Queensland Reds Eye Win Streak vs Hurricanes

Tom Lynagh charges down a kick from Hugo Keenan during the 2025 British & Irish Lions series | Photo: AFP

Tom Lynagh to make Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench against Wellington Hurricanes. Queensland Reds, led by Fraser McReight, take on red-hot Wellington Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific.

Reds face table-topping Hurricanes with Tom Lynagh returning and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips starting at 10...

Australia flyhalf Tom Lynagh is set to make his 2026 Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench for the Queensland Reds against the Wellington Hurricanes this Saturday. Lynagh, 22, started all three tests against the British & Irish Lions last year but has been sidelined since suffering a concussion in August.

Reds coach Les Kiss is easing Lynagh back into action after concussion issues and a hamstring injury disrupted his 2025 season. Carter Gordon's injury has paved the way for Lynagh's return, with Harry McLaughlin-Phillips starting at number 10.

Carter Gordon, who has started three matches for the Reds this season, is unavailable this weekend due to a minor injury. As a result, 21-year-old Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will start in the number 10 shirt for the second successive week.

Reds coach Les Kiss praised the young player's progress, saying, “It's great news to see Tommy Lynagh coming back ⁠for sure, and Harry McLaughlin had a great game last week and led us around the park.”

“Carter has a sort of slight lower limb injury, so we're just going to make sure he doesn't come back too early from that. And we're looking forward ⁠to seeing Harry and Tommy work together.”

Reds coach Les Kiss is taking a cautious approach with Tom Lynagh's return, easing him back into action after concussion issues and a hamstring injury disrupted his 2025 season. Kiss is set to take over as Wallabies coach from Joe Schmidt after the July tests.

“We just wanted to get through some full weeks of training, and this week's probably the right week for him to go away,” Kiss added.

“He can come off the bench and see how he goes. And if everything's going right, we should probably see more of him going forward.”

❌ NEW: Dan Sheehan has been banned for four games, reduced to three with tackle school, for this clean out on Tom Lynagh.#LionsRugby
pic.twitter.com/BKxiYyKcIU

— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) August 4, 2025

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips impressed with a fine display as the Reds beat the Drua last weekend, securing a first win in Fiji and extending their winning streak to four matches.

Reds captain Fraser McReight returns at openside flanker after being rested for the Fiji trip, but coach Les Kiss knows it'll be tough to keep the winning run going against the Hurricanes. “They're playing some great footy at the moment,” Kiss said.

“We're just going to back our fitness and back our plan, and hopefully that's good enough. ⁠But it's going to have ⁠to be very good to ‌beat them over in Wellington,” he said.