Wallabies star James O’Connor has been relieved of the Queensland Reds captaincy after finding himself “cooked” by the end of last year’s Super Rugby season.
Flyhalf O’Connor was co-captain of the Reds in 2021 with Liam Wright, and led the team by himself for several weeks when Wright was sidelined with a long-term ankle injury.
But while flanker Wright’s remains one of two Queensland skippers, O’Connor has been replaced as co-captain by halfback Tate McDermott despite having led the Reds to last year’s Super Rugby AU title.
Reds coach Brad Thorn said 31-year-old O’Connor did a “fantastic job” last season.
“(But) just driving the team as a five-eighth and also leading the team in every other area, by the end of it, he was pretty cooked,” Thorn said.
“He said so himself, so it’s taken that load off him. Other guys have been putting their hands up across the team
“James has got a massive role as a 10 (flyhalf) for us. As a game leader, he’ll be having leadership in the game.
“I’m sure he’ll be talking to ‘Tatey’ and Liam … it doesn’t change too much.”
McDermott, 23, said O’Connor had been “awesome”.
|All of I’ve got to do is pick up where James left off,” the Reds and Wallabies halfback said.
“I owe a lot to James in the space we’re in now … he’ll keep supporting me through it.”
Thorn described McDermott as a “quintessential Queenslander” and expected him to thrive in the co-captaincy role.
“He’s just an honest guy, he works hard … all things that we like here at the Queensland Reds,” Thorn said.
“He’s got a humility about him but also a belief, he’s about striving for excellence in what he does, and probably the big one is he cares.
“He cares about his mates, he cares about what we’re trying to achieve here, he cares about who he represents, and it’s been from day one that I’ve talked about that.
“He epitomises that and this is a really cool moment for him and his family.|”
McDermott said he and his family would “forever treasure” his leadership appointment.
“It is a tremendous honour … to be etched into the fabric of Queensland rugby, in company with many former great captains of the game,” the Sunshine Coast product said.
“Our job now turns to unleashing the untapped potential within our side.”
Thexjmtzyw Reds start their Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Melbourne Rebels at Suncorp Stadium on February 19.
“It would be naive to suggest that the challenge facing us this year isn’t significant, however … it is a challenge we are ready to embrace for Queensland,” McDermott said.
