Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, John Bryant, Massimo De Lutiis, Irishman Cormac Daly and former All Black Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen have given Queensland Reds fans a glimpse at an exciting future.
The Reds won a fast-paced clash against Japan’s Saitama Wild Knights 31-29 at the new Ballymore in a Saturday afternoon spectacle that produced nine tries for nearly 3000 fans.
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The Reds gave the clash the respect of awarding a full cap in the first match of that status played at the venue since the Reds-Blues Super Rugby clash of 2010. Both sides were largely experimental but the Reds still fielded 2022 Wallabies Harry Wilson and Jock Campbell as well as regulars Sef Fa’agase, Seru Uru, Josh Flook, Kalani Thomas and first-time captain Lawson Creighton.
It was the first time in charge for Reds coach Les Kiss and there were signs of a new style after the club’s six seasons under Brad Thorn.
Kiss handed the keys to 19-year-old playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips and there was an instant return from the Man-of-the-Match.
It took only five minutes for the diehard Reds fans in the new McLean Stand to understand the exciting dimensions to the young flyhalf.
He was under penalty advantage but a short chip kick-and-regather was a glimpse at his go-for-it methods even in the opening 60 seconds.
The game was five minutes old when debutant flanker Bryant made a strong carry to get the Reds on the front foot. Off quick ruck ball, McLaughlin-Phillips speared ahead, shed a defender and slipped a one-handed off-load to winger Ryan. Ryan’s own pass put Mac Grealy over for the first of his two tries.
The best aspect to the Reds’ 21-12 half-time advantage was the lead taken by the team’s young players.
Bryant got his hands on the ball to earn a penalty early on to show that he might be a No.8 by trade but with versatile skills.
Hooker Max Craig got his throwing radar sorted quickly after his first was picked off.
Lock Daly looks a real find. The Reds have a number of locks who run into people but none like Daly with a subtle step to slide through the defence as he did on a 15m run in the first half.
Ryan is slender but pacy and athletic.
De Lutiis has a big frame. He’ll be a terrific tighthead in a few years. He came on for the final 15 minutes or so but the Junior Wallaby had a big role to play.
The Wild Knights of former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had roared back from 21-5 down to trail 31-29 with the put-in to attacking scrum 7m out on full-time.
De Lutiis, George Blake and hooker Moli Sooaemalagi produced a strong shunt and earned a game-settling penalty as the Wild Knights scrum disintegrated.
More immediately, the Reds will be getting great value from Toomaga-Allen, the shrewd former All Black who has bolstered their scrum. He played 48 minutes.
Grealy had perhaps his best and most consistent game for Queensland while centre Flook made two strong breaks.
Wilson picked his moments but when he did they were decisive. The Wild Knights actually poppedtheir noses in front 22-21 at the hour mark. It was only for a blink until Wilson steamed onto a pass from Brothers clubmate Creighton.
Wilson’s left-footed grubber was a new skill but it sat up for replacement halfback Louis Werchon, who gathered the ball for the try to restore order at 26-22.
“Harry had some really good varying moments at flyhalf. Having the presence of (halfback) Kalani and (inside centre) Lawson around him was really helpful too,” Kiss said.
“We blooded 11 new players. That’s what these games are about, getting that experience and increasing that competitive pressure for positions down the track.
“You had guys like John Bryant and (backrower) Lachie Connors show again they can bend the line. How far can they go?”
Deans saluted the Wild Knights and Reds organisations for turning the Saitama-Queensland Shield match into an annual fixture after last year’s inaugural outing in Japan.
“There’s been one flawed effort to bring in Japan (to Super Rugby). The future will include Japanand this is establishing a connection the right way,” Deans said.
“The previous effort (with Super Rugby) was about chasing revenue. It was the wrong motivation. You have to take the public along and build interest and this relationship between the Reds and the Wild Knights is developing for the right reasons.”
Queensland Reds 31 (M Grealy 2, J Flook, T Ryan, L Werchon tries; L Creighton 3 con) bt Saitama Wild Knights 29 (R Noguchi, K Shimane, V Aso, Y Shimogama tries; T Yamasawa 3 con, pen goal)
