Scrumhalf Kalani Thomas has revealed Queensland's secret weapon as the Reds look to bank their third straight Super Rugby Pacific victory when they host the Western Force.
Coach Les Kiss spoke this week about the depth of the Queensland squad and the vital contribution of the bench, with the Reds sitting third on the ladder with just one loss for the season.
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Thomas credited team psychologist Hayley Cronin for help with his temper on the field, and his mind-set playing limited minutes behind skipper and Test No.9 Tate McDermott.
The 22-year-old was a stand-out in last round's hoodoo-busting win over the Highlanders in Dunedin, scoring a try in his first start of the campaign.
Thomas said Cronin had helped him find "the joy" in being part of the team, regardless of his time on the field.
"I know exactly my role in the team, and if that's coming off the bench, then I'll always put in for the team, and if it's starting then it's starting," Thomas said on Tuesday.
"I've done a lot of work with my psychologist (Cronin) on not letting that affect the way I perform or let the joy of the week pan out, so it doesn't really bother me.
"I speak to Hailey probably once every two weeks and she's helped me heaps, just the way that I can mentally prepare.
"I used to be a really hot-head on the field and she's worked tirelessly with me and all the boys here, so she's awesome to have and I think I wouldn't be here without her."
Kiss was glowing about Thomas, who will again warm the pine with McDermott returning on Saturday night in Brisbane after being rested from the trip to New Zealand's south island.
"He's been extremely patient with the minutes he's had up to date ... and when he's got his opportunities off the bench, he's been brilliant," the coach said.
"A lot of kudos should go to Kalani for the way that he managed that game, particularly early and then after the halftime break, how he just marshalled that and got us going again was brilliant."
The Reds had a four-point win in round three over the Force in Perth and Kiss expected another tight affair after the West Australian side demolished the Fijian Drua on Sunday.
"To put 50 points on like they did, in pretty good fashion against an in-form team, that was pretty impressive," Kiss said.
"They will be confident and they should be ... we got over them in the last minutes last time and they will come loaded for this so we're going to have to have our heads on to protect our home record."
