Queensland Reds welcome back Quade Cooper, Stephen Moore rested for Southern Kings clash

QUADE Cooper’s return to the leaking Reds ship coincides with a rest for veteran skipper Stephen Moore under Queensland’s rotation policy.

QUADE Cooper’s return to the leaking Reds ship coincides with a rest for veteran skipper Stephen Moore under Queensland’s rotation policy.

Flyhalf Cooper’s game control and the way he invigorates the attack is much-needed for Saturday afternoon’s clash against South Africa’s Southern Kings at Suncorp Stadium.

The Reds have flopped 0-3 during his three-game suspension for a dangerous tackle and the team’s Super Rugby finals hopes are on life support unless there is a dramatic streak of wins starting Saturday.

Stephen Moore will have two weeks off to prepare for the Reds clash with NSW.

The Reds have made a significant statement at flyhalf with teenage Queensland Under-20s player Hamish Stewart on the bench ahead of Jake McIntyre, who has been axed altogether after three starts in Cooper’s position.

Moore’s absence makes sense. Coach Nick Stiles has indicated all season that managing Moore to get the best from the Wallabies captain, at 34, was always been a strategy.

Missing the Kings match and enjoying the bye the following week will have Moore fresh and sharp for the big clash against the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on April 29.

Centre Samu Kerevi will captain the side in Moore’s absence, a huge honour for the excitable Fijian.

Rookie Hamish Stewart has made the Reds’ bench for the first time.

The surprise is young rookie Alex Mafi winning a start at hooker instead of Moore.

The spot should have been a chance for Andrew Ready but he is now ruing the cost of his shortcuts in preparation which Stiles indicated was the reason for losing favour.

He was missing from last weekend’s game against the Brumbies and booted back to club rugby.

Ready will be on the bench and Stiles hopes it will have been a valuable lesson.

Karmichael Hunt makes his return from concussion at fullback.

Lock Lukhan Tui has earned his first start of the 2017 season, in place of Kane Douglas, who is on the bench.

Samu Kerevi will captain the reds in the absence of Moore.

The other change to the forward pack sees Japanese Test player Hendrik Tui return to starting blindside flanker, with Adam Korczyk moved to the reserves.

Nick Frisby, also demoted to club rugby last weekend, is back as reserve halfback.

Queensland Reds v Southern Kings

Saturday April 15, 3:05pm, Suncorp Stadium

Live on Fox Sports

1. Sef Fa’agase — University of Queensland

2. Alex Mafi — Bond University

3. Sam Talakai — Brothers

4. Rob Simmons — Sunnybank

5. Lukhan Tui — Souths

6. Hendrik Tui — Norths

7. George Smith — Brothers

8. Scott Higginbotham — Wests

9. James Tuttle — GPS

10. Quade Cooper — Souths

11. Eto Nabuli — GPS

12. Duncan Paia’aua — Norths

13. Samu Kerevi (captain) — Souths

14. Izaia Perese — Easts

15. Karmichael Hunt — Norths

Replacements:

16. Andrew Ready — Easts

17. Kirwan Sanday — Easts

18. Taniela Tupou — Brothers

19. Kane Douglas — Norths

20. Adam Korczyk — University of Queensland

21. Nick Frisby — GPS

22. Hamish Stewart — Bond University

23. Chris Kuridrani — GPS

Originally published as Queensland Reds welcome back Quade Cooper, Stephen Moore rested for Southern Kings clash