Harry Wilson and Carter Gordon will make their returns for the Queensland Reds in Friday night’s match against the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium.
In all, five returning Wallabies are stiffening the Reds for their first big home game of 2026 with outside back Filipo Daugunu, hooker Josh Nasser and halfback Kalani Thomas to come off the bench.
The infusion of experience is significant. No.8 Wilson, the Wallabies skipper, is in his seventh season of Super Rugby after being named in World Rugby’s 2025 Dream Team of the Year.
Flyhalf Gordon played in the Reds’ trials against the Western Force and NSW Waratahs. On Friday, he will live out his schoolboy dream of a Reds Super Rugby debut, having first signed for the club at 17 in 2018 and signing up again late last year.
Gordon will partner in the halves with fellow Sunshine Coast product Louis Werchon. Off the bench, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will offer spark as a No.10 option. Reserve halfback Thomas is coming off a career-best season in 2025 when he was regularly a game-changer from the bench.
Playing at Suncorp Stadium in front of family, friends and fans has a special energy for the team. The Reds have won 10 of their 14 matches at Suncorp Stadium across the 2024 and 2025 seasons in Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific.
“I’m buzzing. I love playing at Suncorp. It’s a unique ecosystem with a run of people coming into the ground from Caxton Street so the energy is infectious,” Reds hooker Matt Faessler said.
Skipper Fraser McReight said the Reds had worked on improvements to their game and had full respect for the Highlanders.
“The Highlanders look like they have a bag of tricks and they’ve got some very talented players. We’re prepared,” McReight said.
The Reds have picked a strong all-Wallabies front-row with Aidan Ross, Zane Nonggorr and Faessler to start. Nasser, former All Black Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and George Blake will sustain the front-row performance through the full 80 minutes when they come on from the bench.
Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said the team was looking forward to the match at Suncorp Stadium in front of the Reds’ loudest fans.
“This is our home and we always want to put out a performance worthy of the Queensland jersey,” Kiss said.
“We have been working hard on areas that will be important against the Highlanders. We know how getting all those little moments right do add up in rugby."
Friday, February 27
Suncorp Stadium
6:35pm AEST
Watch live on Stan Sport
1 Aidan Ross - Bond University - Otumoetai College, NZ - Te Puke Sports
2 Matt Faessler - Brothers - Toowoomba Grammar - USQ Saints
3 Zane Nonggorr - Bond University - The Southport School - Gold Coast Eagles
4 Josh Canham - Bond University - Brighton Grammar, Melb - Harlequin RC, Melb
5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - Souths - John Edmondson HS, Sydney - Southern Districts, Sydney
6 Joe Brial - University of Queensland - Scots College - Easts, Sydney
7 Fraser McReight (c) - Brothers - Brisbane Grammar - Albany Creek Brumbies
8 Harry Wilson - Brothers - St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace - Gunnedah Red Devils
9 Louis Werchon - Wests - Sunshine Coast Grammar - Maroochydore Swans
10 Carter Gordon* - Wests - Brisbane Boys' College - Wests
11 Tim Ryan - Brothers - St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe
12. Hunter Paisami - Wests – Mangere College, Auckland - Manukau Rovers
13 Josh Flook - Brothers -Nudgee College - Brothers
14 Lachie Anderson - University of Queensland - Oakhill College, Sydney - Dural RC, Sydney
15 Jock Campbell - University of Queensland - The Southport School - Inverell Highlanders
16 Josh Nasser - University of Queensland - St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace - Easts
17 George Blake - Bond University - The Southport School - Fasi Maufanga Eels, Tonga
18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Norths - Wellington College, NZ
19 Hamish Muller - Brothers - Toowoomba Grammar - USQ Saints
20 Vaiuta Latu - Brothers - St Peters Lutheran College - Pine Rivers Pumas
21 Kalani Thomas - University of Queensland - Ipswich Grammar - Souths
22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - Wests - Brisbane Boys’ College - Gunnedah Red Devils
23 Filipo Daugunu - Sunnybank - Dogotuki District School, Fiji
