Reds and Western Force confirm squads for Super Rugby Trial clash - All Blacks legend to debut in Perth

Friday, 23 January 2026 at 12:32

byTom Sansom

The Queensland Reds’ preparations for the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season will be put to an early test on Friday night when they face a refreshed Western Force outfit in Perth, with both sides naming squads that blend established internationals and emerging talent for an intriguing trial match.

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Queensland confirmed earlier this week that promising young halfback James Martens has committed his future to the Reds through to the end of 2027, before Head Coach Les Kiss unveiled his first matchday group of the year for the pre-season trial at Scotch College.

Martens, 20, will start at scrum-half after making a strong impression late in 2025 during matches against Tonga and Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, followed by further opportunities in Super Rugby AU.

“The Reds is definitely a good place for development and to play with the good coaching,” Martens said. I have a lot more to learn for sure. It's nice to have the other halfbacks in the squad in your corner as well because you pick up things every day.

“I definitely enjoyed running out in the Reds jersey last year. It happened very quickly so I know anything can happen when you are working hard. Mentally, I always see space and opportunities on the field. That’s always something dad has helped me with in terms of when to quick tap or why you might do things."

Kiss has been pleased with the way Martens has transitioned into senior rugby. "James had been in the Buildcorp Reds Academy program for a number of years," The Reds coach said. "I love the balance he shows with his instincts and learning his role at No.9 with what his forwards need and so on. He continues to impress with his application to growing his craft at halfback."

The Reds’ squad for Perth features nine Wallabies and a number of players pushing for bigger roles in 2026, including powerful backrower Vaiuta Latu at No.8 and teenage fullback Nicholas Conway, who will make his first appearance in a Reds jersey. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will start at fly-half, with Carter Gordon set to come off the bench.

"It's exciting to get started with our matches for 2026 after the work put in during the pre-season," Kiss said. We want to see growth in what we have planned and trained for. For Perth, it's exciting to see this blend of experienced players with the young guys who put their hands up for the Reds in the matches against Tonga and the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights plus Super Rugby AUS at the back end of last season.

"We were certainly impressed by guys like Vaiuta Latu, James Martens, Xavier Rubens and others playing as Reds for the first time in that block of games. Nicholas Conway will get his first chance at fullback for us in this trial. Across our two trials, most of our squad will get opportunities on the field so we have factored that in.

"It's great to see Lukhan (Salakaia-Loto) and Josh (Canham) as our lock pairing and the experience of Hunter Paisami and Lachie Anderson in this backline. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has really impressed during the pre-season. He'll start at No.10. Carter Gordon has added significant value to the squad and he'll come off the bench."

The Western Force, meanwhile, will use the fixture to unveil several new signings in Force blue, headlined by former All Blacks and Crusaders try-scoring star George Bridge. Bridge, who spent the past three seasons in France with Montpellier, will start at outside centre in his first appearance for the Perth-based side.

He is one of five off-season recruits named in the starting XV, alongside Los Pumas lock Franco Molina, former Reds prop Sef Fa’agase, ex-Wallabies winger Darby Lancaster and Perth-born scrum-half Nathan Hastie, who has joined the Force from the Highlanders.

The Force have named an extended 38-man squad for the clash, which will be played across three 30-minute periods to maximise game time. Fa’agase will pack down with Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Harry Johnson-Holmes, who is set to play his first competitive match since suffering an ACL injury last February. Ben Donaldson will steer the side from fly-half, with an experienced midfield pairing of Kurtley Beale and Bridge.

Friday’s trial is free entry for fans and kicks off at 4:35pm WST (6:35pm Qld time). While the match will not be live streamed, both teams see it as a key step in building towards the new Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

Queensland Reds team

Starting XV:

George Blake
Matt Faessler
Massimo De Lutiis
Josh Canham
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Joe Brial
John Bryant
Vaiuta Latu
James Martens
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
Xavier Rubens
Hunter Paisami
Isaac Henry
Lachie Anderson
Nicholas Conway

Reserves:
Zac Hough, Harrison Usher, Zane Nonggorr, Hamish Muller, Tom Robinson, Kalani Thomas, Carter Gordon, Jock Campbell, Aidan Ross, Nick Bloomfield, Charlie Brosnan, Dre Pakeho, Tim Ryan, Will Ross

Western Force team

Starting XV:

Sef Fa’agase
Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Harry Johnson-Holmes
Lopeti Faifua
Franco Molina
Will Harris
Kane Koteka
Vaiolini Ekuasi
Nathan Hastie
Ben Donaldson
Darby Lancaster
Kurtley Beale
George Bridge
Divad Palu
Mac Grealy

Reserves: Sure — here is the Western Force reserves listed in the same paragraph style as the Reds:

Reserves: Albert Alcock, Marley Pearce, Max Sawers, Joshua Smith, Misinale Epenisa, Bradley Kuhn, Chlayton Frans, Gus Farnan, Tim Sail, Jack Daly, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Henry Robertson, Agustin Moyano, Luke Aiken, Max Burey, Alex Harford, Ryan McGloin, Boston Fakafanua, Taj Annan, Ronan Leahy, Jackson Ropata, Henry Palmer, Justin Landman

5 QUICK FACTS: GEORGE BRIDGE

Here are 5 quick facts about George Bridge you can use in your article footer:

1. All Blacks veteran: Bridge has earned 19 caps for New Zealand, scoring 12 tries in Test rugby.

2. World Cup experience: He was part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and started four matches in that tournament.

3. Super Rugby champion: Bridge won six Super Rugby titles — four Super Rugby crowns and two Super Rugby Aotearoa titles with the Crusaders.

4. European stint: After his Crusaders career, he spent three seasons with Montpellier in France’s Top 14, making nearly 50 appearances and scoring 11 tries.

5. New club ahead: Bridge has signed a two year deal with Western Force, as he returns to Super Rugby.