‘Very hungry for a bit of success’: Les Kiss on Reds’ season ahead

Coach Les Kiss has opened up about the Queensland Reds’ goals, ambition and direction ahead of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season. Kiss was clear about how the “very hungry” squad of players are looking to build on what the Reds achieved in 2024.

For the second season on the bounce, the Reds shocked eventual finalists the Chiefs during last year’s round robin. Fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium witnessed a famous 25-19 upset on the 9^th of March, which seemed to position the Reds as one of the teams to beat.

While the Queenslanders were able to back up that triumph with a 53-26 annihilation of the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park, a 40-31 loss to the Western Force in Perth was an unfortunate turning point for their season – their first of three defeats in a row.

The Reds still held on for a fifth-place finish at the end of the regular season but went down swinging in a 22-point loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton. For the second year in a row, after beating the Chiefs in the regular season, they were beaten by that same rival in the quarters.

But, it almost goes without saying that the Reds can hold their heads up high after their first season in the coach Kiss era. Tim Ryan became a fan favourite, Fraser McReight was world-class once again, and others stood tall ahead of the international season.

With co-captains Liam Wright and Tate McDermott set to lead the team again, and Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson playing a crucial role as a leader within the group, the Reds are striving for better as they prepare to embrace “the challenge” that awaits.

“We’ve got a strong group of players that are very hungry for a bit of success so there’s a lot of sacrifice and a lot of things you have to do that aren’t comfortable to get there,” coach Kiss said on Stan Sports’ 2025 Sneak Peek – Reds.

“I’m really excited about the challenge we’ve got in front of us in that area.

“We’re really cognizant of some of the gains we made. That gain is not going to be enough this year,” Kiss added.’

“Just getting the right things in place last season was important for us. I think we’ve made some good ground. We know where we feel that we have to get better.”

After the Melbourne Rebels’ situation last season, the Reds benefited from recruiting six players from the Victoria-based club. Matt Gibbon, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Canham, Mason Gordon, Filipo Daugunu, and Lachie Anderson have moved to Ballymore.

Daugunu was superb for the Wallabies during their two wins over Warren Gatland’s Wales in July, and Salakaia-Loto also impressed under Joe Schmidt throughout the year. Canham is another player to watch during this year’s Super Rugby campaign.

This recruitment drive has bolstered one of the more talented rugby squads in the southern hemisphere, which includes McReight, McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Flook, Isaac Henry, Hunter Paisami, and many others.

Ahead of the new season, Harry Wilson is one man that many fans will be intrigued to watch after a breakout international season in 2024. The backrower returned to the fray of Test rugby against Georgia in July before later taking on the captaincy reigns of Australia.

“When I think back to 2024 it’s the season which I’m really proud of,” Wilson reflected. “Started the year with Reds and played some good footy with a lot of my mates and it was so enjoyable to play with (them).

“As a Reds group, we all improved as footballers which I think was very beneficial for later in the year.

“To be able to play for the Wallabies again, captain the Wallabies, was such a huge honour and It’s something I’ll look back (on) and be forever proud of.”