Reds winger Daugunu primed for Super Rugby milestone against Crusaders

Queensland Reds winger Filipo Daugunu is set to make his 100^th Super Rugby appearance this weekend after being named to start against the Crusaders in Brisbane.

Daugunu has been a fan favourite at the Reds over two stints at the club, having played a dozen matches for the Melbourne Rebels before returning to Brisbane ahead of the 2025 season.

The 31-year-old will start on one wing for the Queenslanders, when they take on defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders on Saturday evening.

Coach Les Kiss has made two changes to the First XV, with Tim ‘The Junkyard Dog’ Ryan replacing Treyvon Pritchard on the other wing, and Wallabies rake Matt Faessler is in for Josh Nasser.

“It’s great to see ‘Lipo’ reach this milestone,” coach Kiss said.

“The guys love playing with him. He’s a fantastic character in our locker room and on the field.

“He makes so many crucial plays whether that’s in attack, a big moment in defence or one of his trademark jackals at the breakdown.”

With Daugunu and Ryan on the wings, Reds centurion Jock Campbell rounds out the outside backs trio at fullback. Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook are the centre pairing, while Isaac Henry will look to make an impact off the bench.

One-Test Wallaby Kalani Thomas has been retained in the starting role at scrum-half, set to link up with Carter Gordon. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will feature in the matchday 23 yet again as the backup playmaker.

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Reds

31 - 26

Full-time

Crusaders

All Stats and Data

In the forwards, former All Black turned Wallaby Aidan Ross will pack down alongside Faessler and tighthead prop Nick Bloomfield. Seru Uru and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto make up the tight five as the two starting locks.

Coach Kiss has gone with the ever-reliable backrow trio of Joe Brial at blindside, captain Fraser McReight at openside, and Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson at No. 8. Vaiuta Latu from St Peters Lutheran College will come off the bench.

The Reds were defeated by the Western Force last weekend at Suncorp Stadium and will need to beat the defending Super Rugby Pacific champions to bounce back in round nine. As for the Crusaders, they claimed a commanding 69-26 win over the Fijian Drua in Christchurch last Friday.

Queensland Reds to take on Crusaders

1. Aidan Ross – Bond University – Otumoetai College, NZ – Te Puke Sports

2. Matt Faessler – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar – USQ Saints

3. Nick Bloomfield – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School – Easts

4. Seru Uru – Easts – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli RC, Fiji

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – Souths – John Edmondson HS, Sydney – Southern Districts, Sydney

6. Joe Brial – University of Queensland – Scots College – Easts, Sydney

7. Fraser McReight (c) – Brothers – Brisbane Grammar School – Albany Creek Brumbies

8. Harry Wilson – Brothers – St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Gunnedah Red Devils

9. Kalani Thomas – Souths – Ipswich Grammar – Souths

10. Carter Gordon – Wests – Sunshine Coast Grammar – Wests

11. Tim Ryan – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe

12. Hunter Paisami – Wests – Mangere College, Auckland – Manukau Rovers

13. Josh Flook – Brothers – Nudgee College – Brothers

14. Filipo Daugunu – Sunnybank – Dogotuki District School, Fiji

15. Jock Campbell – University of Queensland – The Southport School – Inverell Highlanders

Replacements

16.  Richie Asiata – Sunnybank – Anglican Church Grammar School

17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen – Norths – Wellington College, NZ

18. Zane Nonggorr – Bond University – The Southport School – Gold Coast Eagles

19. Hamish Muller – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar – USQ Saints

20. Vaiuta Latu – Brothers – St Peters Lutheran College – Pine Rivers Pumas

21. Louis Werchon – Wests – Sunshine Coast Grammar – Maroochydore Swans

22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – Wests – Brisbane Boys’ College – Gunnedah Red Devils

23. Isaac Henry – Wests – Brisbane Boys’ College – Kenmore Bears