Vern Cotter’s Blues have broken the hearts of the Queensland Reds by scoring after the final siren to seal an epic come-from-behind win in Brisbane on Saturday night.
The Reds looked like they would pull off one of the upsets of the season when 20-year-old rising star Tim Ryan ran away to score his third try to open up an 11-point lead after 64 minutes.
But the Blues, who have brought a harder and more ruthless edge under former Scotland and Fiji coach Cotter, scored three tries in the final 11 minutes, including the winner to replacement halfback Sam Nock in the 82nd minute, to leave the Reds shattered.
The Blues celebrate the match winning try scored by Sam Nock to break Queensland Reds hearts at Suncorp Stadium on April 27, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
“That’s a heartbreaking way to lose it,” Reds skipper Liam Wright said.
“I’m really proud of the effort.
“I thought the Blues played a really tough game, it was attritional. They did a great job of condensing us in the middle and finding space down the edges, which is what they did in the last two tries, but I thought our guys was fantastic.
“I just told the guys I thought they did the jersey justice and the occasion justice.”
After “expecting” to smash the Brumbies last week, Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu acknowledged the fine display from the Reds following the late winner.
“We’ve got to respect the Reds and how well and quick they came back in that second half,” he said.
“They scored some pretty crucial tries and put us on the back foot. It was tough being put under the sticks quite a bit.”
His deputy Dalton Papali’i added to those words from his captain by saying the Blues were out on their feet and lost for answers at times.
“It’s sort of hard, you try and put it into perspective, the huddles were harder than usual because, I’ll be honest, we haven’t had many games like that,” the All Blacks back-rower said.
“It was pretty new to us. The good thing is our leaders stood up. Patty took the reins. Those are the games you really cherish and learn from.
“Hats off to the Reds side, they threw the kitchen sink and it could have gone either way.”
Reds coach Les Kiss was left to rue another one that got away.
After going down to ladder-leaders, the Hurricanes, in golden point in round two, the Reds looked like going to extra time for another clash against the second placed Blues side. That was until Nock’s late winner, which came off the back of an error from replacement loose-forward Joe Brial.
“It’s happened against the two top teams in the comp now, the ‘Canes and the Blues,” Kiss said.
“Look, we’re getting closer aren’t we but we’ve just got to find a way to knock them off.
“I’m very proud of what they delivered tonight. We went hammer and tong, we imposed our game on them. Nearly is not good enough but they did well.”
Just hours after the Brumbies delivered their best performance of the year by holding off the Hurricanes in Canberra, the Reds too stepped up their physicality at the right time.
Although the Blues won the set-piece battle, particularly at the scrum, the Reds refused to go away.
Wright led the way, with the back-rower once again stepping up in front of the Wallabies’ coaching team, by making 23 tackles and being a constant presence at the breakdown. It was a Test match performance.
He was well supported by prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, lock Ryan Smith, who also made 23 tackles, as well as No.8 Harry Wilson who made 21 tackles to go along with his 16 carries – the most from either side.
The strong effort allowed the Reds’ backline, led by Hunter Paisami, to squeeze the Blues.
Tim Ryan scored a stunning hat-trick against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
After Ryan’s brazen chip kick early in the first half, Paisami followed his young teammate’s lead by pulling off an even better effort as he regathered before finding his winger to send him away to score.
Ultimately though, it wasn’t enough as the Blues found a way to win.
“Obviously devastated, man,” new recruit Toomaga-Allen said.
“You work so hard off the back of a good game last week, but when you come up against a class outfit you’ve got to play the whole game. It was a full 80-minute game and the Blues played phenomenally until the end.
“They’ve got some big ball carriers. you’ve got to front up or get bowled, and we didn’t want to get bowled, so hopefully it showed out there. We really tried to not just match them, but out match them, but it’s a game of winning and losing and we lost.”
The Reds should have taken the early lead after Suliasi Vunivalu managed to come down with the ball from a clever box kick from Kalani Thomas, but replays showed the maligned winger dropped it when he went to put the ball down with one hand.
It proved to be a costly mistake as the Blues scores two tries in six minutes to open up a 10-0 lead as Tuipulotu and Cole Forbes scored.
Toomaga-Allen scored in tight to reduce the deficit to three, before Harry Plummer, who earlier had missed a penalty and two conversion attempts, managed to finally knock one over as the ball went through the posts off the cross-bar.
After Vunivalu managed to get under Hoskins Sotutu, Ryan, who had earlier announced himself with a brazen though successful chip kick deep in his own half, showed off his clean pair of heels by sprinting in to score after Paisami’s lovely chip and chase.
Angus Ta’avao hit back for the Blues to help the Blues grab back the lead, before Ryan scored off a lineout movement to put the hosts back in front.
Four minutes later and Ryan did it again, turning several Blues defenders inside-out to score an incredible hat-trick inside 15 minutes.
But then the tide turned quickly as Sotutu scored in tight to close the margin to four points.
The Reds decided to bank three points via Lawson Creighton in the 73rd minute to give them a converted try lead. Ultimately, it didn’t prove enough as Eklund and Nock scored two tries in six minutes to crush the home side’s spirit.
Jimbob
Roar Rookie
You're aware that he's played there for the Tahs and has little to no chance of making the Wallabies at 15 ahead of Wright or Kellaway?
Gary Russell-Sharam
Roar Rookie
I don't know how you can be heartbroken with that loss. I do believe that the reds and the coaches should have the backsides kicked for losing the match with stupidity. At the 74 minute the reds are in front and what do they do but when defending in their own half they kick the ball down the field not too far to give possession to the blues Then at the 77 minute they box kick to do the same again when the scores are level and then the blues score from this ensuing play What stupidity is this if you are in front you do not give possession to the opposition what should have been done was ruck the ball down to get withing kicking distance and then kick a field goal. Thats what we did in my day to win a game of rugby The Reds lost the game from absolute stupidity and if it wasn't the players responsible for this you would certainly want to change coaches at the end of the year if this is the crap that they are giving out on how to play. I just could not believe that they would kick the ball back with 2+ minutes to go and give the Blues possession. Even if you are playing 5th grade you don't do that
Whatever
Roar Rookie
His counter rucking was a feature and something Oz teams don't do well. You are right his defence seemed to go up a level as well. Still unsure about him going to Test level not that there are a lot clearly better than Harry...
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Woooooosh!!
Ruckin' Oaf
Roar Rookie
Reds look a lot better with Lynagh on the field.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
And only at home too it seems. This weekend v Saders in Chch should be interesting.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
It's impossible to know what decisions he's making in this regard I believe.
savant
Roar Rookie
He’s never going to say that because that will be the last contract he ever signs. But it’s obvious if you compare the Suliasi who played for the Storm with the one now and factor in the nearly 2 years he spent out of the game repeatedly tearing his hamstring
Jazz
Roar Rookie
Gutsy from the reds, they were gassed in the end but a great experience for the youth in the team. I hope they pull off some super confidence for the next games ahead, however that loss to Moana a few weeks back might hurt them in the standings to come, see what happens! Suli's knock-on try was the biggest disappointment, TBH that is unforgivable! He's let a lot of tries go through him with his poor defence to.
bflp
Roar Rookie
Worst officiating this year including TMO - how the Yellow was not upgraded to Red I cannot fathom. Worse than McReight's tackle which was at least legal (except for the head clash obviously). Ironically I don't think it cost us the game unlike the atrocious decision in the Canes golden point loss. It just destroys the enjoyment of the game and drives away fans. The calls against the Reds at the ruck were astonishingly bad. I was at the game and it isn't always possible to see what the ref sees. So you watch the replay ... sigh. Just a lottery. There were several that went against the Blues as well. In the end Reds needed to close it out and they didn't.
Baz
Roar Rookie
Think Kiss got his substitutions wrong at the end of the game. The team seemed to lose defensive cohesion in that last few minutes. I also would not have taken that penalty kick at goal at 71 minutes. Referee had just warned the blues that next infringement would result in a yellow card. Would have taken a scrum or a quick tap and kept pressure on the line.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Agree over-hyping players can put enormous pressure on them that does no one any favours. Also it's really one good run by this player which is good but not enough to say he's some big star yet.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Gary, don’t mind CUW, his one eye is covered.
Dean
Roar Rookie
But wait, Tim …..Who!? We have to retain Jorgensen, the chosen one, the anointed one, a Sydney Private School lad. I know who I would select and who is a far more natural and hard working Rugby Player, it ain’t MJ!
Dean
Roar Rookie
I’m a Reds man through and through however, I disagree with you on the Reds, Brumbies, then daylight. If not for the Golden point BS, the Reds would have draws against the Canes and Blues however, instead they have 2 losses. NSW have been close on many an occasion and they are playing good Rugby, as are the Rebels.
Guess
Roar Rookie
People who compare that fb to every winger can you hear yourselves? You’re saying Aru is stupid for allegedly overpaying for jorgo who hasn’t proved himself yet at the same time you say that a winger who had one good game is worth more. Like lol Couple of weeks ago it was Lancaster who was worth more than Jorgo after scoring 3 tries. Where was he in the flogging by the saders? The other time it was Toole. And now it’s this week hero what’s his name again
Guess
Roar Rookie
Right hand money to dude who happen to have one good game. You’re more unreasonable than aru :laughing:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Better at what? Being winger or being FB? And based on what? One game?:laughing: Jeez you people
Guess
Roar Rookie
You aware jorgo isn't winger?
Guess
Roar Rookie
They can only show up against kiwis:silly: