- The Reds have emerged as a contender in 2024.
- Received belt at the opening whistle against Chiefs
- We are committed to leveraging our momentum for future success.
The Queensland Reds are looking to future spoils after a disappointing end to a season of great expectations and promise, with them succumbing 43-21 to the Chiefs in their opening Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Hamilton.
The ruthless and clinical Chiefs went on to demolish the Reds at FMG Stadium Waikato after leading 31-0 through four unanswered first-half attempts.
With three wins over New Zealand opposition for the first time since 2013, including a win over the defending champions Crusaders in Christchurch and a round three loss to the Chiefs in Brisbane, the Reds truly believed they were 2024 title contenders. Yes.
But their dreams were shattered Friday night when the Chiefs took a 21-0 lead on a double by hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and a single by winger Emoni Narawa.
The Queensland Reds had no answer to the Chiefs’ early attack and were outgunned after just 15 minutes.
This comes after a season that promised much but ended with a quarter-final loss in Waikato.
The Reds threatened with a second-half return from Wallabies No.9 Tate McDermott but were unable to make up the deficit.
Fierce at the breakdown, the chief physically dominated.
But a brilliant chip from master playmaker Damian McKenzie and a goalkeeper and kick-on from fullback Shaun Stevenson gave the Chiefs their fourth try (finished by Etene Nanai-Seturo) and a half-time lead in the game.
Queensland briefly threatened a fightback with their first try of the second half through co-captain and Wallabies number 9 Tate McDermott.
But normal service resumed in the 55th minute when All Blacks ace Anton Lienert-Brown crossed for the Chiefs’ fifth try, extending the hosts’ insurmountable lead to 38-7.
McDermott finished second for the Reds, but that was only a consolation as Queensland captain Liam Wright lamented a missed opportunity.
‘There’s a lot to like,’ says Wright.
‘We definitely wanted to do it all year. That’s what every team wants to do.
‘We thought we had our chances but we couldn’t take them in this game.
‘But we’ve found some really good players, we’ve built a good mix with the new coaches and we’re excited to see what this group can continue to produce.
‘We have to keep working harder to get better at this moment.
‘We’re showing some of it. We’re trying to make games that are competitive and can beat good teams like the Chiefs.
‘So that’s where we’re going. Tonight, it was probably the breakdown that let us down a bit.’
Retired Chiefs player Sam Cane, son Hudson and wife Harriet Cane attended the game.
Queensland is hoping to use the 2024 season as a platform for future Super Rugby success.
With Queensland narrowly eliminated from the competition, the ACT Brumbies have Australia’s best chance of breaking New Zealand’s 10-year hold on the Trans-Tasman region’s Super Rugby title.
But as well as having to eliminate the Highlanders in Canberra on Saturday, the Brumbies now rely on the soon-to-be-extinct Melbourne Rebels to upset the table-topping Hurricanes to secure a home semi-final.
Otherwise the Brumbies will head to New Zealand where they will need to become the first Australian team to win a final across the Tasman to continue their title hunt.
Regardless of who and where they play, the Chiefs are confident they can win the tournament for the first time since 2012 after being eliminated in the semifinals last year.
“I have a lot of faith,” Capt. Luke Jacobson said.
‘We are preparing at the right time. We are starting to reach a peak.
‘So you don’t have to do it during the season. ‘That’s all we aim for, because the final is important.’
