Reds Clinch Rousing Templeton Cup Win with Two Late Tries

Two long-range tries in the final 10 minutes delivered the Queensland Reds a rousing 26-17 win over the NSW Waratahs to wrestle back the Templeton Cup at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

The Reds were down 17-12 on 70 minutes when the team's fighting character ignited the game and a roaring crowd of 18,087 in the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific match.

Utility back Filipo Daugunu burst through the defence to send centre Isaac Henry careering away on a 40m run to the tryline to regain the lead at 19-17. It followed a sparkling incision by the fancy feet of replacement winger Treyvon Pritchard.

At the 74-minute mark, flyhalf Carter Gordon showed the same big-match poise he did to win a thriller over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra a week earlier.

From almost a standing a start, he beat two defenders and arced outside the cover defence to score from 55m out.

A sideline conversion from fullback Jock Campbell gave the Reds a valuable nine-point buffer because the Waratahs still had the willpower to pound away in the Reds quarter looking for another score.

"Proud. One of the highlights is when you get to play NSW at Suncorp Stadium as a Queenslander. To be able to regain 'Tempo' is really exciting," Reds captain Fraser McReight said.

"That finish. We spoke about it. We knew the last 15 (minutes) was going to be important. That was the message all today and all week. We did a fantastic job of it."

McReight paid particular credit to centre Henry, who has been influential in back-to-back games, his first Super Rugby outings since 2024.

"He's had a terrible run with injuries yet everyone in the Reds environment knows how exceptional Isaac is. He gets an opportunity and he just has a crack. He's so skilful, physical and strong," McReight said.

Reds Head Coach Les Kiss was delighted with the composure shown when the match was on the line.

"We absorbed a lot of possession pressure but we stayed in the fight. I was really rapt for the boys. We had different people stand up in different moments," Kiss said.

The Reds won with just 38 per cent of possession and were forced to make 181 tackles compared to 104 by the Waratahs as one statistical reflection of how they needed to dig deep.

The match was idling at 7-all at half-time and for the first 20 minutes of the second half with the Waratahs ahead 12-7.

The rally from the Reds really started with the first of Gordon's two tries at the 63-minute mark. Campbell swerved by three defenders and deftly flicked the ball to backrower Joe Brial. When a Kalani Thomas pass was deflected, the move didn't die because Gordon was alert to gather the bouncing ball on the line for a vital try and 12-all.

The in-form Campbell had a fine game which started with an excellent early try assist for No. 8 Harry Wilson when the Reds jumped to 7-0. Campbell backed up a standout performance in Canberra while Gordon infused confidence in teammates around him.

Lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto played strongly for the full 80 minutes, the bench made a major mark and Daugunu's versatile plusses were again invaluable.

The Reds have risen to fourth on the table. They head to Lautoka for a tough match against the Fijian Drua next Saturday in Round 6.

Queensland Reds 26

Tries: Carter Gordon 2, Isaac Henry, Harry Wilson

Conversions: Jock Campbell 2, Louis Werchon

Def

NSW Waratahs 17

Tries: Jamie Adamson, Ioane Moananu, Harry Potter

Conversions: Sid Harvey

Half-time: 7-all

Crowd: 18,087

Venue: Suncorp Stadium