QLD REDS OPEN PRE SEASON TRAINING SESSIONS TO FANS
QR Reds fans will have a weekly opportunity to watch their new look team prepare for the coming season, with the return of regular open training sessions at Ballymore, starting next Tuesday, November 4.
The weekly open sessions were introduced last year to give fans a chance to see how elite level players train and to seek out their favourite players for a photo or an autograph at the end of the session.
QR Reds Head Coach Phil Mooney said it was important for the team to be as accessible to their young fans as his Queensland heroes were when he was growing up.
"Unfortunately it's not possible for kids to run onto Suncorp Stadium like we used to do at Ballymore, but the players are happy to sign autographs at the fence after the game and to meet fans at the end of open training sessions like these," Mooney said.
"The players appreciate the loyalty of their fans and will be working hard in the pre-season to deliver results for them in 2009."
More than a third of the Reds squad of 32 are new to the team in 2009, so the open sessions will also give fans a chance to put faces to names before the season kicks off in 2009.
The 2008 open sessions will be held at Ballymore every Tuesday from November 4 to December 23 from approximately 5:30pm to 7:30pm and in 2009 on January 6 and 13.
The Reds also plan to hold a small number of open sessions away from Ballymore, with dates and venues yet to be confirmed.
