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'No-one's giving us a chance': Confident Creighton flags Reds raid in NZ return
By AAP
Lawson Creighton will play with more freedom and a new-found confidence when he steers the Queensland Reds around against the Chiefs in a game nobody expects them to win.
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A perfect 10-0 this Super Rugby Pacific season, the Chiefs have set the benchmark the Reds (4-6) crave and fallen well short of.
Injuries have also forced Filipo Daugunu off the wing and into the No.13 for the first time in his career, while in-form fullback Jordan Petaia (wrist) will miss the clash.
“No-one’s giving us a chance. So let’s pull the trigger and have a crack with not much to lose,” Creighton told AAP from New Plymouth on Thursday.
“We can’t really play conservatively; we’ve got to really have a crack and put some pressure on them to have a chance.”
The No.10 insists he has the confidence to do that after winning back the jersey he was thrust into midway through last season.
The Reds were flying when James O’Connor was sidelined, with Creighton promoted for a starting debut to play five games against all New Zealand sides.
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There were bright spots but the Reds went winless for the remainder of the season, Creighton’s teammates admitting they didn’t do enough to help their young playmaker.
“It was tough; I hadn’t started or played much 10 in that season,” Creighton reflected.
“It was a bit daunting but…it wasn’t as scary as everyone might think it sounds.
“You learn pretty quickly on the run, getting thrown into the deep end.”
O’Connor was injured again to begin this season but it was Tom Lynagh who won the starting berth, relegating Creighton to Brisbane club rugby.
O’Connor is now wearing the No.12 and Creighton has started at five-eighth in the last four games, with Lynagh behind him on the bench.
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O’Connor is off contract beyond this year while Lynagh has signed until 2025. Creighton has at least one more season at Ballymore.
“Yeah, it’s good competition but of course it was tough, to go back to club footy and play there,” Creighton said of his early-season demotion.
“But I’ve been given another opportunity now and seem to have taken that.
“I’m happy to be back in the team contributing; it’s (the No.10) where I see myself and I feel like I’ve found my feet.”
The Reds lost to the Waratahs in Townsville despite hogging field position, the loss a costly one given their tough run home.
“It’s been the story of our last couple of years; we feel the teams we are playing aren’t always better than us but we’re giving them soft opportunities,” Creighton said.
“Against the Chiefs we’re going to be very limited in our opportunities; we got a lot we couldn’t take against the Tahs so we’ve got to learn pretty quickly.”
