Reds take ‘baby step in the right direction’ with win over Moana Pasifika

For a team under pressure, Friday night’s 40-28 win over Moana Pasifika in Samoa was “a baby step in the right direction” for the Queensland Reds.

The Reds started their season with a disastrous 47-13 loss to the Hurricanes in Townsville, but appeared to turn a corner in Super Round.

Spurred on by doubles to rising star Josh Flook and star winger Filipo Daugunu, Queensland recorded an emphatic 51-point win over the Western Force at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

But the good times didn’t last long.

The Reds lost to the Brumbies in Canberra the following week, which started a run of four losses in five games.

Pressure began to mount on coach Brad Thorn, although Reds co-captain Liam Wright publicly backed the dual international by saying the players needed to take responsibility for their form.

But the Reds had an opportunity to surge up the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with a win over Moana Pasifika at Apia Park in round eight.

Following a tense start to the match, the Reds eventually ran away with it – although they fell agonisingly short of a winning bonus point.

Speaking about the significance of the performance after the match, Reds captain Tate McDermott said he was “really proud” of his team.

“I don’t really care about the performance at this stage,” McDermott said on the Sky Sport broadcast.

“We’ve had a tough couple of weeks so really proud of that effort, obviously not an ideal last probably 15, 20 minutes, but at the end of the day we’ll take that.

“We needed the confidence going into the bye weekend to get our season back on track. It’s a baby step in the right direction.”

Friday night’s fixture will go down in history as a momentous occasion for rugby in the Pacific Islands.

For the first time ever, Moana Pasifika hosted a Super Rugby Pacific match in Samoa – and the crowd brought the noise and the passion to match the occasion.

“It’s a big occasion. Moana over here, they’re a talented side let alone playing them in their home,” McDermott added.

“It was an amazing atmosphere around here and like I said before, we’re really happy with the result.

“It’s similar to Queensland in the middle of summer I’d say, so very sweaty, it’s hot.

Hot weather and hot footy here in Samoa 😍#MOAvRED #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/1MQ0m1YCUW

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 14, 2023

“The ball is like a bar of soap out there.

“It’s awesome to be over here, we got in pretty late last night so didn’t get too much time on the island but it’s awesome to be here.”

The Reds are now on a bye, but will host Western Force – the team they outclassed in Super Round – when they return in round 10.