Ex-Junior Wallaby set to help ‘fill the breach’ after Reds’ key injury

Former Australia U20 backrower John Bryant will help “fill the breach” in the Queensland Reds’ side after an unfortunate injury to Fraser McReight, which the star flanker picked up during Saturday’s 35-15 win over the NSW Waratahs in Brisbane.

McReight scored a well-worked team try just after the half-time break as the Reds continued to assert their dominance during that Aussie derby. Angus Blyth crossed for the Queenslanders’ only other try during the second term as they ran away with a comfortable win.

But McReight’s shoulder injury was a big talking point after the statement result. McReight has won Australia’s Super Rugby Player of the Year over the last two seasons, which in itself highlights how important the 26-year-old is to the Reds.

Yet, coach Kiss remains confident in McReight’s replacements, with Bryant and Joe Brial both shaping up as the contenders to slot into the Reds’ starting role at openside flanker. Kiss mentioned Bryant twice, believing the youngster will have an impact this weekend.

Bryant played four matches for the Junior Wallabies in 2023 before enjoying a breakout season in Super Rugby Pacific with the Reds last year. The 22-year-old penned a two-year contract extension last October after making 15 appearances for the Reds in 2024.

“We’ve got Joe Brial and John Bryant who are two great young backrower for us. They’ll fill the breach there,” Kiss told reporters at Ballymore.

“We’ve also got some really good news with Lukhan [Salakaia-Loto] being available so he’ll be playing on the weekend too which will be great for us.

“What we saw last year when we put John Bryant into the breach when we lost Fraser for a while; speed, he’s got good speed, he surprises people with his speed along the ground. His jackaling skills have really improved.

“Has similar link skills to what Fraser has which is important for us and all our backrow have that skill actually. You saw Seru Uru on the weekend with his skill sets, Harry [Wilson] does that, Joe Brial will also provide that as well.

“John Bryant, really developing his jackaling skills which we’ll need because they’re a tough team, the Highlanders at home.”

That dominant win over the Waratahs saw the Reds surge up to third place on the standings, with only the Chiefs and Crusaders ahead of the Queenslanders. The Reds were beaten quite heavily by the ‘Saders just over a week ago in Christchurch.

In round six, the Reds will return to New Zealand for a clash with the Highlanders down south at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. It’s been quite some time since the Reds have won under the iconic roof but they’re embracing the challenge that lies ahead.

“We didn’t quite get what we wanted out of the Crusaders trip recently and it’s a tough place to go and play always.

“I believe it’s 2013 since we’ve won there so it’s a good challenge for us to go to Dunedin under the roof with some really rowdy students in the crowd, it’s quite distracting.

“But to go there and enjoy that occasion and hopefully we can improve on our performance when we were last in New Zealand.”