional rugby. More than 100,000 people attending a Test match in Sydney or 52,000 fans at a game in Brisbane was unthinkable just 10 years ago, but it has happened!

In conclusion I would like to thank a number of very committed and dedicated people

To Theo, the staff and the Reds of Queensland Rugby – your dedication and commitment to “the mission” is fabulous and the Board is in no doubt that the robust position of the organisation is a credit to you.

To my colleagues on the Board I thank you for the expertise you bring and the spirit with which you work – it is a privilege to be one of you.

To those of you who work in Rugby at large thank you - Rugby is still essentially a community based sport and with the community involvement at every level it does not happen.

I leave you with one thought:

When asked by a reporter what makes him a great player, ice hockey legend Wayne Gretsky is reported to have said, "I skate to where the puck is going not to where it is."

Ben Kehoe Chairman

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT CONTINUED

04

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05 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

It is a pleasure to report to you on the progress that Queensland Rugby has made during 2004.

As we enter 2005 and the 10th year of professional rugby, it is pleasing to see that less comment is being made on the difficulties associated with the transition from an amateur sport to one of professionalism. This is not to say there is any less energy for the

professional side of our game. The 2004 year has seen a much needed increase in emphasis on the

community aspect of our sport with many initiatives designed to improve the welfare and competitions for the benefit of the 43,000 players and 8,000 volunteers throughout Queensland.

Rugby in Queensland is in great shape, is experiencing an exciting period and our future is vibrant.

The popularity of rugby in Queensland can be found in the following statistics:

- an increase in player numbers from 23,000 in 1997 to 43,000 in 2004;

- 5,500 junior players in 1999 to 11,000 in 2004; and

- 13,000 school players to 21,000 in 2004;

With 15% of Australians now attending rugby matches (compared to 16% for rugby league), our sport is continuing to grow and stamp itself as a major participation and professional code.

Even the most ardent Reds supporter would see the 2004 Tooheys New Super 12 competition was a season of disappointment and frustration. However and importantly, the 2004 year was the beginning of a rebuilding period for the Reds following the retirement of many experienced players. However, the combination of injuries to key players, frustrating close losses at home and the tragic death of Michael Tabrett saw the Reds finish 10th at the end of the season. The Reds finished 2004 with four successive victories and will approach 2005 with a steely determination to do well.

At the end of the Super 12, changes were made to the support staff. Following the resignation of Adrian Thompson and the departures of Anthony Herbert, Damian Mednis and Steve Nance, we have assembled a new team of coaches who will assist Jeff Miller in our quest to win Super 12.

Tremendous experience has been gained in the employment of the Brumbies backs coach, Anthony Eddy. The new Strength & Conditioning coach, Steuart

Livingstone, joins the Reds with experience from the Brumbies and more recently as the National S&C Coach for the ARU Elite Player Development Program. Garry Nucifora’s appointment as Manager will play a major role in how the Reds perform off the field. We welcome Anthony, Steuart and Garry to the Reds and thank Adrian Thompson, Anthony Herbert, Damian Mednis and Steve Nance for their support and commitment to the QRU over many years.

The future prospects are very encouraging with so many talented young players coming through. Queensland supplied 13 of the 26 players for the Australian squad that played at the U-19 World Cup in South Africa and the same number again for the U-21 World Cup in Scotland. The Reds welcome Daniel Leo (Sunnybank), Caleb Brown (The Southport School), Lloyd Johansson (Breakers), Brock James (Sydney University and Taranaki NPC Player of the Year) and Nic Berry (Sunnybank) to the Reds. We are also excited to welcome back Ben Tune and wish him continued success with the Reds.

The Super 12 is what we all want to win however, and the coaching staff and players are working tirelessly in the off-season to ensure success in 2005. The QRU strategic plan sought to win the Super 12 title at least once by 2005 so the lessons learned in 2004 are expected to deliver improved results in 2005.

The highlight from community rugby is the continued increase in playing numbers, led significantly in the number of junior players. Improving the quality of our competitions is at the forefront of our strategic and operational planning. To our many volunteers who contribute to the quality of the competitions our seniors, juniors and school age players compete in, we thank you for your continued tireless efforts.

Tremendous effort and planning has been undertaken to establish a framework around the structures and placement of rugby competitions both managed by the QRU and those that are run by our various stakeholders. The identification of four levels of competition for rugby in Queensland (Professional, Elite Amateur, Competitive and Foundation) has resulted in a clear delineation in our planning. One of the significant changes is that Telstra Premier Rugby is now a state-wide competition managed by the QRU. Those clubs invited to participate in 2005 will see a new focus that will seek to elevate the prominence of this competition.

The 2004 Premier Rugby competition saw one of the

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT CONTINUED

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most exciting finals series in recent years. Congratulations to the Gold Coast Breakers for their inaugural premiership. They produced a very effective grand final performance against a University team with many of the Reds and Energex Reds Rugby College players.

The Breakers were deserved champions but I am sure the Brisbane clubs will be seeking to have the Hospital’s Cup return to them.

In was another successful year in country rugby, culminating in a thrilling victory by Sunshine Coast over Townsville in an exciting grand final at Noosa.

Both teams are to be congratulated on their performances and the spirit in which the final was played. Congratulations to winning Coach Peter Hanson and commiserations to Terry Shiells.

The Regional Academies continue to prosper, and are now operating in Townsville, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba. Plans are well underway to open more centres in Cairns, Mackay, Gold Coast and Bundaberg.

The Academies success has been reflected in the performance of Regional teams in junior and schools competition, with Townsville winning the schools title at Surfers Paradise earlier in the year. Townsville’s Academy supplied eleven players to the winning team. Our commercial operations in 2004 are highlighted by the excellent performance in staging the match against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium.

The stature of the QRU grew to a new level amongst our many stakeholders including sponsors, members and media. In setting an Australian Super 12 record crowd, we came of age. How can we better this outcome? A Reds team consistently sitting at the top of the Super 12 table is a start. It is exciting that over 4,000 people who attended this match have not been to Ballymore. We look forward to seeing them attend more of our matches.

The QRU is very fortunate to have a fantastic list of sponsors. The longevity of

our partnerships is testament to the relationships we have. To all our sponsors and in particular, David Liddy (Bank of Queensland), Ken Freer (Castlemaine Perkins) and Graeme Dickinson (Canterbury International), we thank you for your continued support.

Amongst the success of our commercial operations we faced some disappointment with the loss of Qantas sponsorship. All three states were led to believe that their airline sponsorship was to be renewed. Sadly, the investment in the three states was directed into the sponsorship of the

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Wallabies. It is disappointing that in our top 20 risks listed in our risk management programme that the increased influence of the ARU is high on this list. The loss of an airline sponsor highlights this increasing risk.

The decision to in-source both sponsorship and memberships is a significant step for the QRU. We thank IMG for their efforts over the last five years. However, we have confidence and belief in not only our ability but the strength of our commercial operations that we can look to grow our business ourselves. We have always believed that additional opportunities exist for community rugby sponsorship. Early indications suggest an increased emphasis in interest from corporations looking for “grass roots” partnerships. This is best illustrated in Telstra’s investment in many areas of community rugby in Queensland.

The 2004 year also saw a review of the ways in which we communicate the business of Queensland Rugby to our many

stakeholders. The performance of the QRU is too often solely judged on the performance of the Reds. While this is a significant measure of our performance, many success stories are not being shared. A position will be created in community rugby that will

involve seeking and sharing the news on rugby throughout Queensland. We thank Peter Kelly for his contribution to the QRU and wish him well with his future career.

The QRU is also excited to have returned to Ballymore. The construction of our new administration building has provided the organisation with a facility that will improve the quality of service for our staff, provide improved facilities for the delivery of education courses to referees, coaches and administrators and exhibit that the QRU is a truly professional operation. A culture of “one organisation” will be enhanced with more direct contact between the Reds and the entire organisation. The QRU is also indebted for the significant contribution by the State Government of $771,253 towards the cost of construction of the new administration facility. This grant represents the continued support of rugby by the Minister of Sport, The Hon. Terry Mackenroth.

2005 AND BEYOND

All businesses face an ever changing environment. However, the next two years will see our sport face new and exciting challenges. In no particular order, the following milestones and events will occur:

- successful renegotiation for the

broadcast rights of SANZAR competitions for a further term;

- finalisation of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Rugby Union Players Association for a further four years;

- finalisation of a draft QRU constitution to be communicated early 2005;

- further scoping of the feasibility of developing Ballymore into an enhanced rugby facility;

- the expansion of SANZAR competitions to Super 14 and three Tri-nations Tests between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It is long overdue that a Bledisloe Cup match be held in Brisbane;

- appropriate investigation of options for the introduction of a tier of rugby between Super 14 and Premier Rugby; and

- the review and updating of the QRU strategic plan. Our current strategic plan is now four years old and as the rugby landscape is changing, we need to revisit the shaping of our future.

I wish to thank the Board for its support and hard work in 2004. As you will see from the Directors’ Report in the audited financial statements, the combination of board and committee meetings requires a significant amount of time and effort on the part of our Directors. Accepting the role of a QRU Director is no small feat.

Finally, I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous effort by the management and staff of the QRU. The 2004 has been a tough but rewarding one for the staff. I have spoken of their passion and dedication on many occasions. The continued success of Queensland Rugby is a result of these qualities.

It is the ethos of rugby that makes our sport unique. It is time to tell everyone to get into rugby.

Theo Psaros

Chief Executive Officer

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PRINCIPAL NAMING RIGHTS Bank of Queensland ELITE SPONSORS Castlemaine Perkins Canterbury International MAJOR SPONSORS Bartercard Mazda Telstra Coca Cola Energex Landmark Qantas SPONSOR Bundaberg Rum Falken Tyres AACO Gilbert Footballs Clayton Utz Yellow Cabs Bentley’s MRI Macair

Total Sports Travel Konica Minolta Sheraton

Adrenalin Sports Bar PREFERRED SUPPLIERS Sirromet

Sony Australia Silver Fern Australia 4 n 20 pies Alphasport Musashi

Queensland Diagnostic Imaging Beiersdorf MEDIA PARTNERS The Australian Channel Seven Seven Queensland Triple M QUEENSLAND R UGBY ANNU AL REPOR T 2003 – 2004

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09 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Left to Right:Robin Thomson, Theo Psaros, Ben Kehoe, Paul McLean, David Crombie, Ross Williams, Peter Moore, David Usasz, David Croft, Megan Snape (Company Secretary)

Entrance to the new

administration building at Ballymore Dick Marks

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Queensland Rugby's financial accounts report an excellent profit for the 2004 year of $1,337,096.

It should be noted however that this includes a $771,253 grant received from Sport & Recreation Queensland for the construction of a new Administration Building at Ballymore and $250,000 compensation received from Australian Rugby Union when Rugby World Cup games were transferred from Ballymore.

Our normal result after the two extraordinary items is a trading profit of $315,843, compared to $182,802 in 2004.

The budget for the year was $98,000, based on all games being played at Ballymore. The relocation of the Reds V Waratahs match enabled us to redress lower than anticipated season corporate sales and improve the commercial viability of the business.

There was a rise in sponsorship income, primarily due to increase contra support from media partners for promotion of the relocated match. The profit and loss

shows a corresponding rise in servicing and promotional expenses.

Last year I advised that the hospitality events held in conjunction with the Rugby World Cup fell into the 2004 financial year. These functions were extremely successful and contributed $70,000 to the revenue.

With operations being similar to 2003 most balance sheet items, including receivables and payables remain steady.

There is a considerable increase in the amount owing on interest bearing liabilities. This is a result of the cash funds being used in the construction of the new Administration building at Ballymore. Construction started mid January 2004 with staff moving in at the end of September 2004.No further funding is required to complete the project.

The 2005 budget has been approved by our board on the assumption that no matches are relocated to Suncorp Stadium. With no special events or grants, only five Super 12 games and one tour match in the season membership package shall continue to give our commercial department their greatest challenge.

I must complement our Chief Executive Officer Mr Theo Psaros and the Finance & Administration Manager Miss Megan Snape on their excellent commercial and financial stewardship over the 2004 financial year. David Usasz Treasurer QUEENSLAND R UGBY ANNU AL REPOR T 2003 – 2004

FINANCE REPORT

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David Usasz Josh Valentine

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2004 Queensland Rugby Union Staf

f on the deck of the new administration building at Ballymor

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The 2004 year has seen many plans coming to fruition in a bid to keep Queensland Rugby at the forefront of managing its commercial business. Many of the changes have been a long time in planning with the full benefits to be delivered in the coming years. The highlights of these changes are:

1. Relocation of a game away from Ballymore, realising the first Bank of Queensland Reds match at the redeveloped Suncorp Stadium drawing an Australian record Super 12 crowd of 42,237.

2. Queensland Rugby to in-source its own sponsorship acquisition and management, ending a five year relationship with IMG. The goal is to focus on delivering better sponsorship servicing via our own Queensland Rugby sponsorship staff.

3. Queensland Rugby to in-source Reds membership management in conjunction with a software program provided by Ticketmaster7. Reds members will now deal directly with QRU staff rather than ticketing agents in Sydney.

As in past years the commercial income focused on sponsorship and match day profits while a third area, licensing, continues to be an area of opportunity for development.

The highlight for the commercial department in 2004 was undoubtedly the success of the marketing campaign and resulting financial upside of relocating our Waratahs match.

HIGHLIGHT OF 2004

With the 2004 Bank of Queensland Reds average home crowd figure approaching 16,000 people, a 52,000 seat Suncorp Stadium to fill and an Australian Super 12 crowd record to break, a novel approach was taken to marketing this match.

Lets get REDDY TO RUMBLE was a fully integrated marketing campaign targeted at One-eyed

Queenslanders and the Entertainment seeker segment looking for the ‘hot’ ticket in town.

A success in itself was the -Get Reddy to Rumble-postcard mailed to 30,000 rugby centric

Queenslanders offering the chance to WIN the match balland a half Reds/ half Waratahs’ jerseysigned by both captains and coaches of the teams. Between our members and this mail out nearly 30,000 seats were sold before any other marketing activity had begun.

Queensland Rugby is indebted to the following companies for the significant corporate support during this marketing campaign - Bank of Queensland, XXXX, Bartercard, Coca Cola, Mazda, Energex, Channel 7, Triple M, Falken Tyres, The Australian, The Queensland Government and Ogden Stadium management.

SPONSORSHIP

In 2004 the Bank of Queensland and Queensland Rugby proved the value of our 20 year relationship by winning the prestigious 2004 Australian Financial Review National Corporate Partnership Award!

COMMERCIAL REPORT

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David Liddy, Elton Flatley and Theo Psaros with the 2004 Australian Financial Review National Corporate Partnership Award Tony Hancock

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This followed the receipt of the Financial Review’s Major Award in the Sport and Athlete business category. A feat

underlined by the quality of the opposition in IBM’s association with the Australian Open Tennis Tournament and Telstra’s partnership with Australian Surf Life Saving.

Our current elite sponsors, Castlemaine Perkins and Canterbury International are mid term in their current contracts, extending their relationships to 23 years and 8 years respectively. Queensland Rugby thanks them for their continued support in 2004.

Queensland Rugby is very pleased to welcome Telstra, The Australian, Bentleys MRI Chartered Accountants, Australian Agricultural Company, Total Sports Travel, Macair, Queensland Diagnostic Imaging and Konica Minolta as new sponsors in 2004.

Overall 2004 gross sponsorship income grew 12% from 2003 to $4,385,000, being over $3 million in cash while contra payments made up just over $1 million. A major component of this increase was realised through generous contra media from Channel Seven, Triple M and The Australian, which was delivered in promoting the Waratahs match.

Queensland Rugby’s strategy for sponsorships moving forward will be to increase the overall net sponsorship income while not necessarily increasing the number of sponsors. The overall growth in the equity around Rugby is helping this cause, while careful packaging of opportunities together is realising the goal of larger sponsorships which cover more properties that in the past may have been sold separately to a number of sponsors.

MATCH INCOME

Income from our home match activity had a mixed season, with memberships and individual game sales showing massive growth of 54% due to the success of the Waratahs match at Suncorp Stadium. This figure is offset by the increased cost in hosting matches at Suncorp Stadium which

influenced the commercial expenditure increase of 25% over the previous year. Overall a very positive result which highlights the opportunity if larger crowds can be achieved to minimise the additional costs associated with the stadium hire.

Sales of corporate facilities were down in 2004 after the high levels of occupancy with the World Cup. Indications were that many businesses opted not to renew Super 12 facilities after the World Cup year, either for financial reasons or because they utilised the Super 12 as an avenue towards gaining World Cup access.

A summary of the match attendance statistics is provided here.

2004 ATTENDANCE SUMMARY Reds Memberships and

Attendance Comparisons 1996-2004 In general the 2004 season offered a reality check for Queensland Rugby in terms of

attendances and membership comparisons against the considerable growth

experienced in 2003.

Clearly the Rugby World Cup had a major impact on membership and attendance figures in 2003, giving Queensland Rugby a slightly inflated position on the ‘health’ of Rugby at the provincial level. This said, the drain of money from the economy in 2003 was always going to be difficult to counter and the position will be much brighter again in 2005.

The graph below highlights the growth and decline in the number of clients and memberships across the past six seasons.

A clientis the actual account holder

purchasing a season ticket. A client may buy a multiple number of tickets.

A membership equates to a single seat or general admission ticket. In 2004 each client purchased on average 2.3

QUEENSLAND R UGBY ANNU AL REPOR T 2003 – 2004 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Number Clients/Reds Memberships Clients Memberships

Reds Ballymore Crowd Comparison 1996-2004

-5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 Chi efs Cru sade rs Blu es Sto rmer s Bulls War atah s

Six Super 12 Team Programme

At tendance 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

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Memberships (or tickets) where as in 2003 each client purchased on average 1.7 tickets submitting more names and therefore more chances in the Rugby World Cup ticket ballot.

The graph (on the previous page) summarises the comparison of attendance for the teams that the Reds play in the six match Super 12 programme.

• The Stormersmatch in 2004 was

played on Easter Saturday which had a negative impact on the crowd figure and

The Bullsmatch was played on a very

wet Friday night after the Reds had posted a 2 win – 6 loss record.

• An extra 20,000 people exercised their opportunity to attend the QLD V NSW match with the change in venue.

From a very positive perspective the QLD V NSW match highlights the potential for rugby at the provincial level, breaking the Australian Super 12 attendance record by posting an attendance of 42,237. The success of this match offers many opportunities to continue the growth of rugby at this Super 12 level.

LICENSING

Sales of licensed products and services continued a steady increase from the previous years with a further growth over 2003 income of 16% to reach over $325,000. Further development in licensing is required to broaden the product base and 2005 should see a steadying in growth as more opportunities are investigated.

The Bank of Queensland’s contribution to Queensland Rugby extends into the licensing area, with significant royalties generated by the Bank of Queensland Reds Credit Card. Average monthly royalties have now reached in excess of $14,000 per month and new initiatives are being investigated to grow this further.

Sales of Canterbury International product also continue to offer significant royalty payments to the business. In 2004 Canterbury International launched the Cotton Oxford second tier range which offers a cheaper range of Reds product. Plans in 2005 include offering the latest in kids wear and expanding from the Reds brand into other “Rugby” orientated pieces.

Australian Rugby continued to play its part in the growth of Queensland Rugby’s licensing program, assisting with the acquisition of new licensees and the leverage of sales through their significant network of aligned stores.

Research is underway into the relaunch of the Ballymore brand in 2005. Queensland Rugby recognises the value in this ‘international brand’ and will investigate all potential license opportunities. Together a dedicated QRU Rugby Services department may be an option to support the sales of licensed product to the wider Queensland Rugby community.

While much has been achieved, the Commercial Department now faces a testing year.

With more commercial areas now being handled internally we are truly taking Queensland rugby’s future into our own hands. It is up to us to deliver the financial gains that will help further grow the sport in this State.

Tony Hancock Commercial Manager

COMMERCIAL REPORT CONTINUED

14

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15 COMMUNICATIONS REPORT

Media coverage of Queensland Rugby reached an all-time high in 2004.

During the Super 12 season, the Bank of Queensland Reds team held a minimum of four media conferences per week, which were well attended by television, print and radio reporters and ensured regular and widespread coverage of the team.

Channels Ten, Nine, Seven, ABC and Fox Sports provided regular TV coverage, while Reds news appeared in the Courier Mail, The Australian, Sunday Mail, Gold Coast Bulletin, Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph, as well as a host of regional and international newspapers and websites.

In addition to the usual daily news items, players also made regular appearances on specific radio shows. Captain Elton Flatley, fullback Chris Latham and coach Jeff Miller were weekly guests on ABC 612, Triple M and 4BC respectively, while River FM featured a different Reds player each Saturday morning. Winger Peter Hynes had a weekly spot on Townsville radio. Wendell Sailor contributed a weekly column with the Courier Mail and also a weekly slot on Channel Seven news.

To ensure maximum publicity and to go that little bit further than our competitors from other codes, Reds players are always accessible to the media, and we steer clear of “nominated players only” press opportunities. All players are always available for interview, reporters are welcome in the Reds dressing room after the match and players remain very aware of their responsibilities to our sponsors.

The Reds profile was raised in “non-rugby”

publications as well. Elton & Kahli Flatley and Wendell & Tara Sailor were featured in a glossy colour-page spread in the Australian Women’s Weekly magazine, while Julian Huxley and David Croft appeared in a photo-shoot in Ralph Magazine. Players were also seen to be doing their bit for the community, backing many charities including the Leukaemia Foundation, CAPS Suicide Prevention and the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital, all of which garnered media coverage.

Motoring, Home, Travel and Finance sections of newspapers were also targeted to widen the appeal of Reds players.

With five matches away from home, freelance cameramen were hired in New Zealand and South Africa to ensure the Reds stayed in the media spotlight and this resulted in widespread coverage back on Australian television.

The Reds electronic newsletter ‘Reds Flash’ was mailed weekly throughout the season, providing more than 3000 readers with the latest news from inside the team. The Reds website www.qru.com.au was revamped and provides daily updates, features and profiles.

A new Communications Strategy has been devised for 2005 which will concentrate on promoting the excellent work of Queensland Rugby in the community and not just that of the Reds.

Bruce McKendry

Queensland Rugby Media Manager

Bruce McKendry

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17 COMMUNITY RUGBY

2004 has again seen continued strong growth in participation numbers in Queensland.

While final figures are yet to be audited current results would indicate that over 43,000 people played in Queensland this year. This pleasing result does not include players who play in one-off competitions which make up a large proportion of the national total.

These were players who trained and played in regular competitive seasons conducted over more than five weeks.

Participation Overview

Brisbane Country Total

Juniors 6,508 5,704 12,212

Schools 13,288 8,746 22,034

Seniors 4,043 5,482 9,525

Total 23,839 19,932 43,771

To make a comparison NSW recorded 56,782 regular players in 2003 when one-off participation was removed. This would indicate that Queensland is closing the gap in its desire to become the major participating union in Australia.

Queensland Rugby’s strong investment in development through its staffing and grant structure is the envy of Australian Rugby and the dedication of the staffs; both QRU and affiliate employees, involved in achieving this result, should be noted.

While staffing, programs and funding are integral to this growth, the solid buy in from volunteers across the state has been the essential ingredient which has seen the establishment of new clubs and competitions become a habit in regions from Cairns to the Gold Coast.

Eighty-nine volunteers were recognised for outstanding contributions in 2004 at functions around the state. Twelve regional winners were selected to attend next year’s Test match as guests of the QRU and ARU.

Significantly it has been those elements that occur in support of the playing of the game that have gained significant attention in 2004. These areas have not only seen major achievements but will most likely provide the greatest long term benefits to the Community Game in this state.

The sustainability and viability of the clubs,

associations, sub-unions and schools that provide the game has been a major area of focus during 2004, and will continue to be so in the future. This started

with the appointment of an Administration Education Manager and concluded with the most thorough appraisal process for the affiliates ever to take place in the history of the Union. Major achievements in this area have included:

• Development of a standard Financial Management Package in conjunction with QUT.

• Standardisation of the management of the game through standard processes for competition rules, judiciary, appeals and code of conduct.

• The commencement of a state wide facility audit and the development of a State Facility Plan.

• Performance management of government, 3rd sector and philanthropic grants through a progressive system of Key Performance Indicators.

• The attendance of over 1300 volunteers at free seminars in major regional centres on coaching, refereeing and administration.

There is still much that can be achieved in this area and ultimately the collective worth of that which is Queensland Community Rugby will be measured by performance in these areas rather than what occurs on the playing field.

This is not to say that the quality and standard of the game in Queensland is not a concern. Significant changes have been made in the later part of 2004 to ensure that the structure of competitions in Queensland are enhanced, providing for better integration and higher profile for all participants. These include:

• The elevation of Telstra Premier Rugby to a single grade state competition.

• Commencement of the incorporation of the Queensland Country and Brisbane Unions.

• The development of integrated championship structures for equivalent regional competitions as with the Telstra Ballymore Cup. This competition merged regional winners of open schools’ competitions from across the state in a Super 8 finals series which was eventually won by St Francis College.

Steps have also been taken to make it easier for coaches and referees to improve themselves while still guaranteeing a base level of competency and quality. From 2005 all coaches and referees will be have a mandatory requirement to attend a SmartRugby session. This is an increase in compliance however the

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COMMUNITY RUGBY CONTINUED

18

2 & 1/2hours required with no formal assessment is a significant reduction from the 40 plus hours required to obtain a Level 1 accreditation.

For coaches and referees wanting to be accredited a new system of assessment will mean that attendance at a course in not mandatory. These changes will be explained through a communication program but the QRU is confident that they will go a long way towards better serving the needs of the volunteers while decreasing the financial and time impositions of the old system.

The broadening of both our programs and achievements in better targeting all three strategic goals for Community Rugby has made it apparent that there is a great story to be told about what happens below the level of the Reds and Wallabies in this state.

I would encourage stakeholders in the game in Queensland to familiarise themselves with the summary pages of the three strategic goals of Community Rugby scoped for the next three years. The achievements of 2004 will place us in a strong position to improve over those years.

External benefits such as the RWC strategic funding programs from the ARU will complement our strategies. Building a stronger base of participants, volunteers and clubs relies on the unity of purpose of all parties and the efficiencies that result.

Gaven Head

Community Rugby Manager

Current Position 2007 Performance

Players Website12,000 Juniors Players 14,000 Juniors

20,000 Schools 21,500 Schools

9,500 Seniors 10,500 Seniors

Providers 87 Junior Clubs Providers 94 Junior Clubs

245 Schools 255 Schools

110 Senior Clubs 110 Senior Clubs

Coaches 0 SmartRugby Coaches 3000 SmartRugby

Referees 0 SmartRugby Referees 3000 SmartRugby

STRATEGIC GOAL 1

To grow the quantity of participants within Community Rugby

Key Result Areas • Quantity of Players

• Quantity of Providers (Clubs/Schools) • Quantity of Coaches

• Quantity of Referees

Programs

Regional Development Officer Grant Program Regional Competition Development Funding Invasion Games Program (IGP)

Try Rugby

QJRU Partnership Agreement Satellite Club Program Demographic Mapping SmartRugby

Coach/Referee Data Management Coach/Referee Communication Plan Adopt-a-Red School Program EdRugby (curriculum/membership)

Reds Rugby Shield (school involvement recognition) Women in Rugby Program

Indigenous Sport Program (ISP) Junior Sign On

Website

Communication Plan Strategies

A. Manage a targeted grant funding scheme to support the growth of the game.

B. Manage a geo-demographic targeted sampling program.

C. Undertake a coordinated and targeted new club program with Junior unions.

D. Establish a minimum required risk management induction program for coaches and referees.

E. Establish and manage programs that engage the broader community and its institutions in Rugby.

F. Establish and manage targeted programs for under-represented minorities in the Rugby community.

G.Engage the broader community to encourage participation in Rugby Union.

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REDS IN THE

COMMUNITY

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COMMUNITY RUGBY CONTINUED

20

To increase the quality of participation experiences available within Community Rugby

Key Result Areas

• Quality of Competition Management • Integration of Competition Levels • Quality of Coaches • Quality of Referees

Current Position

Competition Management

Model Competition Rules in all affiliate member senior competitions

Standard Judiciary & Appeals procedures in all affiliate member senior competitions

Mandatory online registration and insurance system in all Partner Junior and Senior club competitions

Integrated Competitions

Inter-regional Representative Rugby for schools, Junior, players and Senior players in Queensland Country Inter-regional school championship (i.e. Ballymore Cup) Quality of Coaches 1382 Level 1 Coaches 299 Level 2 Coaches 55 Level 3 Coaches Quality of Referees 670 Level 1 Referees 56 Level 2 Referees 12 Level 3 Referees 20 Level 1 Referee Coaches

2007 Performance

Competition Management

Model Competition Rules in all Partner and affiliate member competitions

Standard Judiciary & Appeals procedures in all Partner and affiliate member competitions

Mandatory online registration and insurance system in all Partner Junior and Senior club competitions

Integrated Competitions

Inter-regional Representative Rugby for schools, Junior and Senior players

Inter-regional school and Senior club championships Quality of Coaches 1800 Level 1 Coaches 360 Level 2 Coaches 70 Level 3 Coaches Quality of Referees 800 Level 1 Referees 100 Level 2 Referees 18 Level 3 Referees 40 Level 1 Referee Coaches

Strategies

A. Manage a regulated competition sanctioning program that protects the brand of Queensland Rugby.

B. Coordinate all competition so that similar regional competitions can cooperate for integrated and efficient representative options for both participants and providers.

C. Create a specific focus on accreditation of coaches and referees distinct from the delivery of education and training.

D. Establish a quantity outcome based focused program for the process of accrediting coaches and referees

Programs

Partnership Agreement

Competition Sanctioning Workshops Regional Administration Officers Inter-regional Competitions Inter-regional Competition Grants Ballymore Cup (Schools)

State Club Championships (Seniors)

Employment of a State Coach and Referee Education Manager Coach Accreditation

Referee Accreditation

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21

To improve the sustainability and viability of Community Rugby providers

Key Results Area

• Planning • Financial Management

• Facilities • Human Resources

Current Position Planning Nil

There is a small amount of planning but the majority is poorly constructed with little reference and integration to broader state and regional objectives, with very little accountability or review processes

Financial Management

Net Income of Top 20 Partners = $4.586M Average profit of Top 20 Partners = $6k Facilities

No State Facilities Plan No Regional Facilities Plans

$220k annual grant funding in Facilities Development Human Resources

89 nominated for Volunteer Recognition

Approx 1300 attendances at free regional volunteer education seminars.

2007 Performance Planning

All Partners to have submitted current Strategic Templates as provided by the QRU

All Partners to submit current annual Operational Plans, as per the QRU criteria and required KRA inclusions, prior to the

commencement of the QRU Financial Year

All Partners to be able to present an annual cash flow budget Financial Management

Net Income of Top 20 Partners = $4.9M (average 3% annual increase) Average profit of Top 20 Partners = $6.5k (average 3% annual increase) Facilities

Current State Facilities Plan

Current Regional Facilities Plan in all 12 affiliated regions 10% increase in the grant funding for facilities average over

2005-2007 Human Resources

200 nominated for Volunteer Recognition

2000 attendances at free regional volunteer education seminars

Strategies

A. Establish a clearly demonstrated vision for the Queensland Rugby.

B. Engage all Partners in a coordinated planning program.

C. Monitor and mentor all Partners in the management of their finances.

D. Establish and maintain an active and integrated system of facility management.

E. Create an accountable and pro-active culture of enrichment and recognition towards volunteers throughout the state.

Programs

QRU Strategic Plan Partnership Agreement Partnership Agreement Planning Templates Planning Workshops QRU Financial Package Mandatory Audited Accounts Annual Partnership Appraisals Facilities Planning

Government Funding Management Program Volunteer Management Program

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The 2004 Tooheys New Super 12 campaign was a season of intense highs and lows for the Bank of Queensland Reds.

The highs are memorable and suggest a bright future lies ahead for this young team.

The victories over defending champions the Blues (20-3), semi-finalists the Chiefs (39-25) and old foes the NSW Waratahs (23-7) were standout performances. It was the Blues lowest ever score in the nine years of the competition, while the win over NSW was achieved in front of an Australian record crowd for a Super 12 match.

While finishing 10th on the ladder, we won five of our 11 games and should have won more. Our record against the eventual semi-finalists makes interesting analysis. While we were deservedly beaten by the eventual winners the Brumbies, we threw away a 17-6 lead to go down 17-20 to runners-up the Crusaders, we lost 20-21 to the third-placed Stormers and we convincingly defeated the fourth-placed Chiefs.

I can guarantee all our supporters that we will be working extremely hard to turn those narrow defeats into victories in 2005 and with the young talent that we have, I firmly believe that the team has the ability to challenge for the title.

Our coach Jeff Miller is very clear in his thoughts and ambitions for Queensland and is determined to bring success to Ballymore. I would like to thank him and his coaching staff for all their efforts in 2004.

I would like to pay tribute to two players in particular. Chris Latham was deservedly named Australian Super 12 Player of the Year for a record third time in five

years. He was also the runaway winner of the Pilecki Medal as the Reds Player of the Year for the fourth time in six years!

Drew Mitchell is a wonderful young talent who was named Australian Super 12 Rookie of the Year for 2004. I congratulate them both.

On a personal note, I was thrilled and honoured to win my 100th Queensland cap against the Sharks in Durban in April. It means a great deal to me to play for the Reds and I hope I have many more years ahead of me.

The lows of the season came off the pitch and put rugby into perspective. The tragic death of team-mate Michael Tabrett in December affected everyone deeply and he is still sorely missed. In January, Fletcher Dyson broke his neck in a freak training accident and was forced to retire from the game.

It was a trying year for everyone at the Reds and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has stood by us with unwavering support.

The players are extremely appreciative of your backing and we pledge to do everything possible to deliver success for you in 2005. We have a good mixture of seasoned Wallabies and new, young and exciting talent and I believe that the future for Queensland Rugby is extremely bright.

Thanks again for your support

Elton Flatley

Bank of Queensland Reds Captain

REDS SUMMARY

22

Played Won Draw Lost For Against B1 B2 Points

Brumbies 11 8 0 3 408 269 8 0 40 Crusaders 11 7 0 4 345 303 5 1 34 Stormers 11 7 0 4 286 260 4 1 33 Chiefs 11 7 0 4 274 251 3 2 33 Blues 11 6 1 4 337 309 4 1 32 Bulls 11 5 1 5 302 320 4 2 28 Sharks 11 5 0 6 267 305 4 4 28 Waratahs 11 5 0 6 342 274 4 3 27 Highlanders 11 4 0 6 299 347 5 3 26 Reds 11 5 0 6 217 246 2 3 25 Hurricanes 11 4 1 6 275 303 4 1 23 Cats 11 1 0 9 294 459 4 3 12

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2004 BANK OF QLD REDS

Back Row

Drew Mitchell, Damien Hoo, David Croft, Junior Pelesasa, Steve Kefu, T

im Atkinson, Josh V

alentine

Thir

d Row

Rodney Blake, Julian Huxley

, John Roe, Chris Latham, Josh Graham, T

om McV

erry

, Sean Hardman, Anthony Mathison

Second Row

Damian Mednis (strength & conditioning coach), W

endell Sailor

, V

an Humphries, Adam W

allace-Harrison, Daniel Heenan,

Nathan Sharpe, Luke Doherty

, Scott Barton, Stephen Moore, Pete Niumata, Anthony Herbert (manager)

Fr

ont Row

Adrian Thompson (assistant coach), Elton Flatley (captain), T

ai McIsaac, Fletcher Dyson, Jef

f Miller (coach),

Angus Scott, Peter Hynes, Nick Stiles, Rudi V

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REDS STATISTICS

24

Atkinson, Tim 20 ® 20 ® 20 ® 12 20 ® 20 ® 20 ® 9 22 ® 20 ® 20 ® Barton, Scott 13 22 ® 21 ® Berry, Nic Croft, David 24 ® 7 7 1t 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 Doherty, Luke 8 6 6 19 ® 19 ® 19 ® 19 ® 19 ® 19 ® 19 ® 6 Dyson, Fletcher 3 3 Feather, Todd 25 ® 23 ® 1c 21 dnp 21® 1t,1c 21® 21® 1p Flatley, Elton 12 12 10 6c 10 1p 10 3c,2p 10 2c,1p 10 Hardman, Sean 2 16 ® 16 ® 1t 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Heenan, Daniel 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Hoo, Damian 23 ® 20 dnp 20 dnp Humphries, Van 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Huxley, Julian 10 10 Hynes, Peter 11 11 11 2t 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1t 11 1t Johansson, Lloyd Kefu, Steve 21 ® 21 ® 12 12 2t 12 1t 12 1c 12 12 12 12 1t Latham, Chris 15 15 15 2t 15 15 1t 15 15 2t 15 15 15 15 Leo, Daniel 26 ® Lyons, Chris Mathison, Anthony 17 ® 18 ® 17 ® 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 McIsaac, Tai 2 2 2 16® 16 ® 16 ® 16 dnp 16 dnp McVerry, Tom 7 25 ® 24 ® 19 ® Mitchell, Drew 14 23 ® 22 ® 22 ® 22 ® 22 ® 22 ® 22 ® 1t 14 13 1t 13 Moore, Stephen 16 ® 16 ® 16 dnp 16 ® Niumata, Peter 27 ® 17 ® 17 ® 17 ® Pelesasa, Junior 13 13 1t 13 13 13 13 13 13 1t 22 ® 22 dnp Roe, John 19 ® 8 8 8 8 8 1t 8 8 8 1t 8 8 Sailor, Wendell 22 ® 14 14 14 14 1t 14 14 1t 14 14 1t 14 1t Scott, Angus 3 18 ® 3 17 ® 17 ® 17 ® 17 ® 17 ® 17 ® Sharpe, Nathan 18 ® 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Stiles, Nick 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Valentine, Josh 9 9 9 1t 9 9 9 9 20 ® 9 9 9 Vedelago, Rudi 4 19 ® 19 ® 18 ® 18 ® 18 ® 18 dnp 18 ® 18 dnp 18 dnp 18 ® Wallace-Harrison, A 5 24 ® Walsh, Tim 10 1p 10 1c 10 1c,1p 21 ® Williams, Nathan 21 ® 21 dnp 21 dnp 10 1c Collis, David Gabbett, Brendan Hilton, Zane Kefu, Mafi Milroy, Marshall Mowen, Ben Murphy, Darren Sauer, Anthony Stains, Nathan Te Moana, David

COMPETITION NOT NOT NOT S12 S12 S12 S12 S12 S12 S12 S12 CAPPED CAPPED CAPPED

DATE 1/31/04 2/7/04 2/12/04 2/20/04 2/28/04 3/6/04 3/13/04 3/28/04 4/3/04 4/10/04 4/16/04 VENUE Ballymore Ballymore Timaru Invercargill Ballymore Ballymore Ballymore Canberra Wellington Ballymore Ballymore OPPONENTS Brumbies Blues Crusaders Highlandrs Chiefs Crusaders Blues Brumbies Hurricanes Stormers Bulls SCORE W33-21 L8-23 W54-38 L8-39 W39-25 L17-20 W20-3 L8-51 L12-29 L20-21 L17-23

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25

20 dnp 20 ® 20 ® 12 10 16 0 5 10 14 0 0 11 1t 1 7 5 15 0 0 0 0 20 ® 9 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 ® 7 1t 7 7 7 12 58 5 15 11 44 5 5 6 6 6 8 8 12 15 0 0 11 13 0 0 0 49 0 15 0 40 0 5 3 3 10 10 3 3 10 10 10 2p 10 4c,3p 10 2c,3p 10 2c 8 103 62 577 7 76 58 531 2 2 1t 2 2 12 71 10 10 11 51 10 10 7 19 0 10 7 16 0 5 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 4 4 4 4 12 13 0 0 11 11 0 0 0 14 0 55 0 10 0 1 11 11 11 1t 11 1t 11 18 15 15 11 16 15 15 22 ® 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 12 12 10 58 22 47 10 43 22 47 15 15 1t 15 15 2t 12 92 30 250 11 74 20 170 18 ® 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 ® 1c 1 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 11 16 0 0 10 11 0 0 16 ® 16 ® 16 ® 16 ® 1t 2 9 21 5 10 8 16 0 0 7 19 ® 19 ® 4 15 0 5 4 8 0 0 13 13 13 13 1t 12 12 15 15 11 11 10 10 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 17 ® 17 ® 3 4 0 0 3 4 0 0 22 ® 22 ® 22 ® 12 13 2t 11 30 5 30 10 23 5 30 8 8 2t 8 6 12 59 20 60 11 42 20 40 14 14 14 14 2t 11 36 30 65 10 33 20 50 3 17 ® 17 ® 10 10 0 0 9 9 0 0 5 5 1t 5 11 76 5 25 10 60 5 25 1 1 1 1 1 12 81 0 25 11 57 0 25 9 9 1t 9 9 12 25 5 15 11 22 5 15 5 18 ® 18 ® 5 8 19 0 10 8 14 0 5 18 dnp 19 ® 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 10 10 4 4 10 10 21 dnp 21 ® 21 ® 4 46 2 47 4 31 2 23 20 ® 21 ® 16 ® 10 1t 15 3c&1p 19 ® 18 14 22 ® 17 ®

S12 S12 S12 TOUR NOT QLD TOTAL QLD TOTAL REDS TOTAL REDS TOTAL MATCH CAPPED GAMES QLD POINTS QLD S12 REDS S12 REDS 4/24/04 5/1/04 5/8/04 5/29/04 6/20/04 IN 2004 CAPS IN 2004 POINTS GAMES S12 POINTS S12 Durban Bloemfntn Brisbane Ballymore Ballymore IN 2004 GAMES IN 2004 POINTS

Sharks Cats NSW Scotland PIRA W6-5 W47-23 W23-7 W41-5 L29-48

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• Elton Flatley became the youngest man to play 100 games for Queensland when he took the field against the Sharks in Durban, aged 26 years & 351 days.

• Steve Kefu & John Roe played their 50th games for Queensland against the Crusaders at Ballymore.

• David Croft played his 50th game for Queensland against the Blues at Ballymore.

• Chris Latham scored his 50th try for Queensland in his 92nd game against Scotland.

• Chris Latham was named Australian Super 12 Player of the Year for a record third time.

• Chris Latham won the Pilecki Medal as the Reds Player of the Year for a record fourth time.

• Chris Latham played his 50th test for the Wallabies.

• Drew Mitchell was named joint-winner of the Australian Super 12 Rookie of the Year Award.

• Nathan Sharpe captained the Wallabies against the All Blacks in Wellington.

• Nathan Sharpe, John Roe, Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor represented the Wallabies in the Tri-Nations and Bundaberg Rum Series.

• Elton Flatley, Drew Mitchell, Latham, Sailor & Roe were named in the Wallabies squad to tour Europe.

• Anthony Mathison, Josh Valentine & Stephen Moore were named in the Australian A squad.

• Drew Mitchell captained the Australian team at the U-21 World Cup.

• Nick Stiles is the only Red to have played in every game for the past five seasons – 79 consecutive matches.

• Six players made their Queensland debuts – Nic Berry, Todd Feather, Lloyd Johansson, Drew Mitchell, Angus Scott & Tim Walsh.

QUEENSLAND R

UGBY

ANNU

AL REPOR

T 2003 – 2004

REDS HONOUR BOARD 2004

26

Nathan Sharpe Captain of the Wallabies Chris Latham S12 Player of the Year again!

PLAYER SCOT 1 SCOT 2 ENG PIRA NZ 1 SA 1 NZ 2 SA 2 SCOT 3 FRA

Chris Latham FB ® FB ® FB ® FB ® FB FB 1t FB FB FB John Roe 23 dnp 23dnp F ® 23dnp 23dnp F ® No8 ® No8 ® No8 No8 Wendell Sailor W 1t W 1t W ® W dnp W ® W ® W ® W ® Nathan Sharpe L vc L vc L vc L vc L Capt L vc L vc L vc

Elton Flatley FH ® FH ®1C

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REDS FAREWELL

The Reds bid farewell to three members of the coaching and management staff at the end of the 2004 season.

Coaching-coordinator Adrian Thompson departed after four seasons as Reds number two, during which he worked closely alongside three different coaches.

Team manager Anthony Herbert departed after four years in that demanding and challenging role, while Strength and Fitness coach Damian Mednis also moved on after seven years at Ballymore.

Queensland Rugby would like to thank all three men for their efforts on behalf of the Reds.

FLETCHER DYSON

The Bank of Queensland Reds said farewell to prop Fletcher Dyson in 2004.

Dyson’s career was cut short when he suffered a serious neck injury while preparing to win his 50th cap against the Highlanders in New Zealand.

A cornerstone of the Queensland pack for four years, Fletcher also won 10 caps for the Wallabies and played in every Test of the successful 2000 season that reaped a maiden Tri-Nations title.

Fletcher has remained with Queensland Rugby and has taken up a role as sales executive.

27

David Croft on the rampage V New South Wales

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In 2004 the Energex Reds Rugby College entered its seventh year of operation and delivered arguably it most rewarding season.

The ERRC is a section of the Queensland Rugby Union High Performance Department. The programs and teams now associated with the college allow it to challenge the players in all areas of their development.

In 2004 Energex Reds Rugby College Scholarship graduates Drew Mitchell and Mark Chisholm followed in the footsteps of Daniel Heenan, John Roe, Nick Stiles, Steve Kefu, Sean Hardman and David Croft with their selection on the Wallaby spring tour.

Scholarship holders Daniel Leo and Lloyd Johansson were offered Super 12 contracts with the Bank of Queensland Reds, joining 15 other players who have moved through into the Reds since the opening of the ERRC in 1998.

The Energex Reds Rugby College presents two awards each year to its outstanding scholarship holders and in 2004 they were:

Scholarship Holder of the Year: Mitchell Chapman

Rookie of the Year: James Horwill

PROGRAMS

High Performance Unit:

In 2004 the ARU contracted 3 players in Queensland on HPU contracts:

Richard Brown (Wests), Hugh McMineman (Wests), Gene Fairbanks (Easts)

Paul Carozza and Dean Benton were employed to deliver the Rugby and S&C program respectively.

Highlights for 2004 were:

Australian 7’s – Richard Brown, Gene Fairbanks Australian U21’s – Richard Brown

A Squad

In 2004, 15 Athletes completed their Scholarships with the Energex Reds Rugby College.

They were Herman Hunt (University), Greg Holmes (Sunnybank), Ole Avei (Sunnybank), Daniel Leo (Sunnybank), Mitchell Chapman (University), Ben Mowen (Easts), Josh Fuiamono (Gold Coast), Nic Berry (Sunnybank), Todd Feather (Easts), Chris Lyons (University), Lloyd Johansson (Gold Coast), Andrew Brown (University), Josh Graham (University), Anton LaVin (Gold Coast), Digby Ioane (Sunnybank)

Australian 7’s – Ben Mowen, Josh Fuimaono, Andrew Brown

Australian U21’s – Herman Hunt, Greg Holmes, Ole Avei, Mitchell Chapman, Josh Fuiamono, Chris Lyons, Josh Graham, Digby Ioane

Australian U19’s – Digby Ioane, Lloyd Johansson Reds – Daniel Leo, Todd Feather, Lloyd Johansson

Sean Hedger and Phil Mooney delivered Rugby Skills during the season to all Scholarship holders.

Tony Wilson delivered all strength and conditioning

Miranda Banks is employed by RUPA to assist all scholarship holders with the personal and professional development. All players underwent ACE Player Interviews, to discuss Career and Personal Development issues. From these interviews individual vocational plans were developed for each scholarship holder.

Workshops were conducted in Nutrition, Careers, Player Management, players and the law, men and sexual health, media training, drugs in sport and Public Speaking.

Employment opportunities were found for Scholarship holders with a number of Sponsors and members of the Rugby Community giving players the ability to achieve their potential on and off the Rugby field.

Rookie

24 Players completed the 2004 Rookie Program

Greg Small (University), Sio Kite (Easts), Chris Leeds (Wests), Geoff Abrams (Wests), Sean Fell (Easts), James Horwill (University), William Munsie (Gold Coast), Pat O’Conner (GPS), Andrew Gray (Wests), Tom Hockings (University), Ryan Newman (Gold Coast), Chris Hanley (Easts), Martin Perkins (GPS), Dominic Fuller (Easts), David Lucas (Easts), Lachlan Morgan (Easts), Sean Boyd (Wests), Scott Daruda (Brothers), Matt Brandon (Easts), Sam Hannat (Sunnybank),Sam Sataui (Easts), Liam Bibo (Souths), Tajohn Mailata (Brothers), Ben Windsor (Gold Coast)

Australian U19 – Jeff Abram, Sean Fell, James Horwill, Dominic Fuller, Scott Daruda, Matt Brandon, Sam Sataui, Tajohn Mailata, Martin Perkins

Phil Mooney delivered Rugby Skills during the season to all Scholarship holders.

Tony Wilson delivered all strength and conditioning

Miranda Banks facilitated workshops in Nutrition, Careers, and drugs in sport and was supported by Emma Kate Muir

QUEENSLAND R

UGBY

ANNU

AL REPOR

T 2003 – 2004