"Buzzing" - Matt Faessler eager for Queensland Reds to bounce back against Highlanders

Hooker Matt Faessler, now 27, remains a cornerstone of the Reds pack. His rise has been swift. After representing Queensland Country in the 2019 National Rugby Championship, he made his Reds debut in 2022 in a 29-16 away win over the Western Force. Just four months later he started at hooker for Australia A in their 32-18 Pacific Nations Cup victory over Fiji.

By 2023, Faessler’s combative edge, high work-rate and accuracy at the lineout had marked him out as one of the standout front rowers in the competition. Six Super Rugby tries that season highlighted his impact around the park and helped earn selection in Eddie Jones’ Rugby Championship squad.

When he claimed his first Test cap for the Wallabies, he joined his maternal grandfather Vince Bermingham as part of the seventh grandfather and grandson pairing to represent Australia at Test level, alongside famous families such as the Lawtons and the McLeans. He has since scored four tries in 15 Test appearances and has added two in six matches for the Reds in 2025.

The Reds opened their campaign with a 36-12 derby loss to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, a result shaped largely by discipline and pressure at the breakdown. Faessler was frank about the lessons taken from that performance.

"Some tough lessons came out of that. For us personally, it was around discipline. You can't win a Super Rugby game conceding 17-odd penalties so for us, through this training week, it's focusing on rectifying a few of those things, maybe a few tactical switches and really leaning in towards the prep for the Highlanders at home at the Suncorp."

In contrast, the Highlanders arrive in Brisbane full of confidence after edging the Crusaders 25-23 in a gripping southern derby under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Their composure in key moments and physical edge at set-piece stood out.

"I think they're really strong at the set-piece, hard working and quite physical from the game that we saw on the weekend against the Crusaders. So, I think they pose some different and unique threats. I know they love their special plays and starter plays that are really strong in attack. For us, rectifying that is going to be really important."

With Caxton Street buzzing and a home crowd behind them, Faessler is eager to respond.

"I'm buzzing, I love playing at Suncorp. It's a unique ecosystem where you've got a run of people at Caxton Street that run into the game so the energy is infectious and really looking forward to it."