Reds smash Waratahs in assertion win as Kiss bats away Wallabies speak, performs down star’s harm
A beaming Les Kiss has battered away questions round his future with the Reds, whereas additionally giving a optimistic replace round star flanker Fraser McReight, as he watched his facet smash the NSW Waratahs 35-15 to maintain maintain of the Bob Templeton Cup in Brisbane on Saturday night time.
There have been fears early within the second half when McReight, who penned a brand new three-year deal to remain on the Reds earlier this week, acquired up clutching at his shoulder after scoring a shocking attempt to assist ship Queensland on their means.
These issues solely went up a notch when the star flanker was seen sporting a sling at full-time.
Requested if he wasn’t involved by the photographs of seeing McReight in a sling, Kiss, the previous Maroons State of Origin winger, performed down any concern the 26-year-old was set for a protracted stint on the sidelines by saying the early indicators have been OK, and that he was because of be rested from subsequent week’s go to to Dunedin in any case.
“No, not likely,” Kiss responded.
“I don’t assume it’s something sinister, however we’ll do the suitable factor to verify we test it out.
“We’ve acquired an away journey subsequent week. It was on our plan to present Fraser per week off, so possibly it got here on the proper time.”
Fraser McReight scored a shocking strive towards the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium however completed the match on the sidelines after injuring his shoulder in Brisbane. (Picture by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Photographs)
Kiss’ replace can be music to the ears of not solely Reds followers however Wallabies ones too, with the Take a look at onballer one of many world’s greatest.
His mixture with Harry Wilson and Seru Uru was as soon as once more on present, as Tremendous Rugby’s Harlem Globetrotters turned it on towards the beforehand unbeaten Waratahs.
The Waratahs may need burst out of the blocks by scoring after simply 120 seconds, however Dan McKellar’s facet merely couldn’t stick with the Reds on a helter-skelter night the place the sport was performed at an excellent tempo.
With Uru in classic type, the Reds continued to develop enjoying behind the Fijian-born back-row baller.
It allowed Tom Lynagh to drag the strings and the fly-half managed the tempo magnificently for the house facet.
“I believed it was a cracker of a match,” Kiss mentioned.
“They got here at us early, scored early and we needed to maintain fort. We weren’t very tidy early, they have been on prime of us however we saved hanging in there. I believed it was a cracker.
“We wish to assume we will play some ways, however we’ve to play robust and thru the center first.”
Constructed as a match between two potential Wallabies coaches, Kiss didn’t do his probabilities of convincing Rugby Australia any hurt after the Reds’ emphatic response following final week’s disappointing first lack of the season to the Crusaders.
However Kiss, who has interviewed twice with RA The Roar understands, was doing his greatest to keep up his ideas have been solely on main the Reds to a drought-breaking title in 2025.
“That’s the place it’s at. It’s in that area. I do know they’re speaking to folks, I don’t know who. I’m simply focussed on this,” Kiss instructed Stan Sport.
“Final week was fairly robust. I’ve simply been focussed on what I do for this staff.”
Requested particularly about his presentation with the Reds, Kiss added: “All I’m doing is simply chatting to them, and I’m additionally chatting to the Reds. There’s nothing additional to that.
“The locker room is completely dedicated to doing what we will to make the Reds higher each single week.”
Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss says his focus is solely on Tremendous Rugby regardless of being linked to the Wallabies head teaching position. (Picture by Albert Perez/Getty Photographs)
After the Waratahs put the Reds below a world of stress early, the turning level within the sport got here within the 14th minute when Take a look at exterior again Andrew Kellaway was proven a yellow card for a harmful lifting deal with on Harry Wilson.
Kellaway and Wilson exchanged loads of phrases because the Waratahs again made his means off, but it surely was the Reds back-rower who was laughing quickly after.
With Kellaway off the sphere, Reds fullback Heremaia Murray, who’d had a tricky opening few matches since switching from the Crusaders, noticed area in behind the Waratahs defence and scored a shocking solo attempt to assist flip the momentum.
Though the Waratahs managed to get their noses again in entrance by way of a Lawson Creighton penalty, it was their final little bit of pleasure for 50 minutes because the Reds ran in 4 straight transformed tries to blow away their opponents.
The injury was accomplished by means of up entrance, with the 4 transformed tries scored by the forwards with Wilson and alternative hooker Richie Asiata scoring earlier than the break, earlier than McReight and lock Angus Blyth scored.
The guests had their probabilities within the second half, however have been twice held up over the road earlier than Langi Gleeson ultimately powered his means over from shut vary.
“It was a tricky begin to captain life, it wasn’t a lot enjoyable,” stand-in captain Hugh Sinclair mentioned.
“We have been good in some patches however the a lot better staff on the night time received.
“They have been most likely a bit distracted after final week, however they have been too good and on tune tonight.
“They acquired on prime of us at half time and we couldn’t come again.”
Requested the place the Waratahs blew it, Sinclair pointed to the very fact their defence couldn’t gradual the house facet.
“You possibly can’t concede 35 factors and count on to win video games,” he mentioned.
“As soon as we acquired down there finish, we needed to maintain the ball higher.”
