Tim Ryan’s stock has soared to record highs and the Queensland Reds hit top gear with a 46-point surge to end the Western Force’s Super Rugby Pacific season.
In just his fourth career start, the 20-year-old winger made history for the Reds with his second hat-trick of the season in Saturday’s 59-13 win at Suncorp Stadium.
Tom Lynagh and striker Seru Uru also impressed in the box as the Reds racked up nine tries to one to book a quarter-final against the Chiefs in Hamilton with a round to play.
Ryan out-jumped the opposition winger to score in the fourth minute, then almost immediately had a second effort cut out from a forward pass.
He got the double after the break, Ryan tucking his ears behind from 40 yards to finish off a brilliant counter-attack.
Ryan then hit a gap and defied cramp to stumble in the 75th minute to become the first Reds player to score multiple hat-tricks.
He now has nine tries in just four career starts and seven appearances overall.
With his own fan club in the stands, Ryan’s form demands scrutiny ahead of Wales’ tour of Australia in July.
“These things happen every once in a while and they’re happening for Timmy right now,” coach Les Kiss said.
“He knows it’s on the back of good teamwork, but he finds a way, doesn’t he, and that’s brilliant.
“He’s still very humble … at least now the talk is about his footwork rather than (nickname) Junkyard Dog.
“It’s all part of the theatre, I get that, but he’s doing good things on the pitch. He’s got the smell, hasn’t he.”
Lynagh, back from a hamstring complaint, also pressed his case as he ran hard on the line and found gaps with short passes to cut the visitors apart.
Flanker Fraser McWright also scored twice, the second another beautiful shift across the field, with a superb display from 50 game center Josh Flock.
The Force had won their last two games and beat the Reds 40-31 in Perth earlier this season.
But they threatened the Reds’ line little in the second leg, dominating all aspects to the delight of 12,321 grateful fans.
Their win came a week after a crucial away loss to Fiji, the Reds (7-6) the first of six teams to achieve the feat this season.
“We wanted momentum in this quarter, to try and roll the dice. This is a nice way to do it,” co-captain Liam Wright said.
The result left the ninth-placed Force (4-9) needing to beat the Brumbies in Perth next week and hope eighth-placed Fijian Drua – and equal ninth Crusaders – drop their remaining games.
Manager Simon Crone admitted they needed to change something next season after going through the season without an away win.
“The only thing I would say about the travel this week is that we had a lot of guys stay on the plane,” he said.
“There’s not much good from this game.
“Attitude… we have to fix that, consistency in performance.
“Also, the Reds played really well, so credit to them.”
Red 59 (Tries: Ryan 3, Nasser, McReight 2, Faessler, Uru, Campbell; Disadvantages: Lynagh 3, O’Connor; Pen: Lynagh) Def Force 13 (Tries: Kuenzle? Disadvantages: Kuenzle? Pen: Donaldson)
Team’s:
Red: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 John Bryant, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Toomaga -Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Connor Vest, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Taj Annan.
Power: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 George Poolman, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Izack Rodda, 2 Jeremy Williams, 2 Medrano Tom Horton, 1 Harry Huppert.
Replacements: 16 Feleti Kaitu’u, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Sam Spink, 23 Chase Tiatia.
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie