Home farewell for Reds' legends

 

Their Round 17 tie against the Chiefs will be the last chance Reds fans will have of cheering on two of their legends in what will be a highly emotional occasion for both players. It might also be a last home game for flyhalf Quade Cooper who is linked with a move to Toulon. 

 

Horwell and Genia will still have one more match to play after this weekend's farwell when they run out against old foes the Waratahs in Sydney in the final round. 

 

"When you look back at it things happened a lot faster than what you probably would have imagined when you start out," Horwill said of his decade long career. 

 

"It’s only started to dawn on me in the last couple of weeks. I obviously tried to not think about it too much and to not let it distract me, but it has been hard over the last couple of weeks to think that I only realistically got two weeks of training left with the team before that is it. 

 

"You think of all the times and the amount of hours you spent out on the fields at Ballymore. It is becoming a lot more real than what it was a couple of weeks ago."

 

Like Genia, Horwill captained the Reds for a lengthy period of time, which included the Super Rugby champion side of 2011. He praised the team for having faith in him as a leader.  

 

"I have been lucky to have an organisation that has backed me all the way and had a group of players that have been right behind me from the get go. 

 

"That has made my job a lot easier and something that I have thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot and probably grown into the role as well a growing with the role," he said.

 

Genia also looked back on his time in Brisbane with fond memories, but is firmly focussed on the task at hand and that is to finish off the season with two wins. 

 

"It's an emotional time. It feels like it was just yesterday I rocked up here with Eddie Jones for my first session," said Genia.

 

"I remember I was supposed to start with the academy on that first day and he came up to me and said I should train with them because they were down a halfback and I have been here ever since. 

 

"It will be sad but we also have to focus on playing well and getting a good win this weekend."

 

Genia said he felt honoured to be bidding farewell to the Reds crowd with Horwill, a player who he has looked up to since he was a schoolboy. 

 

"I have known James from the moment I moved to Brisbane. When I was at Brisbane Boys' College I looked up to the big fella and then it was amazing playing alongside him and underneath him when he was the skipper. 

 

"We shared a lot of tough times and good times with the Queensland Reds and at the Wallabies. For it to be a farewell in this manner and this way is pretty special, but to have it alongside James is something I will definitely remember," Genia added.

 

As Genia departs for France and Horwill for England, so will over 200 caps and plenty of experience. When asked if their absence next season will dent the team's challenge for future success, Horwill was optimistic that others would stand up and take their place. 

 

"The organisation is in a stronger place and a more secure place than what it was back then when I started. There is a lot more stability around this organisation and I think this place is a real leader in the rugby world in what we doing on and off the field.

 

"There are cycles and as much as I would like to do what we do forever, there is a time limit on it and for some longer than others. The time for us just felt right. 

 

"With experience leaving you get enthusiasm and youth and guys that probably throw caution to the wind and just go out there and have a crack and I think that is the exciting part of it," Horwill said.  

 

Horwill declined to comment on Cooper's future.