Wallaby impact forward Radike Samo is determined to redeem himself and return to the Test squad after admitting he let himself down earlier in the year.
Samo’s individual tries and penchant for big plays has made him a cult hero with Queensland and Wallabies supporters.
However, the 36-year-old Fijian-born powerhouse struggled with a shoulder injury earlier this year and admitted he didn’t work hard enough after returning from a holiday in his country of birth.
“I guess I didn’t work really hard when I got back from holiday,” Samo said on Wednesday.
“I let myself down a bit there so, when I came back, I didn’t really push myself as I did the year before.
“If you want to be in the starting 15, you’ve got to work hard for it.”
Samo wasn’t selected for Australia’s four June Tests, but some good late-season form for the Reds earned him a spot in this week’s national training camp in Sydney.
With injury concerns over fellow No.8s Wycliff Palu and Ben McCalman, Samo could be a contender for the Wallabies first Rugby Championship match against New Zealand next month.
He conceded his younger rivals had stolen a march on him earlier in the year.
“The young guys – they deserve to be there because they work hard for it,” Samo said.
“Now I’m just going to keep working hard and, if I get an opportunity in the squad, I’ll take it.”
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