Reds’ run over as Chiefs set up all-Kiwi Super semis

Melissa Woods | June 6, 2026

Queensland’s bid to break Australian rugby’s Super Rugby finals hoodoo has fallen flat, with the Reds eliminated from the title race by superstar playmaker Damien McKenzie’s Chiefs.

The woeful record by Australian teams in the play-offs in New Zealand stretched to 0-22 after the fifth-ranked Reds fell to the No.2 seeds 46-24 in Hamilton on Saturday night.

Despite the loss skipper Fraser McReight, who was among his team’s best, hailed the fight from his players, who were still in the game until midway through the second half.

“Yeah, definitely tough one – the Chiefs are a great outfit and we put up a great shift there and went in at halftime full of confidence,” the Wallabies flanker told Stan Sport.

“Credit to them, they were able to probably execute a lot better than we were.

“We did throw everything into it and the fight from our group all year has been outstanding, so that’s all we can ask for, and they definitely delivered that tonight.”

In next week’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals starting on Friday night, the Chiefs host defending champions the Crusaders, who beat the Blues in the early match in Christchurch 52-31.

The table-topping Hurricanes, who flogged the Brumbies in the first qualifying final 66-12, have a final-four contest in Wellington on Saturday night against the Blues, who advance as the highest-ranked losers.

McKenzie said he was really proud of the way his Chiefs outfit rose to the challenge.

“The Reds are a quality side and we’ve had many battles against them in the past in playoffs and we knew they were going to come out firing, and they did exactly that,” he said.

“We had to prepare really well this week and I thought we did a great job at that and I’m proud of our boys’ ability in sticking to our guns.”

While it was another defeat for an Australian side, Queensland at least gave a good account of themselves in their last match under coach Les Kiss, who is set to take the reins at the Wallabies.

McReight, playing his 100th Super match, caused headaches for the home side at the breakdown, while scrumhalf Tate McDermott impressed in just his third match this season after a serious hamstring injury.

Hard-running centre Filipo Daugunu was the best of the Reds’ backs, but didn’t get as much ball as he deserved.

All Black McKenzie, making his return from a week out with concussion, put the knife into the visitors, scoring two second-half tries to secure the win.

Only five points split the teams at halftime, with the Chiefs leading 22-17 courtesy of a try in the 39th minute by winger Kyran Taumoefolau, his second of the half.

Before that it looked like Queensland would take the lead into the sheds after prop Aidan Ross, who played 101 games for the Chiefs before joining the Reds, burrowed over.

The match was stopped in the 17th minute after Chiefs No.8 Wallace Sititi was left shaking on the ground after a sickening head knock.

Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was given a yellow card by referee James Doleman for the initial contact, but the TMO ruled that major injury was caused by a head clash with Chiefs prop Sione Ahio, which meant it wasn’t elevated to red.

Sititi was able to sit in the medi-cab to be driven from the field, but was taken to hospital for further treatment.

McKenzie’s second try came in the 46th minute, with the clever No.10 catching the Reds napping with a quick tap off a penalty to score under the posts.

His own conversion pushed the scoreline out to 29-17, before he added another in the 64th minute.

Queensland’s reserve hooker Matt Faessler wrestled one back, but a try by dashing fullback Isaac Hutchinson, set up by a miracle backhand pass by McKenzie, sealed the visitors’ fate.