Nick Frisby was flat out just getting a game in his favoured position last year – now he’s being talked of as a Wallabies contender, if a few things fall his way.
Frisby will earn his 50th Super Rugby cap when the Reds face the Crusaders on Friday night in Christchurch.
It’s been a long time coming for the 23-year-old, who has spent most of his career to date in Will Genia’s shadow, waiting patiently for his chances to play across five seasons at Ballymore.
When they’ve come, they’ve been rare, and usually anywhere but the base of the scrum.
Frisby started out as a winger, played some fullback, and was even thrown into the No.10 jersey last year as the Reds scrapped to find a replacement for the injured Quade Cooper.
But now as the senior member of Queensland’s halves combination, alongside fresh-faced Jake McIntyre, Frisby’s patience is starting to finally pay off.
Finally selected consistently at No.9, his form has risen steadily, combining sharp breaks with improved kicking accuracy and sound option-taking.
“I was always a halfback. It was just there was no opportunity to play there,” Frisby said.
“It’s tough when you sit on the bench, three or four years behind someone, not getting much of a go.
“You do a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure you’re still developing.
“I always knew I was able to play at this level. It’s just nice to have the opportunity to show that to everyone now.”
An even bigger opportunity beckons later this year – although, once again, it could be Genia blocking his path.
Now based in France, Genia is the only European player Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is expected to call upon for June’s three Tests against Eddie Jones’ England in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Genia’s World Cup deputy, Nick Phipps, probably remains the next option after strong efforts for the NSW Waratahs.
But after that the halfback pecking order is wide open.
The Western Force and the ACT Brumbies both have foreign No.9s, while Frisby is one of three uncapped halfbacks to have impressed this season, along with Melbourne Rebels pair Nic Stirzaker and Ben Meehan.
Whatever happens, Frisby says it feels good to at least be in the discussion.
“It’s nice to be thrown in the mix and mentioned in that sort of conversation,” he said.
“But it’s not really something I’ve thought about at all during the year and I’m not thinking about it at the moment.
My focus has been on securing the Reds starting spot and that will continue to be my focus for the rest of the year.”
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
'Learnings'? Arrhhh!
Boz the Younger
Guest
Phipps is good at Super level but loses his head in test matches and sends his passes stray. Based on what I have seen I reckon Frisby will be the same in test matches to begin with. He takes a while to integrate new learnings and needs to be eased into the role off the bench in easier games against the likes of Argentina and the Northern Hemisphere teams. Genia doesn't have the running game that he used to but he still give the best service of any Aussie halfback under pressure by a long shot, that is why he needs to be kept in the Australian game. Frisby will get there, but there is no need to rush his development and set him up for failure.
Boz the Younger
Guest
I'm a Queenslander but I think your comment is unfair. Horwill, Higgers and White all got starts in the 2015 rugby championship, but didn't stack up and were dropped. Cooper, Toomua and Hanson all went to the World Cup and got game time, they just had players who were playing better than them for the major games. Leliifano, Gill and S Faingaa missed out because they were down the pecking order. Hunt was never a contender last year, he had a rotten Super Season. Of the Tahs players you mention I'm not fussed on Mumm, Horne, Palu or Skelton, but I reckon the others were good choices. In any case of the first four only Mumm played much footy anyway. To an extent it is reasonable to expect that with such a short time to get a team together, Cheika would choose players he knows. I think he will look wider this year, he has already expressed great interest in Kerevi and Hunt.
Lroy
Guest
Mate, Frisby was better than Genia 3 years ago... they should have taken him to the world cup. As it stand, the All Blacks are 15 points better than us, if we keep picking the same blokes, it will be the same result. Check must take a punt on someone like Frisby.
bennalong
Guest
Maaayte! MAAAYTE! Give us all a break and try to think. The Wallabies are the national team and your STATE team has been woeful.Sorry but that's the truth. You can't expect the incumbent team to change because Frisby is playing well.
bennalong
Guest
Frisby Is a very good half back with a great boot. Genia is the incumbent. Phipps partners Foley and Beale and the three have been in good and improving form at 9,10,12 for the Tahs I'd be happy with any of the three, but I'd give Beale the twelve posi and that would incline me to Phipps.
Len
Guest
Checka wIll find as many excuses as he can to not pick Queenslnad Reds players Frisby Kerevi etc etc and to a lesser degree Brumbies ..You saw it last year with HORWILL, HIGGERS ,LELEFANO, WHITE, HUNT, COOPER, S FAAINGAA, HANSON GILL and TOOMUA .. Whilst perreniel duds MUMM, FOLEY,PALU, DOUGLAS, MITCHELL, GITAEU, HORNE, SKELTON and PHIPPS are selected.. He even dropped SIMMONS to the bench for MUMM for a game, then the lineout went to pieces so he had to get him back on quicksmart... Checka is a phoney and i will not watch any games the WALLABIES play and hope they get hammered by all and sundry... All of my queensland buddies don`t really give toss about the WALLABIES since he took over.. QUEENSLAND REDS GOO YOU GOOD THINGS.... WALLABIES WHO CARES