Reds can attract top players: Weeks
Torn Melbourne-bound prop Laurie Weeks expects to be a dying breed after predicting the days of Queensland losing Super 14 stars interstate are coming to a close.
In fact, Weeks believes the tables will turn with the Reds' revival as off-contract players eye Queensland as a highly-attractive home.
A month after signing with the Rebels for 2011, Weeks denied he was regretting his difficult call to leave the perennial battlers during their rise towards a first finals campaign since 2001.
But he felt the Reds' stunning form surge and entertaining attacking style would ensure leading lights stayed put at Ballymore.
"One hundred per cent," the 24-year-old tight-head said. "And I think they are going to get more players to come here.
"It's an attractive place to be and more players are going to want to come to play for the Reds."
Finishing among the bottom three teams in the competition each year from 2004 has taken a heavy toll on Queensland's retention efforts with a host of stars poached by interstate raiders.
Current Wallabies to have left the Sunshine State in that time include Berrick Barnes, Nathan Sharpe, Stephen Moore, Drew Mitchell, David Pocock, Richard Brown and James O'Connor.
Despite their rise, Queensland still have a fight on their hands to keep mercurial playmaker Quade Cooper from the clutches of the Western Force.
Weeks signed with the Rebels, along with squad mates Adam Byrnes and Richard Kingi, to link with his former Sydney University mentor Damien Hill, much to the chagrin of Reds coach Ewen McKenzie.
McKenzie described the decision as "illogical" at the time and Wallaby-in-waiting Weeks continues to keep his reasons close to his chest.
"I explained it to him (McKenzie)," said the 2009 Australian Super 14 rookie of the year. "All my reasons were personal reasons which I'm not going to go into now.
"I don't want to live life with regrets. The way I see it is I've made a decision and I'm happy with my decision.
"It was definitely a tough one.
"I've got four more games, at least, left for Queensland and I'm going to do my best to make this team a better team and lead them through to next year."
Firebrand Byrnes will also get his chance to finish his two-year Reds stint on a high with veteran lock Van Humphries (ankle) ruled out of Friday night's clash with the Stormers at Suncorp Stadium.
Scans on Monday showed the Humphries sustained muscle and ligament damage in the final minute of the 19-12 upset of the Bulls on Saturday night.
Byrnes is expected to be plucked out of club rugby to start alongside Rob Simmons, who turned 21 on Monday, in the second-row against 208cm Springbok Andries Bekker.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has labelled the Cape Town-based Stormers, who disposed the Chiefs 49-15 in Hamilton, the form team in the competition.
Queensland have to find a way to break down the Stormers' brick-wall defence which has conceded just 11 tries in nine games.
But Weeks has backed master tactician McKenzie to devise a cunning plan.
"He's a very intelligent guy - as all props are," he grinned.
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