’We’ll be very hard to stop’: Queensland Reds’ championship DNA shining bright

The Reds of 2020 are beginning to resemble the Queensland side of a decade ago as a core of young players built towards the first Queensland title of the Super Rugby era.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Jock Campbell of the Reds is tackled during the round three Super Rugby AU match between the Reds and Force at Suncorp Stadium on July 17, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Queensland Reds have flipped the script from valiant losers to a side capable of digging deep for ugly wins when the need arises.

The Reds of the not-too-distant past might have let Friday’s 31-24 win over the Western Force slip through their fingers when a yellow card to defensive linchpin Hunter Paisami sent them down to 14 for the final 10 minutes of the match.

Instead the Reds held strong to march upfield and convert a matchwinning field goal to climb to the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder.

Their championship DNA is beginning to shine through and players are embracing a lofty goal unthinkable even to those inside the building five years ago.

“As a team we want to win the comp. We haven’t been shy about saying that,” Gold Coast fullback Jock Campbell said.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Jock Campbell of the Reds is tackled during the round three Super Rugby AU match between the Reds and Force at Suncorp Stadium on July 17, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“At the moment we’re not playing as well as we want but we’re still getting results.

“That’s different to what Super Rugby was (earlier in the year).

“We were playing pretty good footy but not getting the results so that change is a positive for us.

“If we can start playing the footy we played in normal Super Rugby we’ll be very hard to stop.”

The Reds of 2020 are beginning to resemble the Queensland side of a decade ago as a core of young players built towards the first Queensland title of the Super Rugby era.

Lost in rosy memories of a Quade Cooper and Will Genia-powered backline is the grit the 2011 champions showed in grinding out victories when trick plays and flick passes couldn’t get the job done.

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There are echoes of that side in the Ioane-esque running lines of centre Paisami and the sidestepping of Filipo Daugunu but the toiling play of skipper Liam Wright and the Queensland forwards is what set the platform for the matchwinning field goal.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Fraser McReight of the Reds takes on the defence during the round three Super Rugby AU match between the Reds and Force at Suncorp Stadium on July 17, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“They’re a tight group and they love the jersey; they know what it demands,” coach Brad Thorn said.

“It’s a great quality because you can coach the skills but the stuff that’s inside of that group – you can’t coach that.

“You take the win but there’s so much room to improve in and that’s exciting. There’s a lot more to come.”