Star fullback Jordan Petaia injured in Queensland’s win over the Melbourne Rebels

The Queensland Reds lost Jordan Petaia but hung on to win a nine-try thriller against the Melbourne Rebels.

The Rebels’ Matt To'omua (left) tries to fend off the Reds’ James O'Connor during Queensland’s win at AAMI Park. Picture: William WEST / AFP

The loss of star fullback Jordan Petaia has failed to derail the Queensland Reds, who continued their impressive Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a thrilling 36-32 win over the gallant Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park.

The Reds’ seventh win from eight matches on Friday night kept them among the competition frontrunners ahead of next weekend’s first meeting against New Zealand opposition – the Hurricanes – at the same venue in Super Round.

However, whether Petaia will be available is uncertain after he was forced off the field in the 26th minute with a leg injury after getting his foot stuck in the AAMI Park turf.

Petaia was replaced by Lawson Creighton, who played his part in the win with an intercept try soon after entering the contest.

It was one of nine tries scoring in an entertaining contest, with the Reds crossing for five of them to outlast the Rebels, who fell to their sixth loss of the season.

Queensland’s first try came in the 17th minute from Reds flanker Connor Vest, who was starting a match for the first time for the Reds.

Flyhalf James O’Connor started the move with a deft chip behind the Rebels’ defensive line that was pounced on by bustling centre Hunter Paisami, who then delivered a precise pass to Vest, who charged to the line to score.

Reds skipper Tate McDermott gets a kick away during his side’s win over the Rebels. Pictuie: William WEST / AFP

The Reds crossed again in the 28th minute when they turned defence into attack.

Flanker Fraser McReight was the instigator from the base of a ruck, grabbing possession and charging forward before finding No.8 Harry Wilson.

Wilson then fed his captain Tate McDermott, who ran 50 metres to score his second try of the season. O’Connor’s conversion put the Reds 17-3 ahead.

However, the game changed complexion on the half-hour mark when Reds winger Filipo Daugunu was shown a yellow card for a high shot on Rebels fullback Reece Hodge.

In the 10 minutes Daugunu was in the sin-bin, the Rebels scored two tries, with flanker Richard Hardwick and former Reds hooker James Hanson each crossing the line.

In between, Creighton intercepted a Rebels pass and ran 75 metres to score.

The Reds led 24-15 at the break, but the Rebels scored the first 10 points of the second half, including a Matt Philip try to lead 25-24 with 16 minutes left.

However, the Reds again gained the ascendancy with two tries in the space of two minutes to replacements Taniela Tupou and Josh Flook.

Taniela Tupou dives over to score a try for the Reds. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

The Rebels ensured a tight finish when prop Cabous Eloff scored a 75th-minute try but Reds held on to beat Melbourne for the second time this season.

“We’re getting pretty used to winning nailbiters,:” Reds skipper and halfback McDermott said.

“I thought the Rebels brought it tonight, While there were parts of our game that were pretty average, I thought particularly around the breakdown they did a good job of disrupting our ball.”

SOLID SULI

Former Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu, who was making his first appearance of the season for Queensland after overcoming a hamstring injury, was solid without being spectacular in his 50 minutes on field.

However, he did produce a sublime back-handed flick pass that almost led to a first-half try to Hunter Paisami.