Queenslanders training with wet balls in preparation for battle with Waratahs

The forecast of another wet night has the Queensland Reds preparing accordingly for their Super Rugby Pacific clash with the NSW Waratahs.

The Queensland Reds have been training with wet balls as they prepare for another rainy night against the NSW Waratahs at Leichhardt Oval on Friday.

Despite beating Melbourne 23-5 in the first round of the new Super Rugby Pacific competition, the Reds made several handling errors on a wet Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

With the forecast for more showers this Friday in Sydney, the Queenslanders have been working hard on the training paddock to ensure fewer mistakes in possession against the Waratahs, who opened their season with a crushing 40-10 win over Fijian Drua.

“The wet weather didn’t help (against the Rebels), but it’s meant to be a wet game this weekend; we’ve been training and doing some different things around here with wet balls, so we’re looking forward to it,” Reds centre Hamish Stewart said.

The Reds prevailed in the wet against the Melbourne Rebels. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Reds have a point to prove after being beaten by an ultra-physical Waratahs side 21-14 in their pre-season clash in Roma less than two weeks ago.

“A trial game’s a trial game – this is round two,” Stewart said.

“We’ll bring the physicality and I’m sure they’ll bring the physicality. It’ll be a good (opening) 20-25 minutes.

“When you play NSW you always know you’re going to be in for a battle.”

Stewart likened the situation at the Waratahs, who had a poor 2021 season, to that of the Reds’ rebuilding period a few years ago.

“They’re a young team building and we went through that phase and we respect that, and it’s going to be a tough game,” he said.

“It’s like a State of Origin (match). We look forward to this weekend just as much as they do.”

The Reds remain hopeful co-captain Liam Wright will play this week after injuring his shoulder against the Rebels, but there seems less certainty about the availability of Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami, who took no part in the win over Melbourne.

Originally published as Queenslanders training with wet balls in preparation for battle with Waratahs