Reds put Japanese side to sword in return to Ballymore

The Queensland Reds hung on in a thriller to beat Japanese side Saitama Wild Knights 31-29 in a return to their spiritual home of Ballymore.

It was the first time Queensland had played at Ballymore since 2010 and gave new Reds coach Les Kiss a close look at the next generation with 11 players making their state debuts.

One of the debutants, No.10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, was deserved player of the match for the control and class he displayed throughout to ensure the Reds retained the Saitama-Queensland Shield.

McLaughlin-Phillips, who plays his club rugby in Brisbane for Souths, made a break to set up the first of winger Mac Grearly's two tries after Japanese international Ryuji Noguchi had scored the opener for the visitors through an intercept.

Reds centre Josh Flook showcased his Super Rugby experience with a try from close range off a lineout and then threw a superb cutout pass while being cut in half by a Wild Knights defender for winger Tim Ryan to score on debut.

Reds No.8 Harry Wilson, who made his Wallabies debut in 2020, was influential in plenty of the good work done with the ball and two of his typically robust charges were key in the leadup to two Reds tries.

The visitors stormed back from a 21-5 deficit and had a scrum feed near the tryline in the dying seconds but the Reds pack rallied and ensured they hung on for a nailbiting win over the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama.

The Reds were captained by centre Lawson Creighton who became the 126th man in history to lead Queensland.

Creighton had a superb match and set up his side's final try with a flick pass for Grealy to score his crucial second and decisive effort.