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Players back Jones
by: Marc Fox
Sportal
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has been given a vote of confidence by the playing squad at the Queensland Reds after his decision to commit to leading the side into the 2008 Super 14 season.
The dogged Jones was rewarded for his hard work through an indifferent season over the weekend when the Reds held onto a deserved first-half lead to defeat the visiting Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium.
It was Queensland's first taste of victory in 10 matches following its opening round win over the Hurricanes in early February and finally brought about the end of a painful nine-game winless streak for Jones.
However, while the results haven't fallen for the Reds this season, departing Reds legend Ben Tune revealed the players have always supported Jones and the ideas he's tried to instil into the playing group.
Tune, who will retire from top class rugby at the end of the season, won the 1999 World Cup with the Wallabies and ended his 12-year Queensland career with a memorable 70-metre intercept try against the South Africans.
"There's no doubt that a lot of them were holding off until Eddie decided what he was going to do," said Tune.
"That's probably a fair indication that he's regarded very highly."
"Guys just want to get really good at what they do, and they'll hang around somewhere, even if they're losing, if they can see they're getting better week-in week-out."
"Ideally all you want to do as a football player is become the best football player you possibly can."
Meanwhile, Jones admitted that more time is needed to fully implement his preferred playing system, particularly given the youthful look of a Reds backline including 19-year-old Quade Cooper as well as Berrick Barnes and Will Genia.
"We've been working on a slightly different style of play that's still very much in its infancy with the younger backline," Jones said.
"We'll keep working on that which is pretty challenging but I think you saw in the first 40 minutes that it can trouble defensive sides."
The Reds now head to South Africa for a double-header against the Stormers in Cape Town and the Bulls in Pretoria to finish the 2007 season.
The win last Saturday means there's still hope they can end a disappointing season off the foot of the ladder.
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