There are few players with more on the line this Super Rugby season than Brumbies halfback Joe Powell.
Powell has been the starting halfback in Canberra since 2017 and has earned four Wallabies caps in that time.
The 25-year old was one of the last players cut from Australia’s World Cup squad that made the quarter-finals in Japan last year.
Powell was pipped to the second halfback spot by England-based Nic White – who joins the Brumbies next season.
It means in 2020 Powell, who is off-contract this year, is not only playing for his Wallabies future but his club starting spot too.
But if Powell lights up Super Rugby then the Wallabies No. 9 spot is there for the taking after Will Genia left for Japanese rugby.
It all adds up to a high-stakes season for the surfer-looking university student.
The other Wallaby contenders at halfback are Waratahs Jake Gordon and emerging Queensland Reds talent Tate McDermot.
Powell had a solid game against Fijian international halfback Frank Lomani as the Brumbies thrashed the Melbourne Rebels in a trial on Thursday.
He emphasised his focus was playing consistently for the Brumbies before thinking about international honours.
“First I need to be playing good footy for the Brumbies and making sure I’m the starting halfback,” Powell told AAP.
“If I can play consistently good footy then hopefully higher honours will come and I’ll force my way into the Wallabies.”
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar promoted Powell to vice-captain this season and backed him to have the best season of his career.
“He’s been outstanding in the pre-season,” McKellar said.
“I’ve often spoken to Joey about driving standards of himself and others and demanding more of himself and others and he’s starting to do that now.
“I thought his kicking game (against the Rebels) was excellent. His pass and speed at the breakdown was good and he took his opportunities when they came.
“But the best part about his game is what he does in defence for us, he directs the big units around the ruck and he was good there again.”
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I’m not so sure White is a big threat. From what I saw in the RWC he wasn’t that good and seemed to make more mistakes than not. TBH I thought he demonstrated why he was overlooked Earlier more than he did why he was picked For that tournament. It seemed like a typical Cheika selection; going for someone he knows because he has no ability to recognise talent
Graeme Smith
Roar Rookie
He’s In the top three Aussie Scrumhalves, but will have to compete with Nic White to even get a start at the Brumbies. That’s not good
Adsa
Roar Rookie
I liked Fionns comments better.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
He was also hampered by a fair few injuries from memory
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Went to Bristol once Rebels signed Genia.
kiwiburger
Guest
Kiwi here; What to happened to stirzacher (sp?). Ginger halfback from a few years back who I thought looked really good.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
He wasn't rhar flash last night
Red Block
Roar Rookie
What has Powell ever done to warrant Wallaby selection? He has a good pass but is rarely a running threat nor does he dominate a game from 9. He tends to be more of a distributor. My feel is McDermott, White and Gordon are well in front of him.
Realist
Guest
McDermott had a blinding first half of last season in a team playing losing rugby and was being touted as a Wallaby bolter by many. Jake Gordon however could be playing behind the greatest pack of all time and still wouldn’t get picked. He regressed last season and is just not in the class of McDermott or Powell. It will be these two and Nic White fighting for the two spots. Chieka is gone now, so until the NSW board members can get their claws into Rennie (a la Deans 2012/13), there will be no special favours for the Tahs.
moondoggie
Roar Rookie
Yeah that was a real stretch of the Giteau law as he essentially signed for 2021 (is he back for the last couple of games this year like Toomua last year? Perhaps not since the season started early). So he was playing for the wallabies 2 years before he's back in Aus. Harsh on local players like Powell. I suspect he might go to the rebels next year leaving White and Lonergan (who looks very good) at the Brumbies.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
McDermott will have to have a blinder of a season in a team playing winning rugby. That's likely not to happen.
ethan
Guest
Should have had far more WB caps by now. Lets hope this is his year.
Nathan
Guest
I like Powell and White. But I don’t understand how White got to play for the wallabies at the cup when he hasn’t sign for the 2020 season?
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Yes, Markus. I agree that Powell is the front runner for this season. But the return of White in 2021 puts even more pressure on him to perform well ahead of Gordon and McDermott this year. You'd think that if he isn't established as the best half of 2020 then White's return could force him to move on from the Brumbies as Lonergan is 4 years younger and has presumably more improvement in him. Powell's future in the Wallabies will probably be influenced a lot by what Rennie wants in a half-back. It's good that McKellar is praising his kicking in the game against the Rebels as this has not been a strength of his.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Lets see how they go in the super season before we declare. White is still a talent to come back and don't write off Jake Gordon. I agree re: White going to the Brumbies. In the scheme of things it might have been better for him to have ended up at the Rebels instead of Lomani. I'm also keen to see how Mitch Short goes this year with Phipps out of the way.
Markus
Roar Rookie
With Genia and Phipps gone, Powell should finally get a fair shot at Wallabies selection after showing the most consistent form for the last two seasons. It will be great having Nic White back in Australian but not sure returning to the Brumbies was the best outcome. Powell is a clear frontrunner now and Lonergan is one of the most promising young halves coming through. White coming back for two years is likely to see one of the two leave the club for greater opportunities.
Locky
Guest
Powell and McDermott Wallaby halves. Forget the rest.