They were forced to work harder than they expected, certainly having opened up a 21-0 lead after 13 minutes, but the Queensland Reds ultimately ran away from Moana Pasifika to win comfortably 56-36 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Although the Reds came away with five vital competition points, Reds coach Les Kiss won’t be entirely thrilled either, with his side conceding five tries and having three men sent to the sin bin to go along with their eight five-pointers.
“It did have a bit of everything,” said Fraser McReight, who scored a try, copped a yellow card and secured a couple of big turnovers.
“It’s the first game, it was hot and wet, we were always going to be a bit rusty, but I was really proud that we got a bonus point win in the end.”
Fraser McReight was one of the Reds’ best during their Super Rugby opener. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
McReight’s little mate Tate McDermott was once again superb in red, providing a constant threat in attack.
But the captain said he was most impressed with how they fought hard defensively in the first half, with the Reds conceding just eight points despite the momentum turning rapidly after the home side’s opening flurry of tries.
“They were really impressive, they had us under the pump quite a number of times,” McDermott said.
“It felt like we defended for 30 minutes, conceded multiple yellow cards, and something we practised all pre-season was staying in the fight, and it was a bit scrappy but we’ll take that every day of the week.”
And that’s exactly what the lasting impression for Kiss was, having witnessed his side continue to show up even when challenged by a Moana Pasifika side that will cause a lot of teams problems with the physicality they have up front, general in Jackson Garden-Bachop and threats out wide in William Havili, Kyren Taumoefolau and Solomon Alaimalo.
In total, the Reds had just 36 per cent possession as they were forced to make 207 tackles compared to Moana Pasifika’s 87.
“The first half we did what we wanted to start the game, we put a stamp on it, a couple of things out of our control and we spent a lot of time down here,” Kiss said in his post-match interview on Stan Sport.
“The first half stats were nine minutes we spent in our 22 and only 40 seconds in their 22, so that does take it out of you, and then you take the yellows into account and all that pressure, so at half time, I was pretty happy. They hung in there and kept coming back. Unfortunately, it did take its toll on us.
“We can take a lot from that, unusual circumstances, we got refereed pretty hard and we had to stand up. We could have collapsed, but we didn’t – I was pretty happy with that.”
Ryan Smith celebrates after scoring during the Reds’ big first-up win over Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium on February 21, 2025. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Along with McReight, returning Reds winger Filipo Daugunu was superb.
The Test outside back, who started the Test season in great form before injury curtailed the second half of his international season, clamped down on the ball to win a crucial turnover, scored an early try and showed his physicality in the second half as he bumped away a defender out wide before unleashing McReight.
They weren’t alone, with tight-head prop Massimo de Lutiis having a memorable Super Rugby debut, while Ryan Smith, Seru Uru and Harry Wilson had their moments. Tom Lynagh kicked eight straight conversions and showed his willingness in defence and composure with ball-in-hand.
After Uru, Daugunu and Tim Ryan scored early, the match swung quickly as Hunter Paisami was shown a yellow card in the 19th minute. Moments later, Ardie Savea, who left the field after 64 minutes, crossed from close range.
Despite some strong goal line defence, Smith and McReight both got greedy and were also shown cards, the latter leading to an easy three-pointer as Moana Pasifika went into the sheds trailing 21-8.
Much like the first half though the Reds burst out of the blocks as McDermott turned down a shot at goals despite being down to 14. It worked, as replacement hooker Matt Faessler got on the end of another rolling maul.
Moana Pasifika hit back with two quick tries to close the margin to 28-23, but two tries in two minutes to locking pair Angus Blyth and Smith saw the Reds open up a handsome lead.
Although the visitors refused to go down without a fight, tries to McReight and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips ensured the Reds would secure all five points on an important evening for the home side.
