Reds look to stay in the moment

‘Staying in the moment’ is part of the psychology that can transform the St.George Queensland Reds from oh-so-close to unstoppable.

Fresh from a competition bye, Queensland will be chasing its first win of the Super Rugby season against the Highlanders on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Fans will be pleased to know the players’ frustration and disappointment over their four loss, one draw start to the competition need not be terminal. But there is more to breaking that mindset than just hard work.

Consultant psychologist Ross Chapman, who has worked with the Australian Cricket Team for the last eight years, is the Reds’ mental skills coach who has been working with the players and coaching staff to ensure the team embraces an approach that can turn around its dissatisfying results.

Being painfully close to an elusive victory over the past three outings can weigh heavily on players but there is a method to turn that to their advantage.

“It’s important to balance the confidence gained from better performances with being realistic about where the group is,” Chapman said.

“And psychologically you need to let go of the negatives and stay in the moment, forget about what’s happened and put yourself in the best place to execute.

“You focus better when you stay in the moment.”

This type of change takes time to master, Chapman said, but is important for long term growth.

The Reds’ mental skills have been a work in progress since the beginning of the pre-season when they began crafting their identity and the standards they must achieve to be true to it.

Co-interim head coaches Nick Styles and Matt O’Connor, and elite development forwards coach Brad Thorn have been steering fortnightly group meetings to reinforce those standards and ensure accountability.

Each player is expected to contribute. But it is the leaders who can most directly influence behaviour via their awareness, decision-making, example setting and communication.

Preparation on the training paddock has been just as sharp, with the team emerging from the bye focused on a lift in performance against the reigning champions.

There have been only two changes to the starting side. Fit-again loosehead James Slipper has resumed the captaincy and will slot back into the front row.

Winger Chris Feauai-Sautia is also back after illness forced him to withdraw from the Easter Sunday clash with the Waratahs.