On an emotional ANZAC Day evening at Suncorp Stadium, the Queensland Reds burst out of the blocks to establish an early lead against the defending champions, before pulling away in the second half for a comprehensive 35-21 victory over a 14-man Blues side that fought valiantly despite losing All Black winger Mark Tele’a to a red card.
Key moments:
4′ – Tom Lynagh powers over from close range for opening try (5-0)
6′ – Lynagh converts his own try (7-0)
8′ – Lynagh scores his second try after Jock Campbell break (12-0)
9′ – Lynagh converts again (14-0)
31′ – Mark Tele’a red-carded for dangerous tip tackle on Tim Ryan
36′ – Kurt Eklund scores from close range for Blues (14-5)
37′ – Harry Plummer converts (14-7)
52′ – Tate McDermott splits Blues defence for brilliant solo try (19-7)
53′ – Lynagh converts (21-7)
60′ – Lachie Anderson scores after Asiata’s no-look pass (26-7)
61′ – Lynagh converts (28-7)
67′ – Sam Nock scores from close range for Blues (28-12)
68′ – Beauden Barrett converts (28-14)
70′ – Richie Asiata crashes over from rolling maul (33-14)
71′ – Lynagh converts (35-14)
76′ – Anton Segner scores Blues’ third try (35-19)
77′ – Barrett converts (35-21)
Tom Lynagh, son of Wallabies legend Michael, was the star performer with two tries and a perfect five-from-five conversion record as the Reds capitalised on their tactical kicking game and forward dominance to snap a two-match losing streak and cement their position in the top four.
With rain threatening and conditions slippery underfoot, the Reds executed their game plan perfectly from the opening whistle. After patient build-up play earned them a penalty in Blues territory, they plugged the corner and went through multiple forward phases before Lynagh spotted a gap near the line. The young fly-half showed impressive strength for his slight frame, wrestling past Hoskins Sotutu’s attempted tackle and stretching out to plant the ball over the line for the opening score in the fourth minute.
Lynagh’s conversion was clean and true from a relatively straightforward position, settling any early nerves for the home side. Just three minutes later, he was celebrating again after finishing off a clinical attacking move that showcased Queensland’s tactical awareness. Sensing vulnerability in the Blues’ back three, Lynagh launched a high bomb that spiralled into the night sky, putting Blues fullback Zarn Sullivan under immense pressure as he backpedalled towards his own goal line. The All Black aspirant couldn’t handle the swirling ball, spilling it forward to hand possession back to the hungry Reds.
The hosts pounced immediately, working the ball through quick hands to Jock Campbell, who hit a perfectly timed angled run that split the Blues’ defensive line. As the final defender approached, Campbell delivered a perfectly weighted inside pass to the supporting Lynagh, who sprinted untouched to the line for his second try in the eighth minute, pushing the score to 12-0. Lynagh’s conversion extended the lead to 14-0, leaving the visitors stunned by the early onslaught.
The Blues, staring at a significant deficit, gradually found their rhythm as the half progressed. Despite the Reds’ territorial advantage, the Auckland-based side began to dominate possession and hammered away at the Queensland try line. On three separate occasions, the Blues thought they had scored – first through Hoskins Sotutu, who was held up in a last-ditch defensive effort, and then Kurt Eklund twice – but each time the Reds’ desperate defence held them up over the line or forced technical infringements. The home crowd roared their approval as the Reds’ goal-line defence repeatedly repelled the waves of Blue attackers.
The turning point arrived on the half-hour mark when Blues winger Mark Tele’a was initially yellow-carded for a dangerous tip tackle on Tim Ryan, with the officials upgrading it to red after TMO review. Ryan, nicknamed the “Junkyard Dog” and who scored a hat-trick against the Blues last season, had gathered a clearing kick when Tele’a upended him, causing Ryan’s head and shoulders to make direct contact with the ground – a clear red card offence under the current laws designed to protect player safety.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Blues’ persistence finally paid off in the 36th minute. After sustained pressure on the Reds’ line, Kurt Eklund powered over from close range following patient pick-and-drive play that finally cracked the resolute Queensland defence. The Blues hooker, who had been denied twice earlier, showed tremendous leg drive to power through three Reds defenders and ground the ball against the base of the post. Harry Plummer’s simple conversion reduced the deficit to seven points, giving the visitors a lifeline heading into the break.
The rain began to fall as the second half commenced, making handling increasingly difficult for both sides. The Blues continued to show their championship mettle by attacking early, with Angus Ta’avao crossing the line only for the try to be ruled out for an earlier knock-on from Hoskins Sotutu. It was a frustrating moment for the visitors, who had constructed an excellent multi-phase attack despite being a man down.
Queensland weathered the early storm before capitalising on their numerical advantage with a scintillating solo effort from captain Tate McDermott in the 52nd minute. The Reds had been methodically building pressure through their forward pack when McDermott, ever the opportunist, spotted a defensive mismatch. The livewire scrum-half identified props Angus Ta’avao and Josh Beehre defending the fringes of a ruck, accelerating through the gap between them from 30 metres out with a devastating turn of pace that left the Blues’ cover defence grasping at thin air as he raced under the posts.
McDermott’s try was a masterclass in scrum-half play – the patience to wait for the right moment combined with the explosive acceleration to exploit the opportunity when it appeared. Lynagh’s conversion extended the lead to 21-7, putting the hosts firmly in control as the skies opened further above Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds’ coaching staff began to empty their bench around the hour mark, but rather than disrupting their momentum, the fresh legs seemed to energise the home side. Eight minutes after McDermott’s effort, winger Lachie Anderson claimed Queensland’s fourth try following a moment of magic from hooker Richie Asiata. What initially appeared to be a standard rolling maul from a lineout transformed into an attacking gem when Asiata broke unexpectedly from the back, drawing in multiple defenders before delivering a perfectly weighted no-look pass to the unmarked Anderson, who sprinted clear to touch down in the corner.
With Lynagh maintaining his perfect kicking record to extend the lead to 28-7, the Blues needed a swift response to salvage anything from the match. The introduction of star fly-half Beauden Barrett from the bench provided the spark the Blues sought. The All Blacks veteran immediately injected pace and direction into the visitors’ attack, orchestrating a period of sustained pressure that culminated in replacement halfback Sam Nock darting over from close range in the 67th minute. The try was a testament to the Blues’ persistence – after 15 phases of probing the Reds’ defence, Nock spotted a fractional gap around the fringes of a ruck and displayed tremendous acceleration to burst through and slide over despite the increasingly treacherous underfoot conditions.
Barrett’s clean conversion brought the score to 28-14, momentarily raising the possibility of an against-the-odds comeback from the defending champions.
Any hopes of a remarkable recovery were extinguished just three minutes later, however, when Asiata capped a fine individual performance by crashing over from a powerful rolling maul that showcased the Reds’ forward dominance. In a curious twist, Asiata had just been substituted but was forced back into the fray following an injury to his replacement George Blake, making an immediate impact by controlling the ball at the back of a well-constructed driving maul that the Blues, despite committing additional defenders, simply couldn’t halt as it rumbled inexorably towards the try line.
Lynagh’s fifth successful conversion of the night – this one from a challenging angle near the touchline – stretched the advantage to 35-14 with just ten minutes remaining, effectively sealing victory for the hosts and ensuring Queensland’s first win over the Blues since 2019.
To their credit, the Blues refused to surrender despite the scoreline and difficult conditions. With the clock winding down, they constructed their most fluent attacking move of the night, with Barrett pulling the strings masterfully. After multiple phases stretching the Reds’ defence from touchline to touchline, Anton Segner identified a mismatch near the ruck and powered over from close range in the 76th minute, showing impressive strength to brush aside two tacklers on his way to the line.
Barrett’s conversion in the 77th minute made it 35-21, denying the Reds a potential bonus point but doing little to salvage the Blues’ night. A final chance for the visitors went begging when Corey Evans fumbled his attempt to ground a Barrett grubber kick in-goal, summing up a night of frustration for the champions. The Reds professionally closed out the remaining minutes, winning a final scrum penalty after the hooter to confirm their comprehensive victory.
The final whistle confirmed a 35-21 victory for the Reds, snapping their two-match losing streak and securing their first win over the Blues since 2019. The result solidifies the Reds’ position in the top four, moving them to a 6-3 record and five points clear of the fifth-placed Western Force, while the Blues’ playoff hopes took another significant blow as they slumped to ninth on the ladder with a concerning 3-7 record.
The halfback combination of McDermott and Lynagh orchestrated the Reds’ most complete performance of the season, with their tactical kicking game and decision-making proving decisive throughout the contest. McDermott’s control of the tempo was exemplary, alternating between quick service to unleash his backline and probing runs that constantly tested the Blues’ fringe defence. Lynagh, meanwhile, justified the faith shown in him with a mature display that belied his years – his perfect kicking record from the tee and composed game management under pressure saw him awarded the inaugural Sellars Dixon Medal for player of the match.
In the forward pack, Richie Asiata was outstanding both in the set-piece and open play, while Fraser McReight’s breakdown work repeatedly disrupted the Blues’ attacking rhythm. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was more accurate and physical in the contact zone, providing the platform for Queensland’s clinical attack. For the visitors, Hoskins Sotutu carried powerfully throughout, and Kurt Eklund worked tirelessly despite the numerical disadvantage his team faced for most of the match.
The Blues will rue the ill-discipline that led to Tele’a’s sending off, but equally concerning will be their inability to convert territory and possession into points during a first half where they dominated large periods only to be repeatedly repelled by Queensland’s resolute goal-line defence. Their malfunctioning lineout, which lost four throws, and indecision under the high ball only compounded their problems. The pressure now mounts on Vern Cotter’s men, who were without Dalton Papali’i and Caleb Clarke, and return home to face the Force next Friday, desperately needing to arrest their form slump to avoid missing the playoffs entirely just months after lifting the trophy.
The Blues now sit four points behind the sixth-placed Waratahs with four matches to play, and could fall as low as 10th by the end of the round depending on other results. Their title defence appears increasingly precarious with each passing week, with their remaining fixtures against the Force (home), Drua (away), Moana Pasifika (away) and Waratahs (home) now taking on must-win status.
The Reds, meanwhile, travel to Fiji for a challenging encounter against the Fijian Drua, buoyed by a five-try performance that showcased both their attacking prowess and defensive resilience on an emotionally charged ANZAC Day evening at Suncorp Stadium. Coach Les Kiss will be particularly pleased with his side’s clinical finishing – converting their opportunities where the Blues couldn’t – and the impact of his replacements in maintaining momentum throughout the second half.
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