by Paul Cook & Brendan Bradford - The Queensland Reds came into the 2012 season as reigning champions and with high expectations of backing up their success, however, a crippling injury toll, particularly in key positions, robbed them of any real chance to perform to their very best and in the end, it was an achievement just to reach the finals series after pipping the Brumbies to the Australian conference top spot on the last day of the regular season. Their injury enforced fragility was exposed by the Sharks in week one of the finals but that experience has only helped to fuel an even greater desire for success and to re-establish themselves as the premier side in the competition. What the injury crisis did offer was valuable experience to a group of highly promising young players to which the Reds will entrust their future and all the signs are that they will be in go