Nick Stiles says the Queensland Reds still did their one-off maroon throwback jerseys justice despite losing their seventh consecutive match to the NSW Waratahs.
The Reds' Super Rugby finals hopes took a fatal blow with the 29-26 heartbreaker on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium, sealed by Bernard Foley's fifth penalty goal with just two minutes to go.
While upset with how a lopsided penalty count influenced the match, Stiles said they produced some of their "cleanest football" of the season and showed more signs of growth as a group.
He believed wearing the Reds' old maroon strip with blue shorts last seen in 2009, which he had been planning for months as a pre-match surprise, was a seminal moment in their development.
"When we got into the changerooms, they didn't know about it," Stiles said.
"They saw the blue shorts and the maroon socks with the two white stripes there, they lit up, they knew something was on.
"It wasn't a marketing thing, it wasn't released to press, it wasn't a merchandise selling thing.
"I keep saying we've got to win football games, so don't get me wrong, but the group's growing.
"They're in the process of really building their identity at the moment a big thing that's coming through is that tradition. They were pumped."
Stand-in skipper Samu Kerevi said he wanted to wear it again.
"It was something I really wanted to do justice by," he said.
"Obviously the result didn't go our way tonight but I thought the effort the boys put in was exceptional.
"I really hope we can keep having moments where we can wear this jersey - even the red jersey, it's special to me, with this emblem."
Stiles was unhappy with how referee Paul Williams handled the game and said the 16-4 penalty count was a clear decisive factor, keeping them parked in their defensive zone for most of the second half.
But he was careful with his words for fear of retribution from Super Rugby head honchos.
Stiles joked that he couldn't wait for SANZAAR referees boss Lyndon Bray to call him.
"I've been really good with the referees. The game's got to move forward by referees getting coaches' input and positive input so I'm working really hard," he said.
"I speak to Lyndon a lot, send feedback to Lyndon. You're just trying for us all to be better. But definitely in that game, we just wanted a fair go."
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