Reds lose a lot but not sense of humour

They have lost a lot this season - but at least Super 14 battlers the Queensland
Reds haven't lost their sense of humour.
After a 2-7 season start compounded by a woeful 31-20 last round loss to the lowly
Lions, Reds coach Phil Mooney would be forgiven for either laughing or crying about
his side's predicament.
Probably for his sanity's sake, he has opted for the former as he prepares for a
daunting trip to Auckland to take on the Blues on Saturday night.
Queensland have not beaten the Blues (5th; 5-4 record) in Auckland since Super rugby
started in 1996.
But Mooney quipped that the Reds could treat the match as a home game considering
their growing Kiwi contingent.
The addition of Poutasi Luafutu for injured All Blanks flanker Daniel Braid boosts
the Reds' New Zealand-born player ranks up to eight.
"A lot of our players enjoy going to Auckland as they get to catch up with family,"
Mooney laughed.
But of course Mooney quickly became deadly serious about the task at hand.
"Having said that, we've got a massive challenge as (the Blues) are a great side,"
he said.
Mooney assured reporters on Tuesday that the Reds had finally mapped out a strategy
to get their season back on track.
"(After) last Saturday (loss to the Lions)...we needed to look at how we were doing
things and we've certainly done that," he said.
"The good thing is there has been good, collective resolve."
He names his team on Wednesday.