Reminiscing with Liam Gill

However you found my blog, welcome!

The Queensland Reds (along with all of Super Rugby) are taking a break.

It’s surreal to think that just over a week ago, I was at Suncorp Stadium watching our team beat the Bulls. (Click here to rewatch the highlights!)

During these “uncertain” times, I was keen to keep Reds Rugby Rules going, if possible. I’ve interviewed classic Reds players in the past, so what better time to get some great past memories from former players!

I was excited when Liam Gill got back to me from his current home in France. Maybe not surprisingly, he said he had some free time. One thing that long time Queensland fans will know is that the great former Red (and Wallaby) was a part of the championship winning 2011 Queensland side. I asked him about that, among other things.

One question I did get out of the way was whether he will ever play for Queensland again. He was quick to say that he thinks the young number Sevens are doing a "really good job" right now. When it comes to playing in this country again however... “you never know”. (Smart answer I thought!)

He filled me in on how his current team in Lyon was going, before the season was put on pause. Then I launched into my questions about the Reds.

I’m sure all Reds fans will enjoy reading our chat!

First of all, what’s your rugby story? And how did you come to be based in Queensland?

So my rugby story starts in South Australia, in Adelaide. My family moved around when I was a youngster. We moved to the states for four years and I actually started playing American football, basketball and baseball, all the American sports as a young kid. But we were always going to move home for high school, so we came back via South Australia, where I first started playing rugby union. So yes, as the lawbook states, I’m not quite a Queenslander, but I started my first two years of rugby in Adelaide and then moved back to Queensland. I went to Gregory Terrace, played high school rugby, then slowly made my way through the NTS at that time and then the academy’s, then the Sevens program and then back into the Reds and then kind of just continued to progress through the ARU system.

Then after seven years back in Australia, I hit the high-way and I’ve been here for almost 4 years seasons over in France. That’s a brief overview of my rugby since I was a youngster!

What’s your first rugby memory?

My first rugby memory is playing for the South Australia state team. I made it in my default because we only had around 30 players at the time. But we put together a State team and waltzed on down to Victoria and I think the closest we got was around 65-0. So that’s an interesting start... but that’s my first memory as a rugby union player.

Who were your favourite players growing up?

George Smith was my favourite player. I’ve always been a flanker, but I don’t even think that even came into it.

I’ve loved the way that he played and the kind of aura that he had. And then, as I got the chance to meet him, play against him and play in similar squads, he was an awesome bloke. So he’s definitely someone that I looked up to on a rugby front and knowing that he’s an awesome bloke just makes it even cooler.

You’ll have to read my interview with George from a couple of years ago!

Nice! Yeah he’s a good bloke.

2011 was the last time the Queensland Reds won a super Rugby title and I believe we are building towards our next one. You were a part of that 2011 squad. What are your favourite memories from that season?

That was, I think still to this day, my most enjoyable, fun and favourite season that I’ve been a part of. Ewen McKenzie was an awesome coach. He put together the squad really well. I was lucky enough to progress through right at the right time and become a part of that squad. The players were at the start of, or at the peak of their international squad. So having Quade, Willy, Simmo, Slips, big Kevy as captain, we had an incredible team and I’m still really good mates with a lot of those guys. I keep in contact with them. And it was really quite a special feeling we had all year. It’s funny how I started with my best year of rugby and I’ve missed the kind of ambience and feeling that that year had. It’s quite funny because that is my fondest memory, learning from those guys and enjoying that again and since then I’ve been trying to look for that again. That’s how special it was.

Liam celebrates his 2011 win with Simmo

And in terms of a new championship with a new squad, it’s been good to see the Reds get back on track. I know the way that Thorny operates, he’s a hard operator, so it’s good to see it really coming to fruition. I haven’t watched too much rugby, but I’ve followed the results and tracked how they’ve gone and they seem to have really stepped up a gear in terms of putting it all together, which is awesome to see.

What were some keys you learnt in 2011 - what makes a champion team?

The player leadership and the relationships you have between the players really do make a championship team. Like I said, we had a great coach, but it was the players and the way that we really wanted to play for each other. It’s cliche, but like I said the relationships that we still have after 2011, it’s still quite special. That kind of bond between players is really important to win games when it gets serious.

The NRC seems to be an important part of the pathway to high honours now in Australian rugby. When you started playing in the NRC (back in 2015) did you think it would become so important?

The NRC is a good pathway, I think. It’s a great tournament for players who are trying to develop, to keep playing rugby outside of Super Rugby. You either go back to the Wallabies, or you go back to club rugby, which varies all over Australia. Brisbane and Sydney have quite decent levels. But you’ve got a tournament now that’s played all over the country at a good level, with Super Rugby players coming down. So I think it’s a huge path for the young guys needing to play more football. I think it’s very important for Australian rugby, the NRC!

What do you love most about Brisbane?

Well, Brisbane’s home for me! So especially now being abroad for four years, I miss the homeliness of it, I miss the closeness of the beach and I miss the warm weather. (Laughs.) There’s a few things that are very different about France and those are the three feelings I miss about Brissy.

Thanks for taking time out to chat Liam, during this interesting time.

It’s an absolute pleasure. It’s good to see you again!

Super Rugby is on hold, but Reds Rugby still Rules!