Bloody training ground blow-up between Queensland forwards to ignite big season for Reds

A TRAINING blow-up between Ben Daley and James Horwill has ignited the fire for a big start to the season by the Queensland Reds.

A FEISTY training blow-up between Ben Daley and captain James Horwill has ignited the fire for a big start to the season by the Queensland Reds.

The burly forwards engaged in a headgear grabbing, face-to-face spat that was spiced by some verbal growling as well.

After months of pre-season grinding and gym work, the Reds squad relished ripping into each other in a full-on 20-minute "game simulation''.

Props Daley and Greg Holmes both ended the session at Ballymore with bloodied head cuts that needed stitches.

News_Image_File: Ben Daley trains in his bloodied training jersey. Picture: Bradley Kanaris.

All the pent-up energy found an outlet because it was the first time this year that the squad's full Wallabies contingent was involved in such a contact session. A tepid session would have been a grave worry.

Instead, a bit of feeling to the hits cranked out by centre Chris Feauai-Sautia, Liam Gill, Saia Faingaa and Co was perfect eight days out from the team's first trial against Super Rugby's champion Chiefs in Toowoomba.

Daley had been bloodied by an accidental head clash with Horwill earlier in the session which needed six stitches. He returned with his brow taped, ready to lock horns.

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"It's always good to see a bit of fire. It brings out the best in the team and means we're up for it,'' Daley's front-row mate Saia Faingaa said after the session.

"Dales loves a scrap. I reckon he was $1.03 to have one with someone at the start of the session.''

Daley and Wallabies hardman Horwill have been friends and Reds teammates for six seasons.

"You want fully opposed sessions to get pretty fiery and physical. We had a couple of clashes in the heat of the moment but it was pretty tame at the end,'' Daley said.

News_Image_File: James Horwill carries the ball forward during the feisty training session. Picture: Bradley Kanaris.

"You want a bit of aggression a week out from the season. We 'slow danced' and made up. We'll save the fireworks for the games.''

As is the Reds' curious custom after such clashes at training, the offenders engage in a brief slow dance inside a circle of their smirking teammates to dissolve the issue.

Former Wallaby Daley started only two of his eight games for the Reds during an injury-ruined 2013 so his urgency to put a stamp on this new season is obvious.

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He is a valued leader and tackling enforcer in the side and will get a long-awaited comeback chance against the Chiefs in the opening trial.

Coach Richard Graham and new pack mentor Nick Stiles will not be bothered at all by the scrap because it means their men are ready for the real thing in Toowoomba.

No.8 Jake Schatz, robbed of a Test debut by knee surgery last year, is in full swing to start in the trials against the Chiefs and Melbourne Rebels at Ballymore on February 14.