LISTEN: 'Bang, Bang Queensland' - Reds forward hoping new slogan catches on across the state
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is trying to promote rugby in Queensland and bring crowds back to Reds games.
Queensland coach Phil Mooney has resisted the urge to make drastic changes to his off-colour Reds for Saturday’s Super 14 clash with the Blues at North Harbour Stadium.
Mooney has made three changes to his starting team which fell to a fourth straight defeat with a humiliating 31-20 loss to the lowly Lions at Suncorp Stadium.
All three are injury-related with key duo Daniel Braid (Achilles) and Peter Hynes (knee) ruled out and veteran lock Van Humphries (shoulder) returning to fitness.
Teenager Luke Morahan will make his run-on debut against the fifth-placed Blues in place of winger Hynes while Tasi Luafutu replaces former All Blacks flanker Braid, who had been looking forward to playing his old team.
Adam Byrnes drops back to the bench to make way for Humphries, forcing Leroy Houston to be axed from the 22.
Mooney has stuck with erratic playmaker Quade Cooper at five-eighth despite considering a shift of inside centre Berrick Barnes to first-receiver to better control play.
The second-year coach, who initially forecast changes “across the board”, was pleased by his 13th-placed team’s reaction to their woeful display last weekend, showing a collective sense of ownership of their performances.
RED’S SIDE
Mark McLinden, Luke Morahan, Digby Ioane, Berrick Barnes, Brando Va’aulu, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ezra Taylor, Tasi Luafutu, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill (capt), Van Humphries, Laurie Weeks, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Jack Kennedy, Adam Byrnes, Scott Higginbotham, Ben Lucas, Anthony Faingaa, Charlie Fetoai.
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Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is trying to promote rugby in Queensland and bring crowds back to Reds games.
Queensland have pushed the Hurricanes and the Blues giving the Reds coach confidence they can match it with the top teams.
Queensland led by seven late in the game, but conceded two late tries to the Kiwi side who claimed a late victory.
The Queensland winger was making his starting debut and he made his tries look like he was a veteran in that position.
Queensland led by seven points with six minutes remaining but the Kiwi side scored two tries - one after the 80 minutes to snatch…
But the winger's three tries weren't enough as the Blues stole a late win 41-37.