It’s been another “rollercoaster” Reds season but centre Samu Kerevi says there are plenty of reasons that Friday night’s clash with the Rebels will be no year-ending fizzer.
Aside from wanting to give hardy home fans a positive end to the year, Kerevi said there was the undertone of wanting to give veterans a proper farewell.
One of the most significant goodbyes will be that of veteran prop Greg Holmes, who is going to Exeter after 12 years and more than 140 caps with the Reds.
His departure comes just a year after returning to the Test fold following an eight-year exile and Kerevi said his work ethic would be missed.
“It's an exceptional rugby resume that he has," he said.
“Growing up I used to watch the backs but to see someone of Holmesy's calibre work as hard as he has throughout the years is incredible.
“Definitely something that a lot of boys strive to be, especially a one-club man which is amazing thing to be able to do.
“Congratulatons to him for the years that he's had and especially last year making the Wallabies team again, especially after a long time.”
As well as Holmes, the Reds will farewell prop Ben Daley (Western Force), Ant and Saia Fainga’a (Japan and Brumbies), Curtis Browning (Lyon) among others.
“To the boys that are leaving most of them have been here 10-plus years so players like Homer and Dalesy and that.
“We really want to put an awesome performance as a team and finish the year on a high.
Kerevi has had a stellar year individually in another difficult Reds season, winning his first Wallabies cap and stringing together some standout games, but the centre isn’t satisfied.
“Personally if you look at the team aspect, I'm really disappointed at how we went this year,” he said.
“There's been a lot of disruptions but that's no excuse for us.
“For me I wanted to play better not just last week but throughout the year and be more consistent.
“A Wallaby cap doesn't say I've had a good year, it's saying I've played well enough to earn it.
“I think I’ve got to be more consistent for the team first and everything else after that will be a bonus.”
The Reds are yet to unveil their new coach for 2017, but with just one game left in the season, that appointment should be in the coming weeks.
