On the back of a quick-fire double to Tom Lynagh, the Queensland Reds have got their season well and truly back on track after taking down the reigning champions, the Blues, in Brisbane on Friday night.
Despite only leading 14-7 at half-time, the Reds started the second half like they did the first by scoring two converted tries to blow open the score.
While the Blues responded by scoring two of the next three tries, Vern Cotter’s men couldn’t repeat their heroics from 12 months ago when they stunned Les Kiss’ side with a couple of late tries as the Reds claimed a 35-21 win.
The Reds’ win was built on the back of their opening half-hour.
Not only did Lynagh take control of the game early, but the Reds’ stoic defence then repelled the visitors.
Indeed, the Blues were denied during three consecutive passages by the Reds on their goal-line as some desperate defence, some improvement at the maul and a useful friend in the TMO denied the visitors despite the home side giving away a series of penalties.
The period of play summed up the match, with the Reds that bit more desperate and accurate while the visitors’ frustrating year continued.
“It’s a very special day for a lot of people in Australia and New Zealand, and to be such a small part of what is a huge day is a huge honour. What an occasion. I’m really proud of the way that we fought,” said Reds captain Tate McDermott, who scored a try and was excellent in defence early on.
“It’s just about holding the ball. It’s a really slippery deck and ball, but we did well to navigate that.
“We defended really well. The amount of times boys scrambled, held the ball up over the line and then reapplied pressure (was impressive). I thought the boys kicked well and the forwards just moved well all night.
“It wasn’t a complete performance, but it’s a performance we can be really proud of against a quality side.”
Tate McDermott scored a crucial second-half try during the Reds’ win over the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu wasn’t alone in making crucial errors at critical times, but the lock’s knock-on from the kick-restart just as the visitors started to make some inroads in the second half was a hammer blow.
Indeed, after Sam Nock scored near the posts to cut the margin to 14, the experienced All Blacks’ fumble from the kick-restart allowed the Reds to get back on the attack and moments later Richie Asiata scored.
While the Blues responded, it was too little too late.
“It was quite tough,” Tuipulotu said.
“They played physically and outplayed us from the get-go and we struggled. They put a lot of pressure on, especially at set-piece, and we couldn’t get back into it.”
The Blues, who were without All Blacks Dalton Papali’i and Caleb Clarke, and had Beauden Barrett on the bench, weren’t helped when they lost Test flyer Mark Tele’a to an upgraded red card for a thunderous lifting tackle on Tim Ryan in the 30th minute. But the Blues only had themselves to blame for their error-ridden performance.
The Reds, meanwhile, bounced back and looked recharged and more accurate after enjoying a week off.
Indeed, Asiata’s lineout functioned better, Zane Nonggorr and Sef Fa’agase got the better of their opponents at the scrum and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was more accurate and physical in the contact zone.
Behind a strong pack, McDermott and Lynagh did their thing, while rising midfielder Dre Pakeho shut down Rieko Ioane. Jock Campbell’s presence was also a steadying influence on he Reds, too.
“I am thrilled,” said Kiss.
“The way they applied the plan, when they had 14 men, I thought Tommy (Lynagh) and Josh Canham fought beautifully to keep exposing some spaces for us. We missed a few opportunities, but we still did enough to keep them under pressure.”
The win ensured the Reds kept within touching distance of the top three on 27 points, with the Chiefs earlier extending their lead at the top of the standings on 37 points after smashing the Force.
The Blues (17) are in ninth on 17 points, with next week’s home clash against the fifth-placed Force (21) shaping as a critic game in the race for the playoffs.
