Queensland coach Les Kiss has lauded the ongoing service of Reds flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips in the absence of Wallabies playmakers Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh.<\/p>\n
McLaughlin-Phillips gets another chance to wear the No.10 jersey on Saturday in Queensland\u2019s \u201cSuper Round\u201d battle with the Blues in Christchurch.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the third option in the flyhalf role before the start of Queensland\u2019s Super Rugby Pacific season behind Gordon and Lynagh, McLaughlin-Phillips has appeared in all eight of the Reds\u2019 games in their 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n
He will make his fourth start of the season this weekend, with Gordon (knee) and Lynagh (calf) sidelined.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been playing very well,\u201d Kiss said of McLaughlin-Phillips.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe deserves a lot of credit and praise for how he\u2019s held that position and played it well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiss would not give possible return dates for Gordon and Lynagh, but seemed confident both players would play a part in the Reds\u2019 bid to play finals football in June.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not sure of the time frame. It\u2019s nothing serious as it seems at this stage,\u201d he said of Gordon\u2019s knee problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s cartilage and those things can be tricky. so we\u2019re just going to take it week-by-week and see how it goes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s in good spirits. It hasn\u2019t been a straight line for him, he\u2019s still around the place adding quality<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s only short-term but we\u2019re not going to try to put a name on it or a number on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiss said the Reds weren\u2019t going to \u201crush\u201d Lynagh back if he wasn\u2019t ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cTommy\u2019s still working through a slight little injury there on his calf, so we\u2019re just making sure we just don\u2019t rush it, that\u2019s all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a process, and as we always have done, we\u2019ll look after him and make sure that we get things right. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the idea of this whole process, to make sure that we get that longevity that he\u2019s after in terms of playing games on games, so we\u2019ll get to that when he plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Reds will be chasing their sixth win of the season on Anzac Day when they face a Blues side whose coach, Vern Cotter, will take over from Wallabies-bound Kiss as Queensland\u2019s mentor ahead of the 2027 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t spoken yet, but we may catch up over there (in Christchurch) because we\u2019ll both be at the same event where both teams are together, so no doubt he\u2019ll be there,\u201d Kiss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll catch up there, but I\u2019m pretty sure Vern\u2019s like me \u2013 we\u2019re just trying to get the job done in front of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Queensland\u2019s New Zealand-born veteran prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is set to make his 150th Super Rugby appearance on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo reach 150 games is a terrific milestone in a competition as tough as Super Rugby,\u201d Kiss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJeffery\u2019s generosity with his advice and mentoring of our young props and hookers has been a feature of the past three seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis impact on the field has shown the quality of his play and his experience. He\u2019s the sort of guy every team wants in their locker room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Queensland Reds: Aidan Ross. Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight (c), Harry Wilson, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Filipo Daugunu, Jock Campbell. Bench: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Nick Bloomfield, Hamish Muller, Vaiuta Latu, Louis Werchon, Ben Volavola, Treyvon Pritchard.<\/p>\n