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Posted: 2024-03-13 03:44:33

“Wrongers [Wright] and I spent a lot of time together in the rehab group, which is kind of a running joke between us, but it’s guys like that you look towards and his mentality is a massive credit to him.

“I learned a lot from him in those periods of time off, so it was good to have him there.”

Tom Lynagh will come off the bench against the Rebels.

Tom Lynagh will come off the bench against the Rebels.Credit: Getty

Kiss confirmed fullback Jordan Petaia would rejoin the group after a week on the sidelines to recover from concussion.

His comeback, however, would be off the bench, with Jock Campbell retaining the No.15 jumper.

Three-game teenage prospect Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, who came up with the decisive try-assist and match-winning tackle at the death on Saturday night, will make his first start at five-eighth, with Tom Lynagh shifting to the pine.

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Lynagh was on the receiving end of brutal Chiefs’ treatment, including a late hit that left pundits scratching their heads as to how rival flanker Samipeni Finau avoided a yellow card.

“I think every player has the right to feel safe. If you pass a ball and two seconds later you’re getting hit, I think you should be protected,” Kiss said.

“We don’t want the TMO [television match official] coming in for every moment, no way . but if there’s something as late as that, that has to be looked at properly.

“I think if that’s going to be something that’s becoming a trend, we’ve got to stamp on it straight away and now.”

A limited preseason as Lynagh nursed a back concern had left the club no choice but to manage his workload.

“He had a bad shoulder, a little bit of a neck [issue] from it for sure, but he’s fine. I think he had 20 minutes [of game time] before I actually played him in the first game, so . he’s not fully fit in terms of his aerobic ability yet,” Kiss said.

“Harry’s got a great way about him, nothing flusters him, he just does the job in front of him and does it well.”

Queensland Reds squad v Melbourne Rebels

1. Peni Ravai*; 2. Matt Faessler; 3. Zane Nonggorr; 4. Seru Uru; 5. Ryan Smith; 6. Liam Wright (cc); 7. Fraser McReight; 8. Harry Wilson; 9. Tate McDermott (cc); 10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips; 11. Mac Grealy; 12. Isaac Henry; 13. Josh Flook; 14. Suliasi Vunivalu; 15. Jock Campbell

Reserves: 16. Josh Nasser; 17. George Blake; 18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen; 19. Cormac Daly; 20. John Bryant; 21. Kalani Thomas; 22. Tom Lynagh; 23. Jordan Petaia

* Ravai comes into the starting side as Sef Fa’agase cops a four-game suspension for inadvertently making direct contact with the head of a Chiefs player. 

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