A trio of Wallabies skippers have led the tributes for departing back-rower Liam Wright as he prepares to leave the club.
Wright and the Reds confirmed on Monday that they would part ways after they were unable to finalise terms for a new agreement.
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The 27-year-old has been a central piece in the club’s rebuild amid his injury battles, including helping them to the Super Rugby AU title in front of a packed-out Suncorp Stadium.
Wright has led the Reds for the majority of his time alongside scrumhalf Tate McDermott, debuting together in Melbourne in 2018.
“So many good memories with ‘Wrongaz.’ We started our career together in Melbourne, came off the bench together, got our first cap together, captained the team a couple of years later together but across our whole journey together there's probably too many memories to really reminisce upon,” McDermott said.
“Such a good man, one of the best people I've ever been around, one of the best players and one of the best leaders.”
Fellow back-rowers Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight are amongst a plethora of Wallabies that have been guided through the system by Wright, whose leadership qualities have shone well beyond his years.
It saw him selected by Joe Schmidt to captain the Wallabies in his first game in charge, with his fellow Reds back-rowers eventually taking over the honour.
“My first Reds game, ‘Wrongaz’ was the captain which really is cool and then for the next six years playing for Reds he's always been my captain and he’s just an unbelievable leader,” Wilson.
“He always has his own backyard sorted, he always speaks at the right time, never overuses his words and just has the respect from the whole playing group.
“There's not been many captains as good as him I reckon in Queensland history because geez has an almighty record.
“‘Wrongaz’ is someone who on the field would do everything meticulously,” McReight added.
“He would be unbelievable [at] set piece and lineout…he’s so tactical and the way he prepares his body second to none,
“He has his weird toes to the calves to the feet and you see how low he can get on the field and how flexible he is and that's a credit to him because he's so prepared to get in here at 6am, 6.30am, be the first person here, last person to leave.”
Wright said he was proud of the legacy he leaves at Ballymore as he embarks on the next chapter of his Rugby career.
“I'm ready to chase the next phase of my career. I've done a lot of development here and I've grown as a man, as a person, as a player,” Wright added.
“I think I'm a much better player and person than when I came in here and I'd like to think I've left the jersey and Ballymore and the Reds in a better place than when I came to but I guess it's important for me now to find new ways to challenge myself.
“I've probably been in this same sort of routine and cycle for a while now and it's just important for me to spread my wings a little bit and chase the next phase.”
