Reds win ugly over Rebels to keep top four hopes alive as big-name Wallabies forced off

They made hard work of it, but Les Kiss’ Queensland Reds did enough to overturn a 10-point deficit to go on and defeat the Melbourne Rebels 26-22.

After a sleepy first-half, the Reds trailed 15-5 at half-time but scored three unanswered converted tries to open a 26-15 lead after 63 minutes.

But a try to replacement loose forward Maciu Nabolakasi and Carter Gordon’s conversion saw the Rebels close the deficit to four points.

The Reds then defended their line for 14 phases before prop Cabous Eloff was deemed to have knocked the ball on inside the home side’s attacking 22 metre line.

“There was a lot of fight tonight and sometimes you’ve got to win ugly,” said Reds co-captain Tate McDermott, who came off the bench and helped lift his side’s tempo.

“It was pretty ugly but we’ll take it and move on.”

Jeffery Toomaga-Allen celebrates the Reds’ come-from-behind win over the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium on May 10, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

While the Reds were a completely different side in the second half, the match swung further in favour of the home side when Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese was forced to come to the sidelines temporarily after a head knock in the 58th minute.

At the time, the Rebels lead 15-12. When the Test hooker returned 15 minutes later, the Rebels were trailing by 26-15 after being forced to shift regular tight-head prop Sam Talakai to cover at hooker after Alex Mafi suffered an injury in the warm-up.

The unfortunate blow came after Taniela Tupou lasted just nine minutes after suffering a concussion.

The Reds suffered an injury blow themselves, with Harry Wilson wearing a sling after coming off midway through the second-half.

“He’s gone to hospital to double check it,” Kiss said.