Queensland claim they are no longer Australian rugby's unpopular cousins, with interstate players lining up to play their exciting brand.

Reds coach Phil Mooney signalled the retention and recruitment tide had turned with Queensland's switch to an adventurous attacking game which has started to reap results in the Super 14.

It has transferred off the field with No.8 Leroy Houston re-signing on Wednesday and indications prop Greg Holmes will also follow with a new two-year deal in the next fortnight.

Holmes is one of five Test players Queensland has prioritised as their must-keeps with captain James Horwill, deputy Berrick Barnes, abrasive forward Hugh McMeniman and explosive back Digby Ioane.

While McMeniman and Ioane are set to entertain big foreign offers, Mooney said all five wanted to stay both to see the Reds rise up the ranks and feature in the 2011 World Cup for the Wallabies.

Queensland has consistently produced quality players but struggled to keep and attract Test stars as they have languished in the bottom three of the ladder dating back to 2004.

Mooney admitted there were many issues involved with their problems at the negotiating table but felt those issues were disappearing.

"The positive is we've always produced really good players, why players have left in the past is for a variety of reasons and I don't want to look back there," he said.

"But all I do know is our program is very healthy and players are actually enquiring from other provinces about coming here so we're confident we've turned the tide there."

Mooney declined to reveal names but said the interested players were from "all over Australia".

Houston and Barnes both spoke about the desire for the group to remain together with a sense of belief Queensland can return to the heady days of the mid-1990s when they were seen as the best provincial team in the world.

Barnes has put off his contract talks with the Reds and the ARU until later in the year to concentrate on his return from a knee injury but said keeping Ioane and McMeniman was vital.

"It would be a serious detriment to Australian rugby if we lost both of those and it hurts us massively here in Queensland but as far as Australian rugby as a whole the way both of them are playing it would be silly to lose them," said the 13-Test playmaker.

Mooney admitted the Reds faced a fight against big-spending overseas clubs but was confident of keeping his big guns.

"It's important we're playing good football and their all happy so when we come to negotiating we can present a good rugby program to them," he said.

"They're very pleased with the program here and the direction the national side is taking ... moving towards the next World Cup and they all want to be a part of that.

"Greg's getting close and he's one of those guys that went to the last World Cup and hasn't played for the Wallabies since then so he's clearly got aspirations to do that again.

"Clearly the best way to do that is to play for a good side that's playing good rugby so we're confident that Holmesy is not too far off."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP