Rugby: Horwill hope brightens Reds

Reds skipper James Horwill has tempered another painful bottom-three Super rugby finish by agreeing to lead the Reds' desperate fight to break their long losing cycle.

Wallabies lock Horwill is in the process of finalising a new deal to stay at Ballymore and ramp up rebuilding plans with a far more settled squad and brighter outlook.

Injury-riddled Queensland's final-round 37-28 Super 14 loss to the Hurricanes left the battling entertainers with just three wins in 2009 for a 13th-placed finish.

It's the sixth straight season the Reds have been one of the last three teams on the ladder.

But coach Phil Mooney spoke with confidence of a far more promising future as they hope Horwill is the first of four test stars to re-sign with Queensland.

Playmaker Berrick Barnes has also given tentative indications he will remain in Brisbane while injured duo Hugh McMeniman and Digby Ioane, despite big-money interest from overseas, are expected to stay through to the 2011 World Cup.

Proud Queenslander Horwill said it was crucial to the Reds' hopes of a revival all three were retained in a settled 2010 squad.

"This is my fourth year and this is the first time we've had a team where the majority of it is going to stick together," he said.

"We lost 12 guys for different reasons last year and it's very hard to continue working on something when you've got 12 guys leaving and 12 new faces coming in. "You look at the teams that do well in this competition and they've had a side that has stayed together for a long time."

Also giving hope is news former All Black flanker Daniel Braid's deal with the Llanelli Scarlets has fallen through due to his ruptured achilles and he's now weighing up a second season with the Reds.

Wallabies enforcer Rocky Elsom is close to giving a further boost by linking with Queensland if he decides to cut short his stint with Irish club Leinster to play for Australia.

Mooney called upon 35 different players in 13 matches in 2009 and believed any other team would struggle with the same injury woes as a dozen players were sidelined late in the competition.

- AAP