Damian McKenzie Breaks Records as Reds End Fifteen Year Drought Against Defending Champion Crusaders
Queensland ends a 15-year hoodoo against the Crusaders while Damian McKenzie breaks scoring records in a dominant weekend of Super Rugby Pacific action.
By: AXL Media
Published: Apr 13, 2026, 3:50 AM EDT
Source: Information for this report was sourced from Rugby365
The Breaking Development
The Queensland Reds successfully defended their postseason ambitions by snapping a 15-year losing streak at home against the Crusaders in a physical 31-26 encounter. While the victory solidified Queensland’s position within the top six of the Super Rugby Pacific standings, the win was tempered by a significant injury to Wallabies flyhalf prospect Carter Gordon. According to team reports, Gordon was forced from the field in the 44th minute with a right knee injury and was later seen using crutches. The loss of their primary playmaker comes at a critical juncture for the Reds, who are scheduled to face three consecutive top-four opponents in the coming weeks.
Background and Context
History weighed heavily on Suncorp Stadium as the Reds sought to replicate their 2011 grand final victory, the last time they had defeated the Crusaders in Brisbane. The current squad faced immense pressure to perform following a heavy 42-19 defeat at the hands of the Western Force in the previous round. Watching from the stands was the original 2011 championship-winning squad, providing a symbolic backdrop to a match defined by defensive resilience and opportunistic scoring. The Reds managed to hold off a late surge from the visitors, utilizing their dominant field position to overcome a Crusaders side that remained competitive until the final whistle.
Key Players and Stakeholders
Individual brilliance defined the weekend’s fixtures, highlighted by Damian McKenzie’s record-breaking performance for the Chiefs at Rotorua International Stadium. McKenzie surpassed Sitiveni Sivivatu’s previous mark by scoring his 43rd and 44th tries for the franchise, while simultaneously becoming only the second New Zealand player to reach 1,500 points for a single team. In Brisbane, Filipo Daugunu celebrated his 100th competition appearance by running for 120 metres and scoring a crucial try. Additionally, former NRL star Zac Lomax made a high-profile rugby union debut for the Western Force, though his 40-metre contribution off the bench was not enough to prevent a narrow loss to the Fijian Drua.