Kiss to Leave Reds After Finals, Join Wallabies as Head Coach
Les Kiss will conclude his three-year tenure as head coach of the Queensland Reds at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series, after which he will become head coach of the Wallabies.
His final match with the Reds could be this weekend when they face the Chiefs in Hamilton in a qualifying final. Kiss stated that his focus remains on the present, saying his team keeps him focused on the immediate task at hand.
A History of Early Exits
The Reds have been eliminated in the first week of the finals in each of the previous four seasons, including the two most recent playoffs under Kiss. The club has not won a finals match since defeating the Brumbies in the COVID-19-affected 2021 Super Rugby AU tournament.
The Upcoming Challenge
The Reds finished the regular season in fifth place, the highest among Australian sides, and will face the second-placed Chiefs, who finished with 11 wins and 3 losses. The Chiefs won the earlier meeting between the two sides on May 8 with a score of 31-21 at Lang Park.
Measuring Success Beyond a Win
Kiss acknowledged that a win would be a measure of success but also noted other achievements during his tenure, including squad depth, culture development, and opportunities for young players.
The Reds have not won a finals match since the 2021 Super Rugby AU final against the Brumbies.