The Reds have all but locked up second place of the Super Rugby Men’s U16s ladder, with their 24-12 victory over the Western Force proving critical in the context of their season.
The Force will have the bye for the final round this weekend, meaning they won’t be able to chase down the Reds to secure a maiden final appearance.
Elsewhere, Victoria notched their maiden win of the campaign, consigning the Brumbies U16 side to the bottom of the ladder, and a likely worst-ever finish in their history, with a 31-20 victory at La Trobe University.
Rugby Australia's High Performance staff select their Team of the Week from Round Four.
Back for his second appearance in as many weeks, Kite headlines a blossoming contingent of exciting props coming out of Queensland.
The Reds took the Force to task at scrum time, with Kite enjoying an exceptional day at setpiece.
On a tough day for the Brumbies in Victoria, Levi Park stood out as one of the most impressive on park for the visitors.
The Brumbies were dominant at lineout, with Park throwing 11 perfect throws across the day.
Busting three tackles and making a line break, Te Whitu added to an imposing performance at scrum time.
The result allowed the Reds to power away against the Force, which ultimately proved the difference.
Leading the Force’s lineout, Sio put in a big shift for the Force pack on a tough afternoon in Perth.
Not making a single error throughout the match, Sio helped steady the ship to stop the stem the Reds’ momentum in the second half.
Staying in the west, the Queensland lock played a major part in the Reds’ dominance over the Force at set piece.
With nine lineout wins and several steals, Bradford backed it up busting two tackles in general play.
Topping the carry count and the tackle count for the Force, Leeson Tiakia emptied the tank on a day where the Force came up against a tough opposition.
Capping it off with a try for his efforts, it was a result that saw him leave with his stocks firmly risen.
Back in the team of the week for the second time in as many weeks, Lachlan Ilott continued to show the valuable motor he has.
Making 14 tackles, his performance may not have made the highlight reel, but it was a valuable one to stem the Queensland momentum.
Making a mammoth 13 tackles and six carries, Toko’s workrate caused all sorts of issues for the Brumbies.
The loose forward made a big impact in delivering the Victorian side their first win of the season.
The snappy Force halfback had a busy day against the Reds, getting the hosts on the board early in Perth.
Asking questions all afternoon, the halfback’s strong defensive effort also played a major part as the Force stopped the Reds’ from running away with it.
Making ten carries across the match, the Victorian halves combination played a major part in their victory over the Brumbies.
Lenix showed brilliant attacking versatility, opening up his centres to cause all sorts of carnage.
The Brumbies might be at the bottom of the ladder, but they have a great find on their hands in Cayden Cross, who makes his second consecutive appearance in the team of the week.
Making three line breaks, beating ten defenders and scoring two tries, Cross played a major factor in the Brumbies getting back into the match in Victoria.
Having a perfect defensive record and busting four tackles, Smith was a hard player for the Force to wrangle in attack and defence.
Beating five defenders, making two offloads and managing a linebreak assist, Finau was the most dangerous back for Victoria against the Brumbies.
It capped off a strong performance of the afternoon, putting several players in space to cut the men from Canberra to shreds.
Speaking of which, Samasoni put Finau’s dominance of the midfield to good use, making ten carries and busting four tackles on the wing.
It was a stellar 70-minute performance from the young back, showing the blossoming talent on display in Victoria.
A firm back three weapon with the boot, the Reds’ fullback was faced with challenging conditions in Perth, and managed them brilliantly, his boot frequently turning defence into attack.
When the Force shut the game down, Tonelli-Smith’s boot proved valuable on several occasions, ultimately proving decisive in the Reds’ win.
