Reds in rarified Super Rugby company
Queensland's remarkable turnaround is not yet complete in his eyes, but coach Ewen McKenzie has justifiably savoured a regular season of dreams which has the Reds perfectly poised for the Super Rugby title.
Perennial bottom-three battlers before McKenzie took the reins last year, the Reds are sitting pretty with the minor premiership and a valuable week off before a July 2 home semi-final.
McKenzie's talent-rich and gutsy young side capped top spot with a significant 19-11 last-round victory in Hamilton, overcoming an emotional Chiefs outfit in the wet.
It also gave them a 13-3 record, hoisting them into exalted company of teams who have finished with an 80 per cent success-rate for the home-and-away season.
Only three other franchises over 16 seasons of the rugged competition - the Crusaders, Blues and Brumbies - had achieved the mark, while six of the nine occasions were iced with a title in the final.
McKenzie, who took NSW to the 2005 and 2008 deciders, said the No.1 milestone and high win rate gave his new resurgent province extra credibility.
"The Crusaders have done it (80 per cent record) a few times, but not too many others have in the history of the competition," he told AAP.
"I'm pretty pleased about that, given the calibre of the opposition and being a World Cup year when everyone is doing their best.
"It's a high quality field so to finish on top is quite pleasing."
Making Queensland's prospects of a maiden title even stronger was South African conference champions, the Stormers, clinching second place with a 44-34 win over the Cheetahs to ensure the other semi-final would be played in Cape Town.
If the Reds, who finished top way back in 1996 and 1999, broke through for their maiden play-off win, they would start as warm favourites in the decider, as their opponents would have to overcome taxing travel issues.
Only in 2000, when the Crusaders upset the Brumbies in Canberra, had a team won a final on foreign soil, while none had succeeded after flying across the Indian Ocean.
Queensland skipper James Horwill stressed the Reds knew the job was unfinished and, in a telling sign, McKenzie reported a relatively muted dressing room after claiming the minor premiership.
"We've done what we can to this point," the coach said.
"Our next aim is to win at home which is no given, but we've got a good track record there, so we'll have to capitalise on that opportunity."
One worry is that Test prop James Slipper is in doubt for the Suncorp Stadium semi-final, after twisting his ankle badly in the lead-up to the sixth-minute try scored by teenage flanker Liam Gill, a standout in the grinding Waikato Stadium victory.
Both Slipper and lock Rob Simmons will undergo scans on Monday, but there's more confidence in the Wallabies second-rower playing on July 2.
"Simmons is a classic ankle sprain so we're lucky to have a week off," McKenzie said.
Queensland are otherwise hoping to be at full strength, with in-form winger Digby Ioane (concussion) and workhorse Beau Robinson (elbow) set to return, and centres Anthony Faingaa (hamstring) and Mike Harris (knee) back running.
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