Wallabies prop Greg Holmes has taken issue with critics questioning Queensland's fitness after the Reds fared badly in their crucial opening-round Super 14 win.

Holmes and fellow Reds forward Van Humphries hit back on Monday at criticism following the 22-16 victory over the Highlanders, who finished the stronger of the two teams.

Concerns were first raised that Queensland were underdone coming into the competition after they were overrun by both the Western Force and Blues in their final two pre-season trials.

There were reports that new coach Phil Mooney's desire to protect his players from the "friendly fire" injuries that claimed many in 2007 under whip-cracking taskmaster Eddie Jones had an adverse affect.

But Holmes - who with fellow prop Rodney Blake played the entire 80 minutes at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night - declared the Reds were as fit as he's ever experienced in his four seasons at Ballymore.

"I think we're just as fit as anybody else, I don't think we're unfit," said the Test loose-head. "Compared to years in the past we're as equally fit or fitter.

"I think we got a bad rap from that Force game where we didn't play well.

"Only time will tell when we come up against the good sides like the Crusaders and teams like that to see if we can finish the 80 minutes off."

Veteran lock Humphries, who asserted no big forward pack coped with the extra running under the experimental law restricting kick-outs within the 22, was more blunt.

"For people to say it's a fitness issue after the amount of work that most of these guys have put in over the off-season, it's a short jab and they obviously weren't out here watching us train," he said.

"Because of that new law that's been brought in, every team struggled with it over the weekend.

"For a 135-140kg guy (Blake) to be playing 80 minutes under these laws is a pretty good effort."

Mooney made the point after the three-tries-to-one win that none of his players went down feigning injury for a breather while tired Highlanders forwards regularly stopped play.

Even super-fit Waratahs hooker Adam Freier told Fox Sports he was on his haunches three times in their 20-3 win over the Hurricanes because he was out of gas.

Queensland are looking to end a 10-year drought in Wellington on Friday night against a Hurricanes side desperate to bounce back.

The Reds are taking a leaf out of the Waratahs' book in wanting to control the tempo of the game against a skilled outfit that loves to off-load and counter-attack.

"We don't want to get into the situation where it almost becomes 15-man sevens," said Mooney.

"They're big physical guys and they've got damaging ball-runners and clearly the off-load has come into the game and they can hurt you."

The Reds are again expected to name a full-strength side on Tuesday despite lock James Horwill (ankle) and back-rower Leroy Houston (foot) nursing injuries.

Teenage flyhalf Quade Cooper has stormed into contention for a return on the bench following an impressive performance leading the Queensland Second XV to a 32-18 win over the Young Waratahs on Saturday.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP