The Reds have named a Super Rugby team with three changes for Sunday’s match against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium with James Slipper and Liam Gill making their season debuts.
The Reds drew with the Blues at Suncorp last week and the three changes bring a wealth of experience as s Slipper, Gill and Saia Fainga’a return for the interstate derby.
Gill has been named to start at openside flanker, while prop Slipper and hooker Fainga’a have been named in the replacements.
This will be the first game of the season for Gill (lower back) and Slipper (shoulder/knee), while Fainga’a (foot) began the year as the side’s starting hooker but missed the last two matches.
Reds co-interim head coach Nick Stiles said: “It’s good to be able to welcome back three seasoned players who have a lot of experience in these interstate clashes.
“What’s equally pleasing is the work and development we’ve seen in our group over the last few weeks. We were bitterly disappointed to not get the win last weekend and Sunday’s match gives us another opportunity to reward our fans with a good performance at home.
“This is an important game for us and we know to expect a very physical, spirited clash when we take on New South Wales.
“We’ve been building into our season and developing our game and the players have worked incredibly hard to this point – now we want to see the results of that hard work.
“It’s Queensland v New South Wales, Sunday afternoon Rugby, it doesn’t get much better.”
Reds
1. Sef Fa’agase , 2. Andrew Ready , 3. Greg Holmes , 4. Cadeyrn Neville , 5. Rob Simmons (C) , 6. Hendrik Tui , 7. Liam Gill , 8. Jake Schatz , 9. Nick Frisby , 10. Jake McIntyre , 11. Eto Nabuli , 12. Anthony Fainga’a , 13. Samu Kerevi , 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia , 15. Karmichael Hunt
Replacments : 16. Saia Fainga’a , 17. James Slipper , 18. Sam Talakai , 19. Ben Matwijow , 20. Curtis Browning , 21. Scott Gale , 22. Sam Greene , 23. Ayumu Goromaru
