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‘Want to keep building’: Reds focus on Waratahs after Brumbies thriller
By Finn Morton
Carter Gordon was the hero for the Queensland Reds against the ACT Brumbies last weekend, with the fly-half scoring the match-winner after the bell. That dramatic 34-31 win improved the Reds’ season record to 2-1, with their only loss so far coming against the NSW Waratahs.
Max Jorgensen stole the show as the Tahs ran away with a comprehensive 24-point win over their arch-rivals in round one. But a lot has changed in the three weeks since then, with the Reds looking to build on their recent form and winning momentum.
Queensland had a bye in the second round before returning to Super Rugby Pacific action against the visiting Highlanders in Brisbane, with the home side running away with a statement 31-14 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
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While the Reds backed up that performance in a nail-biting triumph over the previously unbeaten Brumbies in the nation’s capital, they have still identified a few things that “we’re going to fix” ahead of a rematch of sorts against the Tahs.
“We took our learnings from round one. Obviously we’ve had two good weeks now so we want to keep building on that,” Gordon told reporters in Brisbane.
“You don’t get the results on the weekend without putting in the work through the week so we’re focusing on it now.
“I’m excited, I think the boys are excited,” he added later. “We versed them twice already this year so we’ve got another chance to have a crack at them this week.”
Gordon’s match-winner against the Brumbies completed a remarkable win on the road for the Reds. That effort also brought an end to the home side’s unbeaten run, which included wins over the Crusaders in Christchurch and the Blues at Canberra’s GIO Stadium.
Andy Muirhead and Luke Reimer crossed for a try each during the second term as the Brumbies built up a 31-20 lead with seven minutes remaining. But the Reds rallied, giving themselves a chance of a comeback with Filipo Daugunu scoring in the dying stages.
Daugunu’s effort made it a one-try game with time practically up on the clock. Louis Werchon had reduced the deficit to four points with the successful shot at the uprights, setting up a grandstand finish that will live on forever in the history of this rivalry.
Gordon ultimately secured the win for the Reds by beating a tackle attempt close to the try line, slicing through the Brumbies’ defensive line to score in the 82nd minute. Werchon converted the try as the Queenslanders began to celebrate a famous win.
“It was definitely crazy, obviously with the start of the game being pushed back about an hour and a half. You can’t really prep for those things but I thought the boys did a good job at staying in there mentally, staying up for it physically,” Gordon reflected.
“Bit of a slow start but then we built back into the game, got ahead just before half-time and then we’re just in that arm battle much for the whole second half. Then they got up and we managed to claw it back in the end and ended up winning.
“It was an unbelievable feeling and a lot of the boys across the team did heaps of hard work and got us into that position to win.
“I was just stoked for the team. Like I said, the boys dug so deep that game. Jock Campbell made that line break at the end… those things set us up in a position to win it.”
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