'That man is a genius on many levels': Opponents heap praise on Damian McKenzie

Les Kiss won’t leave you unsure of his thoughts on the Chiefs as the injury-hit Queensland Reds prepare to welcome the Super Rugby Pacific leaders to town.

Brilliant, scary, genius and firepower were all words the coach used ahead of Saturday’s third-round clash at Suncorp Stadium.

“Everyone else will be chasing them this year,” he goes on.

Kiss, fresh off a decade coaching in Europe and South Africa but with six years under his belt as a NSW Waratahs assistant, has watched plenty of tape on the Chiefs since taking over from Brad Thorn at Ballymore.

Two games in particular were on rotation.

The Reds’ incredible, hoodoo-busting 25-22 win in New Plymough that ended a 21-game losing streak in the country and kept their season alive.

And an equally-competitive 29-20 quarter-final loss that ended the Thorn era.

“Our boys went toe to toe with them a couple of times last year,” Kiss said.

“They’re (the Chiefs) on the Gold Coast this week; it shows they’ve put a bit of weight on it and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Kiss is without concussed strike pair Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami but has Isaac Henry and Jock Campbell at his disposal to replace them and the fire in the belly from a golden-point loss to the Hurricanes last week.

He said players might also hold on to memories of last year’s clashes but felt tactically they’ve moved on.

“This game moves pretty quickly; it’s apples and oranges,” he said.

“We’ve got our mission and they’ve got theirs, but what I saw last week they’re absolutely brilliant, the top team in the competition without doubt at this stage.”

One constant remains Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie, who is a frontrunner to wear the No.10 for the All Blacks after continuing his fine 2023 form this season.

“That man is a genius on many levels,” Kiss said.

“But it’s not just about him. The guys that move around the park give him the opportunity.”

Campbell will switch to fullback for the hosts, where he was impressive in the off-season, while former All Blacks prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 33, will come off the bench in his first Super contest since leaving for European rugby in 2019.

Sef Fa’agase will start in the front row to replace the injured Alex Hodgman (shoulder) while Junior Wallabies winger Tim Ryan has been selected on the bench for a potential Super Rugby Pacific debut.