- The Reds emerged as contenders in 2024
- They were belt from the opening whistle against Chiefs
- They are committed to building momentum for future success.
The Queensland Reds are eyeing future spoils after their season of high hopes and promise ended in disappointment with a 43-21 submission to the Chiefs in the first Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Hamilton.
The ruthless and clinical Chiefs ran four unanswered tries in the first half to take a 31-0 half-time lead and set up the Reds’ demolition task at FMG Stadium Waikato.
With three wins over New Zealand rivals for the first time since 2013, including a historic victory over defending champions Crusaders in Christchurch and a third round defeat of the Chiefs in Brisbane, the Reds truly believed they were title contenders in 2024.
But their dreams were shattered within 15 minutes on Friday night when Chiefs took a 21-0 lead through an early double try from hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and one from winger Emoni Narawa.
The Queensland Reds had no answers for the Chiefs’ initial attack and were shot after just 15 minutes.
It comes after a season that promised a lot but ended in the quarterfinals in Waikato
The Reds threatened a second-half comeback thanks to the play of Wallabies number 9 Tate McDermott but were unable to close the deficit.
Fierce at the break, the Chiefs dominated physically.
But it was brilliant play from master playmaker Damian McKenzie and a recovery and kick from fullback Shaun Stevenson that set up Chiefs’ fourth try, finished by Etene Nanai-Seturo, and the match-winning half-time lead.
Queensland briefly threatened to fight back with the first try of the second half through Wallabies co-captain and number 9 Tate McDermott.
But normal service resumed when All Blacks ace Anton Lienert-Brown crossed for the Chiefs’ fifth try in the 55th minute to extend the hosts’ insurmountable lead to 38-7.
McDermott grabbed a second for the Reds but it was merely a consolation as Queensland captain Liam Wright rued the missed opportunity.
“There’s a lot of things I like,” Wright said.
“We wanted to do it all this year, obviously. That’s what every team wants to do.
“We thought we had opportunities and we just couldn’t take advantage of them in this game.
“But we’ve developed some really good guys, we’ve built some good combinations with new coaches and we’re excited to see what this group can continue to produce.”
‘We just have to keep working harder to be better right now.
‘We are showing parts of it. We’re building a game where we can be competitive and beat good teams like this, like the Chiefs.
‘So that’s where we’re trying to head. Tonight it was probably the breakdown that disappointed us a little.’
Retired Chiefs player Sam Cane with his son Hudson and wife Harriet Cane were at the game.
Queensland hopes to use 2024 season as platform for future Super Rugby success
Queensland’s exit from the competition leaves the ACT Brumbies as Australia’s best chance of breaking the Kiwis’ decade-long trans-Tasman stranglehold on the Super Rugby title.
But as well as needing to eliminate the Highlanders in Canberra on Saturday, the Brumbies are now reliant on the soon-to-be-defunct Melbourne Rebels beating the Hurricanes to secure a home semi-final.
Otherwise, the Brumbies will head to New Zealand and will need to become the first Australian team to win a final in Tasmania to remain in the title hunt.
Whoever they play and wherever they play, the Chiefs are full of confidence that they can win the competition for the first time since 2012, after falling in last year’s semi-finals.
“I have a lot of faith,” captain Luke Jacobson said.
‘We are preparing at the right time. We are starting to peak.
‘So you don’t have to do it during the season. “It matters in the final, so that’s all we’re aiming for.”