Super Rugby Pacific: Early Season Recap for Reds and Waratahs

A series of pre-season and early-season Super Rugby Pacific matches have taken place involving the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs, with both teams experiencing varied results against each other and other opponents in the competition's opening rounds.

Pre-Season Trial: Waratahs vs. Reds

On Saturday, January 31, the NSW Waratahs defeated the Queensland Reds 49-19 in a pre-season trial match at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane. The attendance was recorded as 3,218 spectators.

• Match Summary: The Waratahs established a 35-12 lead by halftime. The Reds' points came from tries by Jock Campbell, Richie Asiata, and a late try from Matt Faessler.
• Coaching Response: Following the match, Reds Head Coach Les Kiss stated the team had "plenty to work on," noting the Waratahs "played us off the park in quite a few areas." He identified defensive resilience and execution as areas for improvement.
• Player Context: The trial was noted as a significant event for Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who trained at Ballymore early in his career. The match featured a lock matchup between Queensland's Salakaia-Loto and Josh Canham against the Waratahs' Matt Philip and Angus Blyth.

Round One: Waratahs vs. Reds

The teams met again in the official season opener on February 13 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The NSW Waratahs won the match 36-12, securing a bonus-point victory and ending a four-match losing streak against the Reds.

• Match Progression: The Waratahs scored five tries, with winger Max Jorgensen scoring two. Clem Halaholo scored the opening try in the seventh minute. The Reds' points came from a try by Joe Brial in the 20th minute and another before halftime.
• Coaching Remarks: Waratahs coach Dan McKellar praised Jorgensen's talent and emphasized the team's aim to maintain an attacking mindset. Reds coach Les Kiss attributed the loss partly to the Waratahs' possession advantage and a significant penalty count against his team.

The NSW Waratahs won the official season opener 36-12, securing a bonus-point victory and ending a four-match losing streak against the Reds.

Subsequent Early Season Matches

Following their opening match, both teams played additional fixtures in the opening rounds of the competition.

• Round Two: The Waratahs defeated the Fijian Drua 36-13 in Sydney. Max Jorgensen scored two tries, bringing his total to four in the first two games. Debutant reserve hooker Ioane Moananu also scored two tries.
• Waratahs player Pete Samu participated in the match hours after the birth of his child.
• Round Three: The Waratahs suffered their first loss of the season, defeated 40-0 by the Wellington Hurricanes. During the warm-up for that match, Waratahs center Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sustained a hamstring injury, with reports suggesting a potential six-week recovery period. Coach Dan McKellar described the loss as a "reality check," citing turnovers and defensive issues.

• The Queensland Reds had a bye in Round Two.
• In a later match, the Reds defeated the Waratahs 26-17 at Suncorp Stadium, with flyhalf Carter Gordon scoring two tries. Reds coach Les Kiss commented on Gordon's speed and the team's resilience in the final 15 minutes.
• Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has shown strong early-season form. In a recent victory over the Highlanders, he was noted for his defensive and ruck work. Salakaia-Loto has stated his current form is driven by increased maturity and a clear preparation routine.

Competition Standings and Other Results

Other results from the early rounds of Super Rugby Pacific include:

• The Wellington Hurricanes defeated Moana Pasifika 52-10 in their season opener.
• The Western Force hosted the Auckland Blues in Perth.
• The ACT Brumbies were scheduled to face the Crusaders in Christchurch.

The Queensland Reds' next scheduled match is against the undefeated ACT Brumbies in Canberra, a venue where the Reds have not won since 2021.