The Western Force's season is still alive, a stunning performance from Los Puma Franco Molina seeing the visitors run out 42-19 bonus point winners to stun the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
NRL convert Zac Lomax was expected to debut; however, he was ruled out at the last minute due to hamstring tightness, with Nathan Hastie also a late scratching for the visitors.
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However, it was a case of no Lomax, no worries, as the visitors won the physical contest against a Reds side that welcomed back Wallabies Carter Gordon, Josh Flook, Matt Faessler, and Zane Nonggorr.
The Force took the lead early with a double to Molina, but the Reds stayed in touch and led briefly via tries to Tim Ryan and Joe Brial.
However, a long-range effort from the Force backline saw Grealy nab a third try on halftime, the visitors heading into the break 21-12 ahead.
An incredibly disciplined second half and a brilliant set-piece performance spearheaded by Molina saw the Force pick up two more tries to Darby Lancaster and Brandon Paenga-Amosa, the visitors threatening an upset.
The Reds struck back with a long-range effort from Filipo Daugunu, threatening to deny the Force a winning bonus point.
However, Molina capped off a stunning night with a try in the last play of the game, earning a well-earned hat-trick to see the Force secure their first bonus point win over the Reds since 2012.
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The Force win the scrum, they want that bonus point.
They attack well, but the Reds hold out well as the clock goes red.
They push, and Molina out of nowhere, carries four players over to score a hat-trick and complete a stellar performance.
Donaldson nails the conversion, and the Force are still alive in 2026, achieving a bonus point win over the Reds for the first time since 2012.
Reds try to go long range again, but a great intercept from Harry Johnson-Holmes sees the Force snuff out any hope of a surprise win.
Reds go long but knock it on, and Force nearly score down the other end from Bridge.
We have a knock on, and Force scrum in the Reds 22 as we head into the final minute.
Reds go off the scrum, and break out of the 22!
Great support play, and Daugunu breaks off to score a valuable try, the Force losing a bonus point.
The Reds are running out of time, as they concede a critical penalty in their own territory.
Donaldson goes to the corner, the Force looking to ice it with another try.
They go to the maul, then peel off, with Henry Robertson darting his way through to score… but we're going upstairs to check for knock on off the maul, and it looks like it is.
No try, but the Force are winding the clock down well.
Reds earn a free kick off the scrum and work their way back up the field, and after some back and forth, the hosts go wide.
However, Kuenzle manages a critical turnover, and the Force get around him.
A critical moment in the game as they work their way back up into Reds territory and earn an advantage.
The hosts are back to a full complement, but momentum is with the visitors.
They send it to the air and win it back again, making their way into the 22.
After 14 phases, they go to the air but knock it on for a Reds scrum - however, the hosts are at the wrong end of the field with 10 minutes to play.
Queensland finally get some ball, and earn an advantage.
They look dangerous on attack, until Beale picks it out of the air, the referee bringing it back and the Force conceding their first penalty of the half.
Campbell kicks to the corner, but Molina pinches it at the death, a critical steal.
The Force clear off a good run, what a game the Puma is having.
The Force attacks well, getting closer and closer, and BPA gets over! Critical try.
The visitors have their fifth try, and a bonus point lead.
The Reds are more than 20 points begind, and have a mountain to climb in the last quarter of the game.
The Force earn a penalty in front, but they kick to corner to look for a fourth try, the Reds' discipline costing them.
The Reds' maul holds firm, so the Force go to the pigs and earn another advantage.
The ref gives the Reds an official warning, and the Force go to the corner again.
After the restart, Harry Wilson has recieved a yellow card for a head-on-head contact with Molina, the Wallaby captain sent to the bin.
The Force kick to the 22, and go to work quickly.
After a strong lineout, Donaldson goes to the air and Lancaster scores!
However, the winger looks to have hurt his right ankle badly, landing very awkwardly. He's helped off the field as Donaldson nails the extras.
After a messy passage, the Force sends it to the air, and Campbell knocks it on near his own 22.
The Force earn two free kicks quickly and attack in the 22, looking to find a way through, with Molina making big metres.
They go wide and nearly get to the line, earning an advantage, and the Force spin it wide and Kunezle looks to have scored, but the TMO looks again, and he looks to have locked it on.
We go back for the penalty.
A brilliant attack sees Hunter Paisami in space, but an attempt to go wide sees Flook in touch.
The Force regathers and clear, then Molina steals the ball back off the Reds' counterattack and sends it long.
The Reds clear to halfway, and the visitors survive the early pressure.
The teams are back on the field, and Jock Campbell gets us back underway.
A brilliant passage of play from the Force, great hands and support play sees Champion de Crespigny combine to put Grealy away for their third of the night.
Donaldson adds the extras, and that is halftime.
The Reds survive a Force raid, and Paisami gets the side on the front foot, the Force conceding a penalty for losing discipline at the breakdown.
The Reds attack in enemy territory, but BPA nabs a penalty on his opposite number for holding on.
Donaldson clears as we head into the final minute of the first half.
Fraser McReight nabs another penalty at the ruck after a messy passage of play, and the Reds go to the corner.
The Reds attack, but Paisami is penalised for playing the ball on the ground.
Earning another penalty, the Reds kick deeper into Force territory, looking to extend their lead.
They look good, until a good tackle on Carter Gordon sees the ball spill for the Force, they kick ahead, but the ball beats everyone into touch off a Queensland hand.
Force attack and get close to the line, and after nine phases, Molina gets over for his second!
Donaldson converts, and the Force regain the lead.
The Force regather well off the kick-off and attack, but a deep Donaldson bomb sees Ryan take a mark, and sends it long.
Pietsch makes a good run, and the Force are back in a good position. They get isolated and are pinged for holding on, and the Reds kick into enemy territory.
Josh Nasser is forced from the field for a HIA, and Matt Faessler runs on for the 50th cap for the Queensland Reds.
The Reds earn another full arm, and Kalani Thomas taps and goes, combining with Brial to score the Reds' second.
Campbell hits the posts however, but the hosts look dangerous early.
After a strong restart from the Force, a knock-on sees a Reds scrum, and they earn another scrum penalty.
Reds attack off the lineout on halfway, but can't regather off a bomb ball, and the Force earn a lineout.
They win the lineout, but a knock-on from Ekuasi sees the Reds with a golden opportunity.
Tom Robertson is set to head off for an HIA after copping a nasty hit against Tim Ryan, ending a promising passage of play for the Reds, while the medical staff attends to him.
Play resuming, the Reds win a scrum penalty against Robertson's replacement Sef Fa'agase, and the Reds go to the corner.
They don't mess around, and a great set-piece move sees Tim Ryan under the sticks having just come off the bench! Campbell converts, and we're locked up.
The Force attack again, and look dangerous, and finally get their first through a brilliant snipe around the ruck from Pumas star Franco Molina.
Donaldson adds the extras, and we have our first points after a frenetic start.
The Force attacks after a kicking battle, and Lancaster breaks the line.
Reds recover well, but the Force are deep in enemy territory now, and build phases.
After eight phases, McReight earns a penalty at the ruck, and the hosts play on quickly, as Pritchard is forced from the field for an HIA.
Lineout issues now for both sides as the Force pinch it back and attack quickly, but are bundled into touch.
The Reds clear the threat, and the Force attack again from their side of half-way, box kicking to Pritchard but the youngster manages it well.
The Reds recover well and nearly produce a bit of magic, but Flook can't recover.
The visitors start well, forcing the Reds to clear off the kick-off, then going on the attack, looking dangerous early.
However, a knock-on ends the promising play, and the Reds recover and clear. They pinch the lineout, then earn a penalty.
With Zac Lomax cheering from the tunnels the Force head out onto the park, the Reds close behind, and we're set for a big evening of rugby ahead.
The Force is running left to right on the broadcast and will be kicking off.
Ben Donaldson starts us off, and we're underway!
Tries: Ryan, Brial, Daugunu
Cons: Campbell 2/3
Cards: Yellow - Wilson 54'
Tries: Molina 3, Grealy, Lancaster, Paenga-Amosa
Cons: Donaldson 6/6
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Queensland Reds' clash with the Western Force in Brisbane to cap off round eight.
Both sides are going through their warm-up, with confirmation of no changes for the hosts. The Force will have to wait another week to debut their big name arrival Zac Lomax, who is a late omission due to a tight hammy. Nathan Hastie has also been ruled out with a rib injury. Hamish Stewart and Agustin Moyano will come in as replacements.
Conditions look perfect in Brisbane, and we should have a fun evening of running rugby. Force have won the toss and will run left to right.
REDS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Josh Nasser, Nick Bloomfield, Seru Uru, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight (c), Harry Wilson, Kalani Thomas, Carter Gordon, Treyvon Pritchard, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Filipo Daugunu, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Matt Faessler, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Zane Nonggorr, Hamish Muller, Vaiuta Latu, Louis Werchon, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan
FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Franco Molina, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny (c), Jack Daly, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Darby Lancaster, Bayley Kuenzle, George Bridge, Dylan Pietsch, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Sef Fa'agase, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Lopeti Faifua, Will Harris, Agustin Moyano, Kurtley Beale, Hamish Stewart
Refeee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
The Reds' clash with the Force will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm with kickoff expected at 7:35 pm.
