Brad Thorn 'proud of the guys in the maroon jerseys' as the Reds claim their seventh straight win

April 10, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

The Queensland Reds secured a home Rugby AU Grand Final after claiming a stunning come-from-behind 24-22 win over the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium.

Trailing by nine-points with less than 30-minutes to play, a spectacular Jordan Petaia aerial try and following James O’Connor penalty put the Reds into their first lead of the night in the 76th minute, with the side holding on for a dramatic two-point victory in front of a crowd of more than 19,000.

The win sees Queensland reclaim the Rod Macqueen Cup while also maintaining their unbeaten run in 2021.

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Fullback Bryce Hegarty celebrated his 100th Super Rugby cap in the win, as Queensland clinched their tenth-straight victory at Suncorp Stadium.

Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “It was a great game between two worthy teams - there was just positives.

“Massive respect to the Brumbies - they came in and left it all out there. It was two teams going at it. It’s just good for rugby – let’s have more of it.

“I’m so proud of the guys in the maroon jerseys. Our guys won’t go away. They don’t know how to do that. It’s such a great quality. I have faith in them they’ll get the job done and they did that tonight,” said Thorn.

Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a opened the scoring with a signature rolling maul five-pointer, with a Tom Banks intercept try and Noah Lolesio conversion stretching the visitors’ advantage to 12-nil by the 14th minute.

A pair of O’Connor penalty goals cut the Reds’ deficit to 12-6 by the half-hour mark, before milestone-man Hegarty was denied a try by the TMO in his 100th game.

Nic White kicked his side into a 15-6 lead on the stroke of half-time, the scrumhalf slotting a 50-metre penalty goal as momentum ebbed at flowed in a physical contest at Suncorp Stadium.

Some nudge from Nic White 🎯 #SuperRugbyAU pic.twitter.com/IUzQrYyMun
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 10, 2021

Josh Flook had the first points of the second half, after a pinpoint O’Connor kick found a flying Jock Campbell down the sideline. Campbell regathered, and eventually linked with his young outside-centre who crashed over close to the left-hand corner. O’Connor made no mistake with the conversion to bring Queensland within two points at 15-13 with 30-minutes to play.

The Brumbies quickly hit back through Tom Wright who scored his side’s third try of the match, Lolesio’s second penalty giving the visitors a 22-13 lead.

Two pieces of Petaia brilliance delivered Queensland their second try in the 65th minute. The winger propelling his side downfield with an inch-perfect 50-22, before leaping above the Brumbies’ defence to bring down an O’Connor bomb and score. O’Connor missed the difficult conversion chance, the Reds trailing 22-18 with 14-minutes to play.

A third O’Connor penalty put Queensland within one-point with 10-minutes on the clock, before the captain had the chance to kick his side into their first lead of the match in the 75th minute with a 30-metre penalty goal. O’Connor again made no mistake, putting Queensland ahead 24-22 with just two-minutes to play.

With a home Grand Final on the line, the Brumbies launched a final attacking raid, but as they have done so many times this year, the Reds again repelled their attempts, Angus Scott-Young secured the do-or-die turnover as the side held on for a two-point win.

Queensland have a bye in Round 9, before travelling to Perth to take on the Western Force in the final round of regular-season fixtures.

DO NOT GO IN HIGH ON TANIELA TUPOU!😳 pic.twitter.com/dgzbYMuNhz
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 10, 2021

The side will be back on their home turf for the Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU Grand Final on 8 May. Ticket details will be announced this week.

Queensland Reds 24 (Tries: Flook, Petaia, Conversions: O’Connor, Penalties: O’Connor 4) defeated Brumbies 22 (Tries: Fainga’a, Banks, Wright, Conversions: Lolesio 2, Penalties: White) at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on 10 April, 2021.