The Queensland Reds fell 36-12 to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney tonight after the match had been in the balance past the hour mark in the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific opener.
The match was up for grabs at 17-12 after 66 minutes before three Waratahs tries settled the match
The Reds had fought back from 17-5 down to go into half-time with confidence at 17-12.
Centre Hunter Paisami had a strong game for the Reds with his defence and ball-carries. In the pack, backrower Joe Brial showed the versatility to his game with a try and setting up another with a smart kick.
Flanker Fraser McReight had a fine game in his first outing as a Super Rugby Pacific captain with the last pass for the Brial try, a try-saving tackle, earning a trademark penalty for a poach at the tackle and his high workrate.
Reds Head Coach Les Kiss was disappointed but focussed on areas to address before the team faces the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on February 27 after a bye week.
"With 20 minutes to go, I thought our boys were digging in against a lot of things. If you get a break here or there, something can happen. That's the footy game," Kiss said.
"A bit of weight of possession told and where the game was played. On our numbers, they had nine minutes in our A zone. We had 90 seconds in theirs. That's a massive difference."
The Reds conceded 17 penalties, more than twice that of the Waratahs, as well as a yellow card.
"We won't just look at the count but where they were given. We won't dodge what we have to do in that area either," Kiss said.
The Waratahs scored early for 7-0 but the strikeback at the 19-minute mark was quality game-sense and hustle from the Reds.
After a breathless period where Jock Campbell made a 35m break and McReight had linked well in another raid, NSW latched onto a turnover. When the ball came loose, Reds backrower Brial calmly seized it and banged a kick 40m into the corner.
The opportunity was nothing without a great chase and winger Tim Ryan did just that. His chase flustered the final Waratahs defender and he grabbed the ball to score.
When the Reds went a man down through a yellow card to No.8 Vaiuta Latu at the 35-minute mark, it demanded a massive defensive effort.
McReight and Brial were central to thwarting three charges at the line by the Waratahs and the last of those from McReight held up the Waratahs over the tryline.
It was respect for that defence that meant Waratahs flyhalf Lawson Creighton took a penalty goal against 14 men for a 10-5 lead.
A long-range Max Jorgensen try, the first of a double, applied the pressure at 17-5 just before the break but the Reds had a strong response on half-time.
McReight was again involved. With his back to the defence he dished off a quick pass to Brial who crossed out wide.
The 17-12 half-time score stayed that way past the hour mark with the parry-and-thrust typical of combative interstate games over decades.
When NSW weapon Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made a powerful charge, Lachie Anderson met him front-on. McReight came over the top for a classy steal.
Finn Mackay made his Super Rugby Pacific debut at just 18 over the final 12 minutes as replacement flyhalf while Super Rugby debuts were also milestones for starter Latu and reserves Xavier Rubens and James Martens.
McReight knows there is better ahead: "It hurts. There were key moments where we had them and just didn't need to give away a penalty.
"The last 20 minutes got away from us. We'll regroup and get ready for our first game at home."
NSW Waratahs 36
Tries: Max Jorgensen 2, Clem Halaholo, Isaac Kailea, Teddy Wilson
Conversions: Lawson Creighton 4
Penalty Goal: Lawson Creighton
Def
Queensland Reds 12
Tries: Tim Ryan, Joe Brial
Conversion: Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
Half-time: Waratahs 17-Reds 12
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
