Reds next generation cause for optimism
For Reds co-interim head coach Matt O'Connor, those flashes of warmth he saw in chilly Canberra compel him to return to work this week full of confidence that the side can finish the season with a bang.
The Reds have two games remaining – both at home – to end their Super Rugby campaign and the group has been energised by the impact of the new faces blooded in the loss to the Brumbies.
Jack Tuttle and Taniela Tupou made their Super Rugby debuts, Kane Douglas won a first Reds cap and Lukhan Tui earned his maiden start.
Others stood up, including reserve back Duncan Paia'aua who showed flashes of brilliance after replacing injured flyhalf Jake McIntyre at half-time.
As one of 11 siblings, it did not surprise that Paia'aua made sense from all the defensive traffic at Canberra Stadium.
As a youngster, Paia'aua styled himself on Carlos Spencer and Quade Cooper and his link play and slick pass that created the disallowed try to Samu Kerevi was another preview of what the former Queensland Under-16s representative has to offer.
"He's a brilliant distributor at 10 or 12, one of the better ones out of all the Australian sides," O'Connor said of Paia'aua.
"We'll be looking to develop how well he creates space. With another 20 or so games under his belt he'll be a real threat with the ball in hand."
In the forwards, Tui capitalised on the conditioning he kept up at the World Rugby U20 Championship, Tupou caught the eye with a try, a turnover and at least one bruising run and Douglas gave a hint or two that Queensland Red is his natural colour.
Debutant fullback Tuttle, despite playing no higher in rugby than Premier Grade with Norths, was not out of his depth in Super Rugby.
His kicking was safe and effective, and the Nudgee College product has at least one element shared by the competition's best fullbacks – time.
"His composure was pretty good and that's why we selected him," O'Connor said.
"There's a lot of things you do off the ball that are key, like anticipation, but he's got genuine pace and a lot of scope to get better."
McIntyre's ankle injury will be monitored closely as the Reds assess their depth ahead of Friday meeting with the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium.
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