Les Kiss, the Reds head coach, is taken aback by the quick ascent Super Rugby Pacific standings

Even head coach Les Kiss finds it hard to believe that the Queensland Reds are having such success at the beginning of Super Rugby Pacific.

In 2023, the Reds were hardly a dominant team; they only managed to make it to the finals by winning five of the 14 regular season games.

The Reds’ season ended in the quarterfinals in Hamilton after they were defeated 29–20 by the Chiefs, who were atop the charts.

Then-head coach Brad Thorn was let go and replaced by Kiss fresh off a stint with Premiership Rugby side London Irish.

His influence was felt right away as the club defeated the Waratahs, Chiefs, and Rebels in three out of four games.

The Reds’ only defeat thus far came in a close 38-33 barnburner against the unbeaten Hurricanes.

After the round four match, Kiss indicated the squad was “getting close” to his proposal for the head coach position, which he had given to the Queensland Reds management.

“I didn’t think it would happen this quickly in terms of their confidence in terms of how we wanted to present a game style to them and a shape to them,” Kiss told Stan Sport’s coverage.

“I must give my coaches a lot of credit since they have made all of the plans we discussed align. The coaching approach has worked really well. They are technically sound and possess excellent tactical judgment, thus all those factors are important.

Everyone has shown support for it. They’re delivering on our request to try to play in a certain way, which is aggressive and progressive.

It wasn’t a flawless 53-26 victory over the Rebels, though.

Before the Rebels staged a rally to close the deficit to 38-19, the Reds held a 33-7 lead at the half.

Kiss is eager to encourage the athletes to give it a try, though.

“I’d like a few less errors, I’d like better management at times, but I’d rather say ‘Go for it’ and let’s find out rather than say ‘Don’t do this’ and inch our way forward,” he stated.

“I’d prefer to move forward quickly and see how far we can get.

“Despite the errors, they still find a way to fight their way back into a point,” he stated.

They exhibit tenacity, commitment, and all those qualities.

“All I can say is that we overextended them in the first part of the second half tonight, and they recovered.” When they occur, we are aware that they can be harmful.”