The Queensland Reds have snapped a four-game losing streak with a 34-22 win over Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium for the Queensland Rugby Union’s eleventh annual Indigenous Round.
Queensland scored five tries to three in a strong display, with Jock Campbell crossing for a double as James O’Connor celebrated his 50th Queensland Super Rugby cap.
Hooker Matt Faessler earnt his first Super Rugby start in the win, while captain Tate McDermott was named the Frank Ivory Medallist as man of the match.
Moana Pasifika opened the scoring with a Solomone Funaki try, but Queensland hit back quickly through Campbell. The fullback carried two defenders over the line to finish a superb piece of Reds counterattack, Jordan Petaia throwing the final pass.
Fraser McReight soon gave Queensland their first lead of the night after Josh Flook pounced on a deep McDermott kick and linked with the chasing backrower. O’Connor slotted the conversion to give Queensland a 12-7 lead at the 14-minute mark.
The visitors were reduced to 14-men in the 18th minute after Henry Time-Stowers was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
Harry Hoopert was next to score for Queensland, the loosehead prop burrowing his way through the defence from close range to score his first try since 2020. O’Connor made no mistake with the conversion to extend the Queensland lead to 19-7 with 14-minutes remaining in the opening half.
A Leali'ifano penalty cut Moana Pasifika’s deficit to 19-10, before Campbell was back in the action to score his fifth try in the past three weeks. The fullback regathered an inch-perfect James O’Connor grubber kick to find the line for his second five-pointer of the night, stretching Queensland’s lead to 24-10 at the break.
Moana Pasifika backrower Sione Tu'ipulotu had the first try of the second stanza, with an O’Connor penalty bringing the score to 27-15 in the 49th minute, before Fraser McReight was yellow carded in the 57th minute.
With 15-men back on the field, Harry Wilson snatched an intercept and raced away to score his side’s fifth and final try. Lawson Creighton converted to give the Reds an unassailable 34-22 lead with ten minutes to play.
Queensland head to Christchurch next weekend to take on the Crusaders at 5:35pm AEST on Friday 27 May.
Queensland Reds 34
Tries: Campbell 2, Flook, Hoopert, Wilson
Conversions: O’Connor 2, Creighton
Penalties: O’Connor
Moana Pasifika 22
Tries: Funaki, Tu'ipulotu, Time-Stowers
Conversions: Leali'ifano, McClutchie
Penalties: Leali'ifano
