Extra time for study as injury aids Timu

FORMER Brisbane Bronco Caleb Timu now regards his knee injury as a weird blessing so he could fully rewire his game for tonight’s Reds initiation in freezing Dunedin.

Converts from rugby league dumped straight into top rugby invariably have very public teething problems if you think of Karmichael Hunt, Timana Tahu, Brad Thorn and others.

Timu, 23, had all the physical gifts to be a hit as backrower when he switched codes last year from the Broncos squad but there were major gaps in his game knowledge.

“To be honest with myself, I wasn’t at a level to play Super Rugby last year so I felt really stoked when I got the call-up recently because I now feel ready,” Timu (pictured) said.

Big ball-carries into the heart of the Highlanders defence, one or two of his chesthigh off-loads and plenty of little, unseen assists will make tonight a success.

A knee reconstruction last year ruined his first rugby season but the chance to learn the game with his club Souths has been of huge benefit.

When centre Duncan Paia’aua found space late in last Friday’s game against the Brumbies, it was the 116kg Timu who made the key ruck cleanout to deliver quick ball.

“You think you know how to play coming back to a code you played at school but that sort of stuff didn’t come natural last year,” Timu said.

“I’ve definitely improved my defence to be more complete, learnt the value of backto-back efforts from George Smith and know the breakdown far better.”

Prop Taniela Tupou, in NSW gear, was a jarring presence among the Reds players watching Queensland’s State of Origin success on TV at their hotel in Dunedin.