Reds vow to win fans back

Brisbane: The struggles of Queensland’s NRL sides have not gone unnoticed by the state’s Super Rugby team, who have spied a chance to win over their own long-suffering fans and perhaps attract a few more to the 15-man code. The unbeaten Reds sit on top of the Super Rugby AU standings after two rounds, in stark contrast to their rugby league rivals the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans. That limping trio reside in the bottom five of the NRL table on the back of competition-worst defensive records. A similarly leaky defence has plagued the Reds during a miserable run over the last six seasons, a period that has seen them finish no better than 13th overall. But halfback Tate McDermott senses a change is coming, along with a potential shift in code-allegiance in the sunshine state. “For far too long we’ve let our fans down. We’ve still got a bit of redemption to go but we’re finally giving them something to cheer about, I hope,” McDermott said on Monday. “We owe it to them. It’s been tough in the past but we’re all in this together.” The Reds next face a Western Force side who impressed in the early stages of their first match back in Super Rugby before going down 23-14 to the NSW Waratahs at the weekend.