Hooker looms as Wallaby bolter

ROOKIE Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa has transformed from little-known Sydney club player to likely Wallabies bolter thanks to the talent-spotting of Brad Thorn.

Saturday’s clash against the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium is more than just an ideal night to topple a top Kiwi side because the burly forward can nail a spot in the Wallabies squad with a rousing display.

After more than a decade with riches at hooker, the Wallabies will abruptly discover what life is like without retired skipper Stephen Moore and 32year-old Tatafu Polota-Nau against Ireland next month.

Just who will wear the No.2 jersey, and act as the two backup hookers in the squad, is the tricky question Wallabies coach Michael Cheka must answer.

Young gun Jordan Uelese made such an impression as last year’s bolter that the jersey was being measured for him.

His injury-disrupted season with a torn bicep is likely to resume off the bench for the Melbourne Rebels on Friday.

It still gives him a shot at match fitness before the June 9 Test in Brisbane but what do we make of mobile Rebel Anaru Rangi, Waratah Tolu Latu and novice Brumby Folau Faingaa as other contenders?

Latu is the most seasoned, Uelese has huge potential and the hooker ticking all the right boxes is Paenga-Amosa, 22, because his strengths start where Cheika needs him most.

He was a commanding scrummaging presence when the Reds dominated powerhouse Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx and his Lions scrum in April and has consistently stepped up in that area.

When it was noted Thorn must have been impressed with Paenga-Amosa’s hattrick of tries in a game for NSW Country last year, Thorn deadpanned: “What tries?”

Thorn has drummed good habits into the hooker, who went to the same Endeavour Sports High in Sydney that called Israel Folau an old boy.

Paenga-Amosa chopped off his mop of hair, thanks to a few Thorn stares, and his game has been sharpened by 11 games to put him in position to be an oldfashioned, longshot Wallaby.