Jim Tucker: Leaving Reds playmaker Tate McDermott on the bench makes no sense

With the Queensland Reds fighting to keep their season alive, leaving their best players on the bench makes little sense, writes Jim Tucker.

Tate McDermott is at the centre of all the Reds’ best work. Picture: AAP

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The lunacy in leaving top sniper Tate McDermott on the bench again on Saturday night exposes the Queensland Reds needlessly to an ambush from South Africa’s Bulls.

You can debate all you like about workloads, player rotation, finishers and the long game of having your best players still firing in May but this Suncorp Stadium scenario makes no sense.

The Reds are in desperate territory even if upbeat skipper Liam Wright said there is “no crisis point” with a block of potential wins ahead to repair a 1-5 start.

Halfback McDermott is the trigger for all the best work done by the Reds.

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Tate McDermott is at the centre of all the Reds’ best work. Picture: AAP

He guarantees an up-tempo game, he steals metres with his quick taps and he converts the good work of his pack into meaningful front-foot momentum with a fast first step.

Take the fast start. Don’t let the Bulls get into the game.

Coach Brad Thorn is being way too cute here because if he’s worried about McDermott’s high workload, send him to the beach next week when the Reds have a bye.

It’s no knock on halfback Scott Malolua but he’s not the constant, running, dummying threat that McDermott is.

The Thorn move smacks of the ploy pulled by Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen in 1999 when he switched top pack weapon Toutai Kefu to the bench so he could run riot in the second half.

Reds coach Brad Thorn is being too cute in starting McDermott from the bench. Picture: AAP

The only trouble was the All Blacks were out of sight before Kefu ran on in Auckland. Oops.

“Tate is doing some really good things and is continuing to grow his game,” Thorn said.

“You’ve got to remember Scott is a good footballer too, he’s played a Test for Samoa and there’s good competition there.”

McDermott is certain to be used for the final 30 minutes or so because the way he lifts the tempo can work against South African sides tired from travel.

Bryce Hegarty, in as a winger, gives the team a specialist goalkicker again while James O’Connor adds general kicking poise at flyhalf.

“We went toe-to-toe with the Crusaders in their house last week in a heck of a game but kicking is definitely an area we want to improve,” Thorn said.

James O'Connor’s return from an ankle injury is a boost for the Reds. Picture: AAP

“We’ve done a solid haul with four away games (in the first six rounds) and we see a lot of opportunities in the last 10 games.”

The Reds have six games at home in the final 10 rounds, five against teams lower on the table and two more against the Melbourne Rebels.

There are ample winning chances there but the Reds also have to be ruthless enough to take them.

New Queensland Reds prop Jack Straker.

Thorn said he was confident new 120kg prop recruit Jack Straker could do the job from the bench just three days after flying in from New Zealand.

The Bulls have one of the best scrums in the competition so the swift move on Straker may prove a smart one.

Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant, a nine-Test Springbok, is a classy, elusive mover and will run back any errant kicks with interest.

REDS v BULLS

6.15pm, Suncorp Stadium Saturday night

Referee: Mike Fraser (NZ)

REDS: Jock Campbell, Bryce Hegarty, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Hamish Stewart, Henry Speight, James O’Connor, Scott Malolua, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Harry Hockings, Angus Blyth, Taniela Tupou, Alex Mafi, Dane Zander. Reserves: Ed Craig, Harry Hoopert, Jack Straker, Angus Scott-Young, Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott, Isaac Lucas, Filipo Daugunu.

BULLS: Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal (c), Rosko Specman, Manie Libbok, Embrose Papier, Muller Uys, Josh Strauss, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Ian Groenewald, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboka. Reserves: Corniel Els, Gerhard Steenekamp, Wiehahn Herbst, Ryno Pieterse, Ruan Steenkamp, Ivan van Zyl, Morne Steyn, Divan Rossouw.