Reds unruffled by Cooper-Genia homecoming

The hype around Quade Cooper and Will Genia's Super Rugby return to Brisbane hasn't seeped into the Reds' camp this week, assistant coach Peter Ryan says.

Will Genia (L) and Quade Cooper (R)

Will Genia (L) and Quade Cooper (R), now at the Rebels, starred in Queensland's 2011 title win. (AAP)

Queensland assistant Peter Ryan "couldn't give a rats" how Quade Cooper and Will Genia fare in their hyped Suncorp Stadium return with the Rebels on Saturday.

The Melbourne halves starred in the Reds' 2011 premiership season and have recombined to great effect after Cooper was frozen out of coach Brad Thorn's Ballymore plans last year.

While Ryan understood the theatre behind the pair's return, but assured it wouldn't be on his mind this weekend.

"It's their homecoming, I suppose you could call it that," Ryan said.

"A lot of people want to talk about Quade and Will ... I'm not one of them.

"I don't want to talk about Quade and Will, I couldn't give a rats and don't care whether they come up here and play like champions or not."

The defensive coach was nevertheless aware the Reds would need to put the squeeze on the playmaking duo to repeat last weekend's bonus-point defeat of the Brumbies.

Cooper leads the competition with five try assists this season, while Genia - rested from last weekend's loss in South Africa to the Sharks - has been commanding at the base of the scrum for the 3-2 side.

"They're obviously very good players, so we have to look at their individual games, but there's no extra focus," Ryan said.

The Reds may have also settled on their best backline, with scrumhalf Tate McDermott retaining his starting spot alongside No.10 Bryce Hegarty and fullback Hamish Stewart.

Hegarty's kicking game was on point last weekend, while McDermott darted 45m for a second-half try and Stewart was unflappable at the back.

It's just the second time in six starts this season the Reds have fielded an unchanged backline.


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Source: AAP



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