Flanker Fraser McReight will lead the Queensland Reds in his new role as captain for the first time against the NSW Waratahs at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

McReight will be a significant presence in the pack for the family-friendly 2pm AEST kick-off to the Reds' final trial for the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season.

McReight, Seru Uru and Joe Brial will unite as the Reds' starting backrow with John Bryant and Vaiuta Latu to see action from the bench.

Carter Gordon, the 2023 World Cup Wallaby, will start at No.10 with Harry McLaughlin-Phillips playing off the bench. The No.10s played 45 minutes apiece in last Friday's opening trial against the Western Force in Perth.

The Reds will be out to build on their performance in Perth where they came up short 21-19 at the death.

The Reds will run an extended 15-man bench against the Waratahs to provide valuable playing minutes to the squad as preparations continue for the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific against the same opponents in Sydney on February 13.

On the wing, teenage prospect Treyvon Pritchard will start outside Dre Pakeho and Isaac Henry in the centres.

Wallabies centres Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook will play off the bench.

"It's going to be a great feeling to have a game at Ballymore with heaps of family and friends in the grandstand. And we get to play the Waratahs. For us, it's all about building and improving for the start to the season," McReight said.

Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs
Venue: Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 2:00pm AEST
Watch live on Stan Sport

Queensland Reds

1 Aidan Ross
2 Richie Asiata
3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
4 Josh Canham
5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
6 Seru Uru
7 Fraser McReight (C)
8 Joe Brial
9 Kalani Thomas
10 Carter Gordon
11 Xavier Rubens
12 Dre Pakeho
13 Isaac Henry
14 Treyvon Pritchard
15 Jock Campbell

Reserves 
Lachie Anderson, George Blake, Charlie Brosnan, John Bryant, Nicholas Conway, Massimo De Lutiis, Matt Faessler, Josh Flook, Vaiuta Latu, James Martens
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Hamish Muller, Zane Nonggorr, Hunter Paisami, Louis Werchon

 

Meanwhile, Matt Philip will lead his boyhood club from lock, following the announcement yesterday he will be NSW Waratahs club captain in 2026, partnering former Red Angus Blyth in the second row.

Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar is looking forward to seeing his side back in action for the first time since winning Super Rugby Aus in October last year.

“We’ve had a good pre-season and the boys are eager to get going and play some rugby,” McKellar said.

“We saw from the Reds’ trial against the Force that they had some positive moments both sides of the ball. Having had one more game than us at this stage, we’re expecting them to come out of the blocks and play with a real intensity.

“Travelling to both Brisbane and then onto Canberra next week is a chance to test ourselves against the two best Australian Super Rugby franchises in recent seasons. It’s great preparation and we’re looking forward to seeing transfer from what we have done on the training field.”

The starting front-row from the 33-26 win over the Western Force in the Super Rugby AUS final all retain their places, in the shape of Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins and Daniel Botha.

Philip and Blyth form an all Wallaby second-row, with the trio of Clem Halaholo, Jamie Adamson and Leafi Talataina also maintaining the same back-row combination as the Super Rugby AUS final.

Teddy Wilson and Lawson Creighton are named at nine and 10 respectively, forming a dynamic partnership seen in Super Rugby Pacific last year, with new off-season signing George Poolman taking his place at 13 outside the ever-reliable Joey Walton at inside centre.

Wallaby wing Harry Potter will also feature for the Waratahs for the first time and will join exciting youngsters Sid Harvey and James Hendren in the back three, both of whom had an enormous impact on Super Rugby AUS.

15 players take their place on the bench, headlined by another new signing and 38-cap Wallaby Folau Fainga’a.

Following this trial match in Brisbane on Saturday, the Waratahs will wrap up their pre-season preparations with a test against the Brumbies at Marist College on Thursday February 5, before again facing the Reds in Round 1 of Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific at Allianz Stadium on Friday 13 February.

NSW Waratahs Starting XV

1. Tom Lambert
2. Ethan Dobbins
3. Daniel Botha
4. Matt Philip ©
5. Angus Blyth
6. Clem Halaholo
7. Jamie Adamson
8. Leafi Talataina
9. Teddy Wilson
10. Lawson Creighton
11. Sid Harvey
12. Joey Walton
13. George Poolman
14. Harry Potter
15. James Hendren

Replacements:
16. Folau Fainga’a, 17. Ioane Moananu, 18.  Isaac Kailea, 19.  Jack Barrett, 20. Brady Dawson, 21. Siosifa Amone, 22. Ben Grant, 23. Lachlan Hooper, 24. Charlie Gamble, 25.  Isaac Fonua, 26. Michael McDonald, 27. Jack Bowen, 28. Joey Fowler, 29. Archie Saunders, 30. Leo Jaques