Reds keep looking inhouse

NEWS: The Queensland Rugby Union has continued to secure homegrown talent for the future.

Alex Mafi has re-signed with the Reds for a further three years.

It will see Mafi remain at Ballymore through 2022 and follows Taniela Tupou, Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight, Angus Blyth and Jordan Petaia who have also signed long-term deals with Queensland, in addition to Liam Wright and Angus Scott-Young who re-committed to the Reds earlier this week.

The hooker was one of only four players to have played in every single match during the 2019 Super Rugby season and went on to start in the No.2 jersey in 11 of the 16 matches he played.

Reds hooker Alex Mafi said: “I’m very happy to secure my future here at the Reds for the next three seasons.

“Queensland is my home and I am excited to continue playing in front of my family and friends.

“We have a really good bunch of lads in the squad. We’ve all come through the Queensland pathway together. We’ve played against and alongside each other now for a good half-decade, but now is the time for us to start filling up the trophy cabinet,” said Mafi.

Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “It’s great to see Alex Mafi commit to Queensland for another three years.

“Alex really stepped-up for us this season. He performed well and continues to grow with the more experience he gets.

“It’s important we continue to develop and look after these players who have come through the system for future success in Queensland,” said Thorn.

Mafi was signed by the Reds as a teenager following his impressive schoolboy form with Nudgee College.

He made his National Rugby Championship (NRC) debut with Bond University Queensland Country as an 18-year-old before making his Super Rugby debut two years later in 2017.

Later that year he played an integral role in Queensland Country’s NRC title-winning campaign.

He currently has 35 Queensland caps and has scored five tries during his three seasons of Super Rugby.