The Queensland Reds lost a 31-27 thriller to the Hurricanes on Friday night with the frustrating feeling that a 10-minute loss of concentration cost them.
The Reds produced an excellent two-try rally from 26-13 down at half-time to take the lead and excite an enthusiastic crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
Halfback Tate McDermott and backrower Joe Brial scored the two bounce-back tries and flyhalf Tom Lynagh lifted his immaculate goalkicking to five-from-five on the night.
Unfortunately, the 27-26 lead only lasted for 10 minutes until Hurricanes winger Fatafehi Fineanganofo dotted down acrobatically for his second try at the 65-minute mark.
As is their DNA, the Reds fought hard to the end without the 31-27 scoreline changing again in this SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific match.
The result flipped the positions of the two clubs on the table with the Hurricanes rising to fourth and the Reds slotting in fifth.
The Reds face the Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday week with the finishing order of the top six still a lottery in Super Rugby’s best season in memory.
A win for the Reds could see them playing a qualifying final in Christchurch, Hamilton or Canberra depending on results in the final round of the regular season.
Skipper Tate McDermott said the Reds had to be hard markers on themselves on Friday night.
“We did heaps of positive things but there is a 10-minute period plaguing us before half-time where we’ve fallen asleep two games in a row,” McDermott said.
“Let’s get that 10 minutes right. It’s not one thing, it’s a lack of focus we can fix because one thing I never doubt is the fight in this team.”
After holding a 13-12 lead at the 32-minute mark, the Reds conceded two tries before the break to trail 26-13.
Admirably, the Reds took on board the areas to fix because they sprung out of the gates after half-time to give hints that the first win over the Hurricanes since 2013 was possible.
The second half was 90 seconds old when No.8 Harry Wilson carted the ball up strongly to set the platform for a raid of a quick ruck.
Centre Dre Pakeho snapped a lovely pass to put the flying Jock Campbell into a hole. The fullback put McDermott over for his second try after an early snipe from the back of a ruck had produced his first.
Better was to come at the 55-minute mark. After 20 phases of sustained pressure, backrower Joe Brial’s leg drive powered him through three defenders to score from 20m out.
He kicked the ball into the grandstand which brought roars from the crowd of 18,126 who rejoiced at the momentum shifting.
Just as happened last year when the sides met, the Hurricanes grabbed the final score to close a fine spectacle.
“We have to be real. There are moments we can still control better,” Reds coach Les Kiss said.
“Once we put them under pressure we proved we could do some really good things.
“I thought Harry Wilson was impressive with an 80-minute shift in his first game back. Joe Brial is growing in stature all the time…he’s robust and there’s consistency to his game.”
Brial had 10 strong carries. Wilson had 12 and drove back opposing No.8 Peter Lakai with a superb tackle when a key spark in the Reds’ fightback.
Prop Zane Nonggorr pushed through to the 79th minute in a strong effort. In the final minute, there was a Reds debut for young Easts prop Nick Bloomfield, 21, the 2024 Australian Under-20s representative who was a late inclusion on the bench.
HURRICANES 31
Tries: Fatafehi Fineanganofo 2, Billy Proctor, Cam Roigard, Ruben Love
Conversions: Ruben Love 3
Defeated
QUEENSLAND REDS 27
Tries: Tate McDermott 2, Joe Brial
Conversions: Tom Lynagh 3
Penalty Goals: Tom Lynagh 2
Half-time: Hurricanes 26-Reds 13
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 18,126
