Queensland Reds star Fraser McReight says Brad Thorn’s decision to step down as coach has “lit a fire” under the team in the race for the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
The Reds outmuscled the Western Force 31-17 in Brisbane on Saturday night, with McReight scoring two tries in a vital win that lifted Queensland above the NSW Waratahs into sixth on the ladder.
It was the first game for the Reds since dual code legend Thorn announced that his reign will end when his contract expires after the 2023 season.
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After weeks of speculation, McReight said the certainty had sharpened the focus of the playing group.
“I think it’s great from Queensland and Thorny, you know, they’re putting it out there. They don’t need to be sniffing around or doing anything fishy,” McReight told Stan Sport.
“It’s out in the open. The elephant’s out, the players know what we want to do. And we actually love Thorny so much, like we respect him massively and we actually really want to get the win for him.
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“So I think it’s sort of lit a fire with all of us that this is actually it and it’s our last chance to play under Thorny. So we want to get the results for him.”
It was a night for the Queensland forwards at Suncorp Stadium, with new Wallabies squad hooker Matt Faessler and debutant prop George Blake also scoring tries.
The Force were competitive but unable to match the level set in the previous home upset against the Highlanders.
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Import winger Zach Kibirige continued his hot form with a double while Force captain Michael Wells also dotted down.
But the No.8 was filthy at an inconsistent performance that leaves the Perth club 10th of 12 teams after the Melbourne Rebels won earlier on Saturday.
“I probably have to moderate myself a little bit because it hurts,” Wells told Stan Sport.
“I really don’t like losing and we don’t come to lose… our discipline is probably the thing that’s hurting us the most.”
Wells also lamented a disappointing set-piece performance.
“They did a job on us at scrum time,” he said.
“We profiled what they were going to do and we just didn’t adapt to it. So that’s on us.
“There’s no excuses there… last time we played the Reds on the back of a win, we didn’t show up, we thought we were world beaters and we got shown up with 70 points against us, which is unacceptable at any level.
“While there are issues today, obviously it’s a better performance than that, but it’s a very grey silver lining.”
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