The Queensland Rugby Union wishes to farewell Richie Asiata, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Louis Werchon and Heremaia Murray after their commitment to the Reds jersey.
The five players have been respected members of the Queensland Reds squad and depart with positive wishes for the future.
“Richie, Harry, Jeff, Louis and Heremaia have all made important contributions to the Reds during their time at the club. They move on with the best wishes of staff and teammates,” said Sam Cordingley, Reds General Manager, High Performance.
Hooker Asiata, 30, played 54 games for the Reds over six seasons starting with his winning debut against the NSW Waratahs as Red #1358 in 2021.
“Through the ups and the downs of injuries, I know I wouldn’t be the player I am without the coaches and my teammates at the Reds,” Asiata said.
“Ballymore becomes like your second home so it’s pretty emotional to be moving on. Being around the boys in the locker room, seeing them grow and the group of men you play with are a big part of the enjoyment of rugby.
“I always wanted to play for my state so that first game, my debut, meant a lot as one the big memories. Playing in front of family in Samoa for the first time in 2023 (against Moana Pasifika) was awesome.”
Asiata’s strong 2025 Reds season earned him a highlight selection in the First Nations & Pasifika XV to take on the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne.
Asiata’s next steps in rugby will be with Samoa, having been selected alongside prop Toomaga-Allen for the Nations Cup campaign against Hong Kong China, Georgia and Romania in July.
Toomaga-Allen, 35, played 43 times for the Reds across three seasons, either starting or in the super-sub role he filled 13 times in 2026.
He played his 150th Super Rugby match in 2026 to build on his century of game for the Hurricanes. His willingness to share all he has learnt with the Reds’ aspiring props was of huge value.
“I’ve loved every minute of my time at the Reds,” said Toomaga-Allen, Red #1390.
“I became a Queenslander. I’m a sucker for family so I cherish how the Reds really involved my wife and kids. I think my young boy Spencer probably got carried away and signed too many autographs of his own.”
Beating the Crusaders in Christchurch in 2024 and the Fijian Drua in Lautoka this year were two memorable games, Toomaga-Allen said.
“Playing against the British and Irish Lions was a special jersey,” he said.
Toomaga-Allen said he saw strong signs for the Reds’ continued growth.
“There are great building blocks for success with the number of 50 and 100-cap players in the squad and the culture that keeps building,” Toomaga-Allen said.
McLaughlin-Phillips, 22, played 36 times at flyhalf for the Reds across three seasons as Red #1388.
He announced himself in 2024 by securing the clutch turnover on full-time to complete the Reds’ fine 25-19 win over the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium.
“That win over the Chiefs and the success the team had against the Drua in Fiji this year were two highlights for sure,” McLaughlin-Phillips said.
“I feel I was encouraged and learnt a lot from the coaches all through my time at the Reds. I’ve grown as a player and as a man. Being able to train and learn with international flyhalves around you at Ballymore was a big plus.
“I think the whole pathway system at the Reds is really well structured. I came through the Reds Academy with an excellent preparation with guys like Tim Ryan, John Bryant and Harrison Usher. The connections you build carry through into the Reds squad.”
Halfback Werchon built his Reds career to 25 caps with 13 appearances in Super Rugby this year. He is heading to Benetton Rugby in Italy after first experiencing the partner club under a secondment during the last off-season.
His seven matches for Benetton fed into his extra composure and experience when called on by the Reds when Wallaby Tate McDermott was sidelined long-term with injury.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of pulling on the Reds jersey. Personally, I feel I have improved heaps in the set-up they have at the Reds,” Werchon said.
“A coach like (backs and defence coach) Brad Davis kept my focus on track. He was tough but fair.”
As Red #1375, Werchon, 23, is at the start of a long career.
“Queensland is home. Hopefully, I’ll be back sometime,” he said.
Heremaia Murray, 26, played 13 times in two years as Red #1407. The Kiwi product is returning to New Zealand to play.
He will long be remembered for his 80m individual try, with a kick and regather, against the NSW Waratahs last year at Suncorp Stadium.
“The Reds gave me an unreal opportunity to be part of a Super Rugby team and I got to do it in Aussie and experience another part of the world,” Murray said.
“There were opportunities to tour Japan and the United Kingdom as well. There are definitely good memories because the boys welcomed me in.
“Getting that late win in Perth over the Western Force last year is one of those memories. We had to grind through that one and those are moments that help make a team.”
