Reds coach Les Kiss has warned his in-form side against complacency and tipped a competition shake-up over the coming month of Super Rugby Pacific.
Speaking to media ahead of Queensland’s Round 5 clash with the Western Force, Kiss rubbished suggestions the Reds were title contenders after just four games and pointed to their earlier trial loss to Simon Cron’s side.
Check out our Super Rugby Pacific Round 5 Preview here.
“There’s nothing really been done yet,” Kiss said of his side’s 3-1 start to 2024.
“Complacency’s always something you’ve got to be wary of. Can you really inoculate against it? I’m not sure.
“The Force played us here 6-8 weeks ago and they beat us. They’ve been playing well so we have to be wary of them as much as ourselves.”
“The last time an Aussie team won there was a long time ago and they certainly aim up at home (so) we’re trying to make sure it’s not a banana skin that’s for sure.”
Despite Kiss’ protests, Queensland enter Saturday night’s clash as heavy favourites against a Force outfit yet to win in 2024.
The Reds currently sit third behind the Hurricanes and Chiefs and are can move into the top two with victory over the cellar-dwelling Force, though Kiss still credits the Kiwis as pacesetters.
“The Chiefs, possibly, and maybe Canes have really been on fire at the moment, they’re probably the teams really showing the way,” Kiss said.
“The rest of us are still finding out how we can survive in this rarefied air … so we’ve got to keep our head and stay focused.
“I think there’s going to be a lot more movement in the ladder ... I think it’s going to move significantly over the next 4-5 weeks.
"Every game’s important and this is our second game in a row on the road against another Aussie team.”
