Queensland Reds searching for key to Super Rugby Pacific finals success in New Zealand

The Queensland Reds are desperate to advance past the opening week of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series for the first time in four years.

The Reds must beat one of Super Rugby Pacific’s top-four teams for the first time this season on Friday night in Christchurch if they are to avoid being knocked out in the first week of the finals series for the fourth successive year.

A Queensland team that finished fifth on the ladder meets the second-placed Crusaders, who will end the Reds’ season with a win at Apollo Projects Stadium.

The two teams met at the same venue at the same stage of the finals series in 2022, with the Crusaders winning 37-15.

Queensland’s trend of losing in New Zealand in week one of the finals was to continue in 2023 and 2024, with successive losses to the Chiefs.

“We’ve had a number of quarter-finals here in the last couple years ago, so we know what it’s going to be like,” Reds captain Tate McDermott said on Thursday.

“We know that the crowd and weather might not be on our side, but it’s a really exciting challenge for this group, particularly after the disappointment of last year’s quarter-final.”

Tomorrow, we go 🐨 pic.twitter.com/44B20lBezz

— Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) June 5, 2025

The Reds were beaten 43-21 by the Chiefs in Hamilton at the same stage last season, with the game as good as over in less than 25 minutes after the hosts scored four unanswered tries.

“You’ve obviously got to start fast and if you don’t start fast, you’ve got to stay in the grind which we didn’t and found ourselves down four tries,” McDermott said.

“It’s all about momentum (on Friday) night. We’ve got to make sure that first of all, we try to get that momentum, and you can do that through a number of ways, but then if we don’t have the momentum, we use our defence to get the momentum back.

“We haven’t iced those big moments when we’ve been in the lead in a couple of quarter-finals, just taking our foot off a little bit. and we can’t do that.”

The Reds announced on Thursday that McDermott’s fellow halfback Kalani Thomas had signed a new two-year deal with Queensland.

“Being around home in a good environment and playing for a team I love, I didn’t want to leave,” said 23-year-old Thomas, who will come off the bench on Friday night.

“I had a couple of options to consider but I want to commit in Australia, especially with the World Cup coming up in 2027.

“My ultimate goal is to play for the Wallabies. I may or may not. but I’ll know I’ve given it my all.”