The Next Big Thing in Australian rugby is a void that needs to be filled, because that’s the job of impassioned and impatient Wallabies fans longing for better days.
Jordan Petaia was the incumbent NBT; a mini Israel Folau as Tim Horan labelled him. He’s only 18, but he was going to even power to Wallabies to World Cup glory this year.
He can bust the line, sniff out the tryline, create something out of not much. But then he busted his foot playing for the Queensland Reds against the Crusaders last round and was ruled out for the season.
It was a cruel blow for Reds and Wallabies fans, who were understandably buzzing about the athletic and powerful outside centre, even if he was only a few games into his Super Rugby career.
Petaia is likely to miss at least four months, which is far too long to go without naming a replacement to take the NBT mantle.
When he was a schoolboy at St Joseph’s College in Sydney, Tom Wright was talked up big time too. A speedy and versatile back who left Joeys in 2015, he was compared to one of the school’s best players of recent times, Kurtley Beale.
While Beale signed with the Waratahs as a 16-year-old, Wright – after playing Australian Schoolboys rugby but having enjoyed a strong junior rugby league career – chose to have a crack at the 13-man code with the Manly Sea Eagles.
Tom Wright during his time with the Sea Eagles. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
He chalked up five NRL games at Manly in 2018, but only a few months after making his debut against Cameron Smith’s Melbourne Storm in front of a crowd of 50,000 people at Suncorp Stadium, Wright opted to return to rugby at the end of last year.
The 21-year-old will make his starting debut for the Brumbies tonight against the Melbourne Rebels after coming off the bench to score a try as they were hammered by the Hurricanes in Palmerston North last round.
Not really the credentials to fit Australian rugby’s NBT profile, right? A 15-minute cameo from someone who last played rugby three years ago at schoolboy level.
Perhaps the other Tom in the Brumbies backline – Tom Banks – deserves the tag. He’s at least proven over a few seasons that he’s developing into a top-quality outside back and with the kind of line-breaking strike rate the Wallabies sorely crave.
Tom Banks of the Brumbies in action. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
But there deserves to be a decent level of hype around Wright given his footwork and pace.
He can split the line as a ball-runner, but as a five-eighth for Manly’s under-20s team a few years ago, his passing game and vision was equally eye-catching. Australian rugby is certainly crying out for another classy midfielder.
He will start at inside centre for the Brumbies, outside Christian Lealiifano, and they will mark up against Quade Cooper and Billy Meakes who have both been in solid form for the Rebels.
Remember, Nehe Milner-Skudder was with the Canterbury Bulldogs under-20s side a few years before he headed back to New Zealand and started playing provincial rugby with Manawatu.
He carved it up and in 2015, he got his first Super Rugby game for the Hurricanes. Then only a few months later he was handed his All Blacks debut and went on to play a big role in their World Cup-winning team.
It’s probably far-fetched to think that Wright could accelerate like Milner-Skudder and get to a level in which his Super Rugby debut would come in the same season as Wallabies selection.
But there’s some revered rugby judges that have big raps on Wright, and that’s good enough to offer hope to Wallabies fans that even if he’s not a World Cup saviour, he’s on the verge of big things.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Is Wright a prospect for 10?
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately he has been poached by League at 15 years of age. Hopefully he can be back in Union one day.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Yes, exactly! I’d rather die wondering than what we produced in last year’s end of year tour. The pairing of Quade and Genia unleashing Kurevi, Kurudrani, Folau, DHP sounds exciting. I’d like to add Banks, Maddocks, Niavalu,Koriabete, Speight, Nairovolo or Morahan, but I’m not sure which one i’d add.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Well, he was pretty average last night.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Thanks. He has skill and jets! I wonder if he’s ever played fullback?
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
I reckon 13 where he has more space to move. Would making Kuradrani 12 and Wright 13 be too much to ask? Going by that YouTube clip he does well in space and has jets. Maybe throw him at 10 if he can play consistently over the next few years.
taylorman
Roar Guru
The best argument for Quade inthe squad there is. Hes worth selection in every Wallabies side this year at least for that reason. They may not all be good, but ‘things’ will happen when he cones on with 20 to go. Thats what you need off the bench.
pm
Roar Rookie
Watched Quade last week produce a couple of tries very few flyhalfs could have with his quick, sharp decisions. Of course there are the clangers often enough too... but having him come off the bench for the wallabies to give them a silly chance when they're down 10 against a good team in the second half... If we want o have a crack against the best 3 teams in the next WC it is going take risks and brilliance rather than just solid rugby
riddler
Roar Rookie
know absolutely nothing about him nor heard of him before. but going on tonight there is nothing there to get excited about. dropped balls and no movement. cll with an ordinary game inside him doesn’t help.
Nambawan
Guest
In reality Tom Wright failed at the Manly Seaeagles - although I believe he was not handled very well by the Trent Barrett led coaching group. He was probably a bit unlucky to be associated with the Manly club which during last year particularly became a rabble. As I recall he was only once picked in the run on side and then was hooked after about 15 minutes because he could not handle the defensive pressure. But he does have some talent and is speedy and would appear best suited to a position in the outside backs.
CO)))DA
Roar Rookie
If the Brumbies can get him as much space as he got in these clips then he could be something special!
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I feel for Stewart. I think he’s been thrown in the deep end before he was ready, and he must be having his confidence shattered with Thorn picking him at 10 then not letting him play 10. Now he’s been dropped, after less than spectacular matches from Hegarty.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't draw any further into it than just say Quade is performing better than Stewart in the games this year. That's all. It's more complex than just saying Quade in the Reds would turn the reds around though. Lots of things to consider like the understanding with Genia, and that perhaps the year off and motivation for revenge on Thorn (for lack of a better description) is working for Quade, while Stewart is still trying to find his feet.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
… so what you’re saying is you’re not convinced paying Quade to play for the Rebels and instead backing Hamish Stewart is evidence of brilliant busiensss acumen from Thorn?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
On the sample space of purely games I've seen this year, Foley is 3rd of the 4 starting flyhalfs getting about in Super Rugby for Australia.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Okay, I retract, I’m blind… Yep, he has the best running game when playing well certainly. Quade’s excellent running game disappeared in 2011. I was really disappointed by Lilo vs the Chiefs, but the entire team was so poor I have to imagine the coaching staff got something very wrong.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Note I said running 10. Quade when on song is a better distributing 10, but he hasn't had a top notch running game for some time.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
So you’d take a hot Foley over a hot Quade? Think that’s your Tah bias showing. Even Foley’s greatest ever game, vs England in the World Cup, I think he had a hand in 3 tries max. Compare that to the super rugby player of the year, and Quade’s performances for the All Blacks and France in 2010, Wales, New Zealand and Ireland in 2013, no comparison. I also don’t ever remember him having a game as good as Lilo’s vs the Chiefs? (Can’t emember Quade ever having a game that good at super level either, but he may have in super rugby 2011).
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Geez he has some pace! Thought so after his try last week, but this backs it up. Nice footwork and a pretty handy short kicking game too. Long term 10 more likely though, not 12.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I wholeheartedly agree Simone may have been mismanaged by the Tahs. He has certainly looked better with more faith shown in him at the Brumbies. But I also think having a more rounded 10 inside him, and a smart defensive 13 outside him has helped him own the role better too. CLL is a more rounded 10 than Foley. That's not to say that CLL is always the better 10. When hot, Foley is the best running 10 in the country. The game against the Chiefs CLL was sublime, but he follwed it up with a average performance. Note Foley has been poor in both games thus far. And TK is a much better 13 than Simone has had to work with at the Tahs, and a far more knowledgeable defensive one. That all said, I think its right that Wright gets a go. By the same token you don't want to freeze him out when he looked good in trials and also in the time he has come on at the end. I think it'd be fair if he gets a couple of games in a row now also.