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Queensland Reds are set to welcome back Tate McDermott, and his co-captain Liam Wright could land a starting role, for the return match against the Waratahs on Saturday, but the game is a week too early for Michael Hooper.
The Wallabies captain has been recovering from a foot injury and told reporters on Tuesday he hoped to be back for the Tahs’ match against Fijian Drua in two weeks.
“I’m fully functional at the moment so it’s now about the return-to-play,” said Hooper. “I’ve been able to do a really good preparation to get the foot right, it was a significant injury in the end and I just avoided surgery.
“That protocol looks like I’m able to do everything solo or with one or two people, it’s just about interring into the team dynamics now.
“If that’s next week or the week after, I’m not sure but it’s all dependent on how this week goes and then making a call.”
But it looks like better news for the Reds leadership.
McDermott suffered a high ankle injury in the first clash between the teams last month, won by the Reds in Sydney, while Wright was on the bench in the loss to the Brumbies.
“Tate has ticked all the boxes and is ready to go,” Wright said Tuesday.
“It’s still pending selection but he’s an excitement factor and I’m sure he’s ready to rip into the game, but we’re not quite sure how he’ll be unleashed yet.
“He unfortunately got injured in that Tahs game down there but he showed his worth in that first half making a few crucial try saving tackles. He epitomises that Queensland fight that we’re all about and we’re glad to have him back.”
Tate McDermott. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
The big cloud hanging over the Reds is the citing of prop Taniela Tupou, who will fight a foul play charge at a judiciary hearing on Wednesday night (AEDT).
“We’re fighting that,” said Wright.
“We’re under the impression he was a bit hard done by. We felt it was shoulder on shoulder which I’m pretty sure was clear to the TMO on the night – they played on and rightly so.
“We thought it was a tough one and hopefully Nela will be available.
“With the scrutiny we’ve got on the games at the moment and the refs checking a lot of stuff once we get cleared on the field we expect it to stay that way . I thought Murph and the TMO did well there – shoulder on shoulder – a guy going for the ball that low, clean out, arms through, I thought Nela did everything possibly could.
“It’s a shame to get cited like that but we’ll leave it with our legal counsel at the moment and hopefully get a good result.”
The match could have an extra dash of spice with the Waratahs getting more players, with 10, in Dave Rennie’s first Wallabies squad of the season, than the eight picked from the reigning Australian champions Queensland.
Wright neatly deflected the question from The Roar columnist Jim Tucker.
“At the moment it’s really good for the guys who do get recognised up here – we’re stoked for them. Really chuffed Jock [Campbell’s] finally getting a look in there, we think he’s been brilliant all year and the last few years so it’s a great recognition of his tough work.
“We believe there’s a lot of Queenslanders who could be in that squad when it’s released again a bit later. If some of the guys keep playing the way they’ve been going, especially up front … Seru Uru is playing the house down, Angus Blyth doing all the unseen work and plenty more – Hamish Stewart in the back line – will get recognition if we keep playing well as a team.”
Wright had praise for the Waratahs improvement under Darren Coleman this season after being blanked in 2021.
“They’ve been steadily improving this season and putting together some really good performances. We expect a strong outfit – the Tah tough symbol they’ve got going this year has been impressive and notable and it should be a tough game as well.
“They’ve managed to turn it around. They stuck through it and have come through it and seem like a tight knit group.”
Hooper, who spent 2021 playing in Japan, has also been impressed by what he’s seen from his soon to be teammates.
“It’s funny when you get removed from the environment, you realise what there is to miss when you are away,” Hooper said.
“When you aren’t in that environment anymore, you realise it is awesome to be in. I’m towards the back half of my career so you realise it’s not a forever thing.
“It’s great to be back. I’ve been watching from afar for the past two years, really in-depth in the last couple of weeks, and I’ve been super impressed with what the guys have done at the start of the season.
“I’m just happy to see them start to see some turnaround and growing as a team and a unit. I’m excited to come in and try to add to that.
“The guys have worked so hard to put themselves in the position they are right now so to come in and feel that, I want to try and add to that and work out what’s been going on.
“I’ve been really impressed with some of the young guys as well as Jakey (Gordon) in that role and some good figures like Jamie (Roberts), I’ve been lucky to see from afar for two years and that’s exciting.”