'Desperate' Cadan Murley draws inspiration from rivals to save Quins

Cadan Murley is ready to make it his personal mission in life to lift struggling Harlequins out of the doldrums and bring the good times and silverware back to the Twickenham Stoop.

England winger Murley, 26, who is closing in on 150 appearances for Quins, was part of the side that only five years ago won their first PREM title in nine years with a stylish swagger against Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham.

And two years ago, they were Investec Champions Cup semi-finalists after winning at Bordeaux in the quarter-final, and he believes that days like that are only just around the corner again.

“I’m absolutely desperate for them to come back. I’ve had some brilliant memories in a Quins shirt, and they were not too long ago, and not too much has changed.

“Look at where Exeter have gone from last season to this season. Now they’re suddenly pushing for the top four. It’s such a weird thing, professional sport. It can take just a momentum shift, a bit of confidence, or bringing the right people in.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Bristol

14 - 18

Full-time

Harlequins

All Stats and Data

“We’ve got Robbie Deans and Rob Hunter, who are brilliant, experienced coaches who are winners and have won in the past. To have them come in, help Jason (Gilmore Quins head coach) out there will no doubt help us push forward.

“You’re a couple of per cent off in a game now, and you’re going to get whitewashed. Momentum is such a big thing in professional rugby at the moment,” said Murley.

Quins, who lost head coach Danny Wilson a week before the start of the season, have only won twice in the Gallagher PREM, against Saracens and fellow strugglers Newcastle Red Bulls, and Murley says he shares the frustrations of Quins fans.

“It’s hard to really put into words. It hurts us as well. The pain, the frustration and the anger around our results and how we’ve been this season because it’s nowhere near where we want to be.

“But there is a plan, there is a vision going forward, which I think now, having that clarity and who’s going to be in charge, has brought that. So, I’m excited for what we’re trying to build for next season.

“We’ve still got an exciting shot in Europe this year. So, we’re going to go out in the Quins way, and try and play our hearts out in that and see what the run comes to in that.

“To lose your head coach a week before the start of the season is never going to be ideal, is it? But, like we always say at Quins, we want to develop people. We want them to go on to further honours.

“So, it’s no slight on Danny that he’s gone over to Wales. and doing his thing there. We’ve had a fair few injuries as well, and I’m not making excuses because ultimately our performances haven’t been good enough,” he added.