Rugby Union

It's a grand final: Force fired up to take down Reds

May 14, 2026

Western Force v Queensland Reds — With finals just weeks away, the Force are treating their clash with the Reds like a grand final. -AAP Image

The Western Force will be treating Saturday night's crunch clash with Queensland like a grand final as Simon Cron's men attempt to keep their flickering finals hopes alive.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

With just three rounds to go, the 10th-placed Force (4-7) are nine points adrift of the sixth-placed Reds (6-5).

It means the Force will need to win their remaining matches - home games against the Reds, Fijian Drua and Waratahs - plus rely on other results going their way if they are to scrape into the finals.

Force prop Sef Fa'agase, who will notch his 100-game milestone this weekend, says the group are well aware of the high stakes.

"We've gone into this week preparing like it's a grand final," Fa'agase said.

"We need to win every single game, so it's been a different shift in the mindset, preparing like we've got no other Mondays given. It's pretty cool."

The Reds have rested a host of stars for Saturday's game at HBF Park in what coach Les Kiss has termed a "regeneration week".

Captain and flanker Fraser McReight, backs Josh Flook and Filipo Daugunu and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will all miss the high-stakes clash.

The Force have also been weakened by injuries to flyhalf Ben Donaldson (quad), prop Tom Robertson (calf) and in-form scrumhalf Henry Robertson (ACL rupture).

Fa'agase racked up 83 Super Rugby caps for the Reds across two stints, as well as notching two caps for the Rebels and three for the Highlanders.

But after less than one year in Perth, the 35-year-old says his heart now bleeds Force blue, and this week he re-signed with the franchise for the 2027 campaign.

Fa'agase was playing in Japan in 2020 and the US in 2021, but is glad he decided to return to Australia.

"I was getting to the ripe old age of 31 while overseas, and I really wanted to start my family," Fa'agase explained.

"So my partner and I made the conscious decision to try and move back in 2022. It's been the best decision ever. I've got two beautiful boys now, and loving life."