Reds trio could be new stars
REDS forwards Lukhan Tui, Caleb Timu and Brandon Paenga-Amosa shape as the big Queensland winners in today’s Wallabies selection lottery.
Tui, 21, is only touch-and-go to force a place in the Reds’ line-up for Saturday night’s interstate clash against NSW at Suncorp Stadium, but his DNA as a player is essential for the balance of the Wallabies pack.
He has played less than three hours of rugby for the Reds all season because of suspension, minor knee surgery and missing selection, which is more a measure of circumstances running against him than not being rated highly.
Wingers and props may be in flood proportions but Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has a real dilemma in finding the right mix of backrowers to battle the Irish at one of their strengths in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium on June 9.
That’s why Tui is so valued. He is a lock by trade but Cheika has for eight months imagined how good he could be as a bullocking, heavy-hitting No.6 and genuine lineout trump in his 198cm frame.
Tui must be there as a Test bench option for balance, with low-to-ground duo David Pocock and Michael Hooper entrenched as two backrowers.
Equally, Timu, 24, has a line-busting knack as a balanced runner and deserves inclusion to see how many more of the subtleties of backrow play he can keep developing.
Paenga-Amosa, 22, is a rags-to-riches rise that always excites Aussie rugby because he was an anonymous Sydney club player this time last year.