Reds youth driven by memory of past glory
ROOKIE flanker Angus ScottYoung was just 14 when he was swept along to Suncorp Stadium in 2011 to savour the sellout night that took the Reds to the summit of Super Rugby.
That snapshot tells two striking stories as the Reds strive to prove their characterfilled 18-10 upset of the ACT Brumbies on Friday night is not a one-off.
Four seasons of dire results had so numbed even diehard supporters that only 11,034 fans showed up to savour the victory at their home ground.
Stay-at-home fans wanted something, anything, to latch onto before they committed to a ticket.
Well, coach Brad Thorn has given them something.
Queensland rugby’s youth transfusion and fighting traits are exciting and not just talk anymore.
Take your pick of Liam Wright’s clever one-handed off-load, prop Taniela Tupou mangling the Brumbies scrum, lock Izack Rodda banging bodies all night after he looked spent, or 2.06m stripling Harry Hockings running on for 14 minutes.
All are 21 or younger. Thorn is not surprised by the talent he is backing: “I don’t train them like kids.”
Success ignites both fans and youngsters because Scott-Young, 20, admits the magic of that 2011 title year spurred him to push harder as a schoolboy to get his hands on a Reds jersey.
The huge task is for Thorn and his young Reds to sustain the rage with a win over the Bulls at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night to coax more fans back.