TOWERING lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto believes facing Kiwi opposition brings out the best in the Queensland Reds and Saturday night is the perfect time to show it.
Taking on the champion Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium is a match the entire Queensland squad has been looking forward to since Super Rugby Trans-Tasman was first unveiled.
Watch every minute of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
The challenge of proving yourself against the very best is irresistible.
It is also a resumption of the progress the Reds felt they were making against Kiwi sides before the COVID-19 pandemic halted Super Rugby in its tracks in March last year.
The Reds lost 24-20 to the Crusaders in Christchurch in one of the best matches of 2020. After woeful goalkicking scuttled the night, Thorn said he’d “had enough of noble defeats” because four tries-to-three, a classic Henry Speight try ignited over 80m and 13 line breaks was more than enough in attack to have pulled off a grand upset.
Ten days later, the competition was shut down.
“We make no excuses for the Highlanders' game last week. It’s great we now get this chance to take on the Crusaders in front of our fans at Suncorp Stadium because I think playing the Kiwis brings out the best in us,” Salakaia-Loto said.
“I actually prefer playing the New Zealand sides. The games are a bit more free-flowing so you are getting more touches and more carries.
“It’s awesome to test yourself against the best because it makes you a better player.
"You can't look past Richie Mo'unga, (as the dangerman). He's been a world-class No.10 for years. Through their pack with Codie Taylor, Sam Whitelock and others, you know it will definitely take a team effort and 80 minutes against them.
"That's definitely not something we are foreign to."
One hard fact of Brad Thorn’s four-season reign as Reds coach is a single win over Kiwi opposition with the 29-28 win over the Blues in Brisbane in 2019.
The 38-34 loss to the Hurricanes in 2018, the narrow losses to the Chiefs (19-13) and Highlanders (36-31) in 2019 and last year’s Christchurch match have all had thrilling conclusions that could have gone the other way.
Winning in tight finishes is what the Reds of 2021 have learnt so Saturday night’s big contest in front of more than 20,000 loyal fans will be titanic if the teams are neck-and-neck with 10 minutes to play.
Salakaia-Loto is a young veteran at 24 who has been there all the way since Thorn started out as Queensland Under-20s coach in 2016.
His thumping tackles, his willing ball-running, strong lineout work and general authority have all been integral to the Reds’ rise.
The magnitude of what was achieved with the pulsating Super Rugby AU triumph over the Brumbies in the final hit him on many levels.
On a personal level, it was a confirmation of how far he’d come himself from a raw, unfit teenager of potential to influential Super Rugby winner.
As part of a champion team, it meant even more.
“It’s hard to put that feeling at full-time into words. The look in our faces as players and the few tears we shed explained it all,” Salakaia-Loto said.
“A few of the boys had been there from the start when ‘Thorny’ first came in as coach in 2018.
“He came in when we were really struggling as a club. All the hardships and the tough stuff, it sucked.
“You look back at it today and you are thankful for the lessons and grateful for the hardships for shaping us into the players we are.
“Guys like Nela (Taniela Tupou), (Alex) Mafi, Mo (Sorovi), Hamish Stewart and Angus (Scott-Young) know what I’m talking about.
“We developed and Thorny developed as a coach which is something he has acknowledged as well.
“There’s a good chemistry and it’s very satisfying to see the public getting behind us.”
READ MORE:
RALLY TIME: Brumbies back Lolesio
STAYING PUT: Bell remaining a Waratah
NEW TECH: Super Rugby trialling concussion VR
Turning a poorly-formed club into a very good one is invariably a process of a thousand little improvements.
Salakaia-Loto is certain of one key element.
“We got in touch with Queensland,” Salakaia-Loto said.
Being part of the Reds-to-Regions initiative that has scattered Reds players to all corners of the state in the 2020 and 2021 pre-seasons has been a winner in terms or reconnecting the squad to who they represent.
Salakaia-Loto travelled to Townsville last year and to a farm in Emerald before this season began.
“Going to Emerald is something I never would have done. We were on a pretty remote farm being involved with robots being built for agriculture,” Salakaia-Loto said.
Salakaia-Loto is now a 25-Test Wallaby with a hunger to keep improving when the exciting eToro France Series unfolds over three Tests in July.
“I definitely think my best footy is still ahead of me. I’ve always been told I’ve got good potential but it’s up to me to put in the hard work to unlock that and bring it to life. I'm hungry for it,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of effort to put in to push my case for July.”
Salakaia-Loto is positive about the improvements the Wallabies can make with coach Dave Rennie in his second season in charge.
It's the battle of the champions as the Queensland Reds host the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium. Click here to get your tickets.
