Queensland Reds

But after a week of intense criticism and questioning, Brad Fittler's controversial selections, and non-selections, have been justified after NSW kept the series alive with an emphatic 38-6 win against Queensland in Perth on Sunday night.

The Maroons were totally outclassed and out-enthused by a NSW team that had spent an entire week working on working harder.

More effort, Fittler wanted. Effort he got.

James Maloney strolled into Blues camp exactly seven days ago, after repeatedly being snubbed in the weeks prior, asking the coach if he had lost his number.

McReight, the Australian under-20 player of the year in 2018, is tipped as a star of the future set to become a fixture in the Reds backrow.

The former Brisbane Grammar student has been setting competitions alight since making a switch from the centres to become a workaholic openside flanker who became an Australian schoolboys representative at 16.

While he was named in the Reds' squad for the opening match of the season against the Highlanders in Dunedin, McReight did not play and had to wait for his moment.

"It was tough," McReight said of missing out.

The pair will return on the bench, with Queensland also making two changes to their starting XV.

Harry Hockings will start at lock, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto shifting to flanker, while Angus Scott-Young will start at No.8 with Caleb Timu on the bench.

Izack Rodda will also play, determined to help the Reds try and arrest the Crusaders record 17-game winning streak despite the death of his father last week.

He just got a whole lot better in every other department.

Jet-heeled prop Tupou showed he is ready to add to his one substitute appearance for the Wallabies with an eye-catching display for the Queensland Reds in their 38-34 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Tupou powered over for one try and set up another for winger Jordan Petaia with a spectacular 30-metre burst and offload down the left flank.

Ready has been overlooked for Queensland's first three games this season, Brandon Paenga-Amosa taking the opportunity as starting hooker with both hands and Alex Mafi doing a fine job as a late game finisher.

But Thorn, who has made a handful of changes to the team that beat the Bulls, has seen enough from the highly touted 24-year-old to hand him a chance this weekend.

There's just one change to the starting XV but it's a significant one, Angus Scott-Young slotting into the backrow for his Super Rugby start, ahead of Liam Wright.

Smith was arrested in Japan on New Year's Eve for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver, detained for 18 days by Japanese authorities, with the Reds only learning of the incident when it was reported in the Japanese media well after the fact.

RUGBY.com.au understands the 37-year-old met with Reds CEO Richard Barker and other stakeholders upon his return to Brisbane last week, asked to explain how he landed himself in hot water on New Year's Eve.