Brumbies facing unfamiliar fight after three straight losses as Queensland Reds surge

The Queensland Reds are lauding Lukhan Salakaia-Loto after completing a first season-derby double over the ACT Brumbies since the COVID dark days to surge into the Super Rugby Pacific’s top four.

Salakaia-Loto showcased his Wallabies selection claims with an inspirational display in the Reds’ 30-21 escape act at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

“He’s outstanding. He’s doing such a good job,” Reds skipper Fraser McReight said.

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“All the boys love him and love his energy and having him, carrying the way he’s carrying and being that physical presence for us is outstanding. It just makes it easy.”

The Reds’ spirited and seesawing 30-21 victory in Brisbane on Saturday night also consigned the Brumbies to three straight defeats for the first time since 2018, continuing Stephen Larkham’s side’s alarming slippery slide down the ladder.

The benchmark Brumbies have fallen to fifth, having led the competition after two rounds following a first win over the defending champion Crusaders since 2000.

The Reds’ great respect for the Brumbies ultimately – and ironically – secured the win at Suncorp Stadium, with three successful penalty goals from flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips proving the difference in the nine-point win.

The Reds have been dogged trailblazers for spurning penalty-goal attempts to instead shoot for tries in recent seasons. Indeed, the only time this season they have opted for penalty goals have been against the Brumbies.

In denying the Brumbies even a bonus point, the Reds not only leap-frogged Australia’s perennial benchmark outfit. The Brumbies’ sixth loss from their past eight matches leaves Larkham’s men precariously placed in sixth spot four weeks out from the finals.

“We’ve just got to review hard and just keep believing,” the Brumbies’ returning scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan told Stan Sport.

“We’ve just got to keep working hard, keep reviewing hard, and keep each other accountable.”

Queensland, though, are flying after edging above the defending champion Crusaders into fourth spot.

Reds mentor and soon-to-be Wallabies coach Les Kiss would have been especially impressed with Australia’s second-row stocks after opposing No.5s Lachlan Shaw and Salakaia-Loto traded early tries.

A storming Salakaia-Loto charged over in the sixth minute to offset Shaw’s pick-and-go effort.

McLaughlin-Phillips broke the deadlock with his first penalty goal.

In a coach killer for Larkham, the Reds extended their lead to 10 points on the stroke of halftime when Josh Flook pounced on Kalani Thomas’s beautifully-weighted grubber kick into the Brumbies in-goal area.

Another McLaughlin-Phillips penalty looked to have put the Reds in control with a 13-point buffer before flanker and Wallabies captain Harry Wilson spilt the ball from the restart, inviting the Brumbies back into the contest.

Dual John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini didn’t need a second invitation, crossing to reduce the deficit to six points.

Then surging centre David Feliuai forced his way over to put the Brumbies back in front.

But, despite squandering four straight lineout throws, the Reds weathered the Storm.

Lock Seru Uru steadied the ship with the Reds’ third try before McLaughlin-Phillips’ third penalty put the nail in the Brumbies’ coffin in Tom Wright’s milestone 100th Super match.