The 2024 Queensland Reds season was the 28th Queensland Reds season in the Super Rugby since entering the professional era in 1996. In addition to the domestic competition (Super Rugby Pacific) played across the Tasman and the Pacific, the Reds also hosted Wales on their tour of Australia (July) following the conclusion of the season, and toured Tonga, playing a development XV fixture in Nukuʻalofa.
It was the third back-to-back Super Rugby Pacific season in which the Reds successfully competed in the Finals Series.
Squad and personnel Coaching personnel Following the resignation of former Reds coach Brad Thorn at the end of the 2023 season, the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) unveiled Queenslander Les Kiss as coach of the team just later. It was believed in June that the QRU had interest in a number of coaches with significant experience domestically and internationally. One such coach was The Sydney Morning Herald-endorsed candidate Michael Cheika. Cheika had vast top-tier experience, coaching Australia at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups (RWC), and previously won the Super Rugby with Queensland Reds rivals the New South Wales Waratahs in 2014. Cheika's coaching duties with Argentina were to end following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, making him available before the 2024 season. The other two speculated interests of the QRU were London Irish coach Les Kiss and the former Wallabies Director of Rugby Scott Johnson.
With reporting in early July pointing to Kiss being the favourite candidate, it wasn't until late July that Kiss was confirmed as the new head coach. Kiss was selected over forty-plus prospective coaches, which included former Wallaby and Tonga coach (2016–2023) Toutai Kefu, former New Zealand assistant coach (2020–2022) Brad Mooar, former Australia defence coach and Australia U20 coach Nathan Grey, and Queensland Reds assistant under Thorn Mick Heenan.
Once Kiss assumed the coaching position he brought along much of his coaching staff at London Irish.
+ Coaching personnel Position Name Head coach Les Kiss Assistant Coach Jonathan Fisher Zane Hilton Brad Davis Academy Coach Dale Roberson
Squad Senior squad The Queensland Reds squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season was announced in November 2023.
Reds senior squadProps George Blake Massimo de Lutiis Sef Fa'agase Alex Hodgman Zane Nonggorr Peni Ravai Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
Hookers Richie Asiata Max Craig Matt Faessler Josh Nasser
Locks Angus Blyth Cormac Daly Taine Roiri Ryan Smith Connor VestLoose forwards Connor Anderson Joe Brial John Bryant Fraser McReight Seru Uru Harry Wilson Liam Wright (cc)
Scrum-halves Tate McDermott (cc) Kalani Thomas Louis Werchon
Fly-halves Lawson Creighton Tom Lynagh Harry McLaughlin-Phillips James O'ConnorCentres Taj Annan Josh Flook Frankie Goldsbrough Isaac Henry Hunter Paisami
Outside backs Floyd Aubrey Jock Campbell Mac Grealy Jordan Petaia Tim Ryan Suliasi Vunivalu (cc) denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, DEV denotes a development squad player, ST denotes a short-term signing, denotes a player ruled out for the season with injury.
Academy squad Reds academy squadProps Nick Bloomfield Trevor King Baguio Johnson-Tiumalu
Hookers Ollie Barrett
Locks Charlie Brosnan Ben DanielsLoose forwards Joe Liddy Tom Robinson
Scrum-halves Willem Johnstone
Fly-halves Will NasonCentres Xavier Rubens
Outside backs Jarrod Homan
Transfers
In Player From Prop Massimo de Lutiis Canberra Royals / Reds Academy Alex Hodgman Blues Jeffery Toomaga-Allen Ulster Hooker Max Craig Easts / Reds Academy Lock Cormac Daly Randwick Taine Roiri Sunnybank Back row Joe Brial Canterbury John Bryant Souths / Reds Academy Fly-half Harry McLaughlin-Phillips Souths / Reds Academy Centre Frankie Goldsbrough Easts / Reds Academy Outside back Tim Ryan Brothers / Reds Academy
Out Player To Prop Harry Hoopert Western Force Phransis Sula-Siaosi Souths Taniela Tupou Melbourne Rebels Dane Zander Los Angeles Lock Wilson Blyth Bond University Lopeti Faifua Western Force Luke Jones retired Jake Upfield Bond University Back row Keynan Tauakipulu Wests Scrum-half Spencer Jeans Kyuden Voltex Outside back Filipo Daugunu Melbourne Rebels Paddy James Brothers
Season results Pre-season trials
+ 2024 Pre-season trials Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) Saturday, 3 February Ballymore Stadium, Herston (Brisbane) Western Force19–21Lost (2 points) Saturday, 10 February Gallas Fox Park, Roma Waratahs32–7Won (25 points)
Summary and fixtures
+ 2024 Super Rugby season Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) Attendance 1 Saturday, 24 February Lang Park, Milton, (Brisbane) Waratahs40–22Won (18 points) 14,5934th2 Sunday, 3 March Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Olympic Park (Melbourne) Hurricanes33–38Lost (5 points) 10,3394th3 Saturday, 9 March Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) Chiefs25–19Won (6 points) 16,7253rd4 Friday, 15 March Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Olympic Park (Melbourne) Melbourne Rebels53–26Won (27 points)align=center 2nd5 Saturday, 23 March Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth Western Force31–40Lost (9 points) 5,4625th6 Saturday, 30 March Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) ACT Brumbies19–20Lost (1 point) 17,7825th7 colspan=6 6th8 Friday, 12 April Okara Park, Morningside (Whangārei) Moana Pasifika14–17Lost (3 points)align=center 6th9 Friday, 19 April Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) Highlanders31–0Won (31 points)13,0006th10 Saturday, 27 April Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) Blues34–41Lost (7 points)16,3256th11 Saturday, 4 May Rugby League Park, Addington (Christchurch) Crusaders33–28Won (5 points)align=center 5th12 Friday, 10 May Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) Melbourne Rebels26–22Won (4 points) 10,8645th13 Saturday, 18 May HFC Bank Stadium, Laucala Bay (Suva) Fijian Drua19–28Lost (9 points)align=center 5th14 Saturday, 25 May Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) Western Force59–13Won (46 points) 12,3215th15 Friday, 31 May Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park (Sydney) Waratahs27–26Won (1 point) 12,0185thFinals seriesQF Friday, 7 June Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Chiefs21–43Lost (22 points) 11,639align=center
Season standings
Wales tour
+ 2024 Wales tour Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) Friday, 19 July Lang Park, Milton (Brisbane) 35–36Lost (1 point)
Tonga tour
+ 2024 Tonga tour Date Venue Team Score Result (Margin) Friday, 26 July Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nukuʻalofa 41–14Won (27 points)
Statistics Does not include tour matches.
+ Top point-scorers Player Position Points 1 Tom Lynagh Fly-half 0 19 6 0 56 2 Lawson Creighton Fly-half 3 16 1 0 50 3 Tim Ryan Wing 9 0 0 0 45 4 Matt Faessler Hooker 8 0 0 0 40 5 Fraser McReight Flanker 7 0 0 0 35 Tate McDermott Scrum-half 7 0 0 0 35 7 Josh Flook Centre 6 0 0 0 30 8 Fly-half 0 9 1 0 21 9 Seru Uru Lock 4 0 0 0 20 10 Jock Campbell Fullback 3 0 0 0 15 Hunter Paisami Centre 3 0 0 0 15 Josh Nasser Hooker 3 0 0 0 15 Peni Ravai Prop 3 0 0 0 15 14 Harry Wilson Number eight 2 0 0 0 10 Suliasi Vunivalu Wing 2 0 0 0 10 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen Prop 2 0 0 0 10 Penalty try 10 18 Zane Nonggorr Prop 1 0 0 0 5 Liam Wright Flanker 1 0 0 0 5 Jordan Petaia Wing / Centre 1 0 0 0 5 Ryan Smith Lock 1 0 0 0 5 Floyd Aubrey Wing 1 0 0 0 5 George Blake Prop 1 0 0 0 5 24 James O'Connor Fly-half 0 2 0 0 4
+ Top try-scorers Player Position Tries 1 Tim Ryan Wing 9 2 Matt Faessler Hooker 8 3 Fraser McReight Flanker 7 Tate McDermott Scrum-half 5 Josh Flook Centre 6 6 Seru Uru Lock 4 7 Jock Campbell Fullback 3 Lawson Creighton Fly-half Hunter Paisami Centre Josh Nasser Hooker Peni Ravai Prop 12 Harry Wilson Number eight 2 Suliasi Vunivalu Wing Prop Penalty try 16 Zane Nonggorr Prop 1 Liam Wright Flanker Jordan Petaia Wing / Centre Ryan Smith Lock Floyd Aubrey Wing George Blake Prop
Notes
References