The Blues have defeated the Queensland Reds 45-26 in Round 13 of Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific.
As Queensland Rugby Union celebrated its twelfth annual Indigenous Round, last year’s Grand Finalists ran in six tries to four in a strong display at Suncorp Stadium.
Co-captain Liam Wright was awarded the Frank Ivory Medal as man of the match, while Josh Flook, Sef Fa’agase, Harry Wilson and Jock Campbell crossed for tries in what was Queensland's final home game of 2023.
A Beauden Barrett penalty opened the scoring for the visitors, before Zarn Sullivan opened up the Reds defence to score the first try of the night in the 20th minute. Barrett converted to give his side a 10-nil lead.
Flook hit back soon after for Queensland, Wright putting his centre away to score after almost slicing through the Blues line himself. Lawson Creighton converted to bring the score to 10-7 with 15-minutes remaining in the first-forty.
Barrett had the Blues’ second of the night off the back off a Mark Telea break to extend their advantage in the 27th minute.
Fa’agase cut the Queensland deficit to just three-points on the stroke of half-time, the prop burrowing his way through from close range to score his first Super Rugby try since 2018. Creighton made it two from two off the tee to bring the scores to 17-14 at the break.
The Blues were first to score in the second stanza, a Patrick Tuipulotu try putting the score out to 24-14 in the 46th minute, before Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens scored to extend their lead to 31-14 with 20-minutes remaining.
The Blues were reduced to 14-men in the 70th minute with James Tucker yellow-carded for repeated infringements and Wilson quickly took advantage, the bustling number-eight forcing his way over the line to score his fifth try of the year.
The visitors defied Tucker’s absence to score the next try, Telea crossing to put the score out to 36-19 with seven-minutes to play.
An acrobatic Jock Campbell effort out wide gave Queensland their fourth of the night, before a Taufa Funaki try on the siren saw the Blues put the final score out to 45-26.
Queensland are on the road next Friday night when they take on the Highlanders in Dunedin in Round 14.
At Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Friday 19 May.
