Timu’s switch pays off
Red earns Wallabies call
CALEB Timu’s tough call to ditch his pathway to the Brisbane Broncos paid off big time last night with his first-time selection in a Wallabies squad.
The standout for the Queensland Reds still has plenty to learn as a backrower yet his power-running, balance and offloading are blue-chip skills that can take him to the top.
Timu’s selection after just 12 games of Super Rugby was one of coach Michael Cheika’s positive experiments within the 32-man Wallabies squad.
He is one of five uncapped players including exciting Melbourne wing rookie Jack Maddocks and dynamic Brumbies fullback Tom Banks, who the Reds let go.
Hooker Brandon PaengaAmosa has risen from humble Sydney club rugby to a Wallabies squad in less than a year as one of six Reds in the squad.
Finding the right No.8 or No.6 to blend with Test-toughened trumps Michael Hooper and David Pocock will be one of Cheika’s key calls for the big June 9 Test against Ireland at Suncorp Stadium.
The coach has included Reds lock Lukhan Tui as a 119kg project who could be turned into an influential Test blindside flanker who can beef up the pack’s lineout.
The squad will swell to 33 should Rugby Australia get a clearance for Crusaders flanker Pete Samu but as of yesterday New Zealand Rugby was in consideration mode.
Timu, 24, switched codes in early 2016 after playing league for the Broncos Under-20s and with Dylan Napa and Corey Oates in the first Under-20s State of Origin in 2012.
Timu credited Reds coach Brad Thorn for preparing him for the next step in his career.
“The big thing from Thorny has been mindset and physicality from the kick-off because it’s then that those attributes to your game can come off,” Timu said.
“I was a bit lost when I came to rugby but I’ve worked a lot on the finer points to get crisper with my tackling technique, height at the breakdown, defence and lineouts.”
WALLABIES SQUAD
Backs (15): Genia, Phipps, Powell, Foley, Beale, Hodge, Kerevi, Kuridrani, Rona, Haylett-Petty, Koroibete, Banks, Naivalu, Maddocks, Folau. Forwards (17): Timu, Hanigan, Pocock, Hooper (c), Tui, Coleman, Rodda, Arnold, Simmons, Robertson, Sio, Tupou, Kepu, Alaalatoa, Fainga’a, Paenga-Amosa, Uelese.