11 Jul 2011

Reds hoping to lock in coach for another few years

6:11 am on 11 July 2011

The Wallabies coach in-waiting Ewen McKenzie is set to extend his Queensland tenure after shrugging the Crusaders' monkey from his back with the Reds.

The Queensland Rugby Union is this week expected to shore up a new deal with McKenzie who masterminded the Reds' amazing transformation from Super Rugby battlers to 2011 champions.

The former Waratahs coach has made a mockery of NSW's decision to discard him in 2008 after taking them to three finals campaigns in five seasons, including two deciders.

He was contracted by the Reds for three years until the end of next year but the QRU and McKenzie have started talks to extend it through the 2013 season.

The timing is significant as the Australian Rugby Union are currently in the process of recontracting Robbie Deans for a further two years beyond the World Cup until 2013 when the British and Irish Lions tour.

McKenzie admitted Queensland's 18-13 final success was made even the more sweeter for him as it came against the Crusaders.

They denied the Waratahs the championship in Christchurch in 2005 and 2008 and, while McKenzie was an assistant coach at the Brumbies in 2000, the Crusaders produced an upset final win in Canberra.