THE Queensland Reds have a massive chance to shake-up three seasons of lame results with a flying 2-0 start to the 2017 Super Rugby season.
In the draw unveiled today, the Reds will host the Durban-based Sharks on February 24 at Suncorp Stadium to launch the reign of new head coach Nick Stiles.
It is a significant contrast to the tougher 2015 (ACT Brumbies) and 2016 (NSW Waratahs) openers when dismal seasons were almost ordained by shabby first-up losses.
A Round Two visit to Perth to face the Western Force in a rare Thursday night clash on March 2 is also a fixture that must be won.
Counting victories on paper is a flawed game.
The Reds’ produced an appalling 22-6 loss to the Force at home in the second round this year which cost coach Richard Graham his job.
If they are good enough, the Reds do have a shot at a 2-0 lift-off to mesh all their changes in personnel and build some confidence.
Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper, Test skipper Stephen Moore and evergreen Wallabies great George Smith are all to be integrated into a more formidable line-up.
The Reds will play seven of their 15 games at Suncorp Stadium with a number of feature matches and three Friday night games.
There is a March 11 clash against the crowd-pulling Crusaders who will have former Reds winger Digby Ioane on board.
On April 1, the Reds will host the champion Hurricanes.
On April 29, the clash against the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium will be the only edition of the Battle of the Border for the season.
The home season includes one day game, a 3.05pm clash on April 15 against Super Rugby’s most unappealing side, South Africa’s Southern Kings.
Under the conference system, the Reds will play all Australian and Kiwi opponents at least once plus fixtures against the Africa 2 conference.
The Reds will face a daunting road trip to Johannesburg and Buenos Aires in March.
The Queenslanders will play the Lions, this year’s finalists, on March 19 in Johannesburg before flying to the Argentinian capital for a first-time meeting with the Jaguares.
Sales of Reds memberships for 2017 had a surge last month when Cooper’s return to the Reds was confirmed.
The membership push is continuing under the banner “Answer The Call.”
“To say the team is excited about next year is an understatement,” Stiles said.
“Kicking off our 2017 season at home is a great opportunity to get out and showcase to our fans the developments we’ve made through our hard work in the pre-season.
“We’ve got seven chances to play in front of our family, friends and fans next year and winning those home games is crucial.”
Queensland Reds’ 2017 draw
Friday, February 24 v Sharks at Suncorp Stadium
Thursday, March 2 v Western Force in Perth
Saturday, March 11 v Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium
Sunday, March 19 v Lions in Johannesburg
Sunday, March 26 v Jaguares in Buenos Aires
Saturday, April 1 v Hurricanes at Suncorp Stadium
Saturday, April 8 v ACT Brumbies in Canberra
Saturday, April 15 v Southern Kings at Suncorp Stadium
BYE - Round 9
Saturday, April 29 v NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium
Saturday, May 6 v Chiefs in NZ (venue TBC)
Saturday, May 13 v Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne
BYE - Round 13
Friday, May 26 v Western Force at Suncorp Stadium
Friday, June 2 v Blues in NZ (venue TBC)
JUNE TESTS
Friday, July 7 v ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium
Friday, July 14 v Highlanders in NZ (venue TBC)
