It was a tick over four years ago when Hunter Paisami burst onto the scene.
Considered too small by the Rebels, Paisami, having made an impression for Brisbane City, immediately caught the eye for the Reds after coming off the bench against the Waratahs in Dalby.
Within 12 months he was pulling on the gold jersey for the Wallabies.
But a series of injuries last year, which contributed to a drop-off in form, led to Paisami missing Wallabies selection for the World Cup.
Bitter? Not at all, with the midfielder recognising that he was far from his best for the Reds last year.
“My biggest goal since starting when I first put on that maroon and gold jerseys was to be a part of a World Cup and to be ruled out and not be picked was disappointing,” he said.
“I didn’t look much into it. It probably could have come down to performance as well, I probably didn’t play my best footy in those first few rounds that could have caught Eddie’s eye. Injuries as well kind of hurt. But it probably comes down to injuries and performance.”
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Hunter Paisami was a constant presence for the Wallabies under Dave Rennie but was overlooked by Eddie Jones after an injury plagued season. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
But a return to country Queensland last weekend saw Paisami take another step forward in rekindling the type of form that led to him being a constant presence under Dave Rennie and Scott Wisemantal.
Indeed, having shined during the Reds’ dour performance against the Force at Ballymore, Paisami’s physicality laid the platform during their stunning 29-0 half-time lead over the Waratahs in Roma on Saturday night.
Paisami’s powerful performance was summed up by him running over the top of Joey Walton out wide to score, as he took a leaf out of Jonah Lomu and Julian Savea’s book.
Reds and Wallabies teammate Jock Campbell described Paisami’s carry as a “bit of a bully moment” on Tuesday.
“Thank god I don’t have to tackle him,” Campbell said of Paisami. “He’s not very tall. I find the little short guys the toughest to tackle because you can’t get under them.
“He’s so physical at the moment.”
The statement showing comes with Paisami off contract, having signed a one-year extension last year.
Paisami, 25, could have signed a longer deal but backed himself to make a stronger impression in 2024 to drive up his bargaining price.
“I love the Reds,” he said. “My preference is to stay but I’ve got to keep my options open as well.”
On the evidence of the opening two trials matches, and with Samu Kerevi not getting any younger and Joe Schmidt pushing the idea of picking players based in Australia for the Wallabies, Paisami is giving Rugby Australia some serious food for thought.
Helping Paisami, who was previously preferred as an outside-centre by the Reds but inside-centre at Test level, is the fact he’s spent the entire pre-season training in the No.12 jersey.
“It’s the first pre-season I’ve trained at 12 full-time,” he said.
“Mostly at the Reds I’ve played 13 and Wallabies at 12, but it’s pretty good to actually train at one spot.”
The revelation is another reason why greater national alignment, especially if success at the national level is considered the most important thing, is crucial.
Paisami said he was also enjoying working under new head coach Les Kiss, who has sought to empower the squad and encouraged them to pull the trigger when in attack.
“Les has been a massive difference for my game and career,” he said. “He’s given me a lot of confidence to play my game and give us that freedom with the ball.
“His game plan is about giving us that freedom to play eyes-up footy and have a crack whenever you get it.”
Phil
Roar Rookie
Spot on
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Back to the days when we played smart.
savant
Roar Rookie
It’s a team game. You need strike players and you need link players. Together they get the ball to the space. Historically we have had link players on the inside and strike players on the outside. Put simply the inside players keep the ball alive and look for runners to distribute to and the outside players provide them with options. That’s when we have been most successful. I argue that we have never been successful with strike players on the inside, either five eights who run a lot or crash balling 12s. Stewart is a link man and will never be a strike player. He’s glue. Apart from his defence, kicking game, and smarts, one of his real contributions in attack is to maintain continuity of possession. He does this by securing rucks where isolation is a real threat, passing or taking the tackle. He never kicks it away in the opposition half. We are picking back lines now full of standout individuals- all strike players - and struggle to maintain continuity of possession, and to apply sustained pressure. I think back to the great Broncos side that had real weapons on the outside like Renouf, Carne, Lockyer from the back and see a player with no X factor continually running support and passing and keeping the pressure on till breaks were made - Kevin Walters. He was the glue. I know it’s a different game but I think the principle remains the same. At least I think that was, and should be, the ‘Australian way’. We are second rate at monster X factor players. Best we play smarter and use the ball. That’s what Ella, Lynagh, Horan etc used to do. I’m ready for the padded cell I know. But we are losing 60 percent of our games playing a kind of second rate collision style in the backs.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day L14. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight...
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Overlooked sadly. We should be selecting more like him in the Wallabies. Solid and consistently effective and creates opportunities
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
For goodness sake. Petaia has two positions. He starts either on the wing or on the bench. He is no where near good enough to start anywhere else (but he could/should be world class on the wing). The only time he should be at 15 is as injury cover, not tactical substitution.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Spent most of last year injured, I thought.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Funny how so many, in the past, have complained about his lack of size, and yet, he’s still doing great work and while at the Reds, no other 12, Aus or Kiwi, dominated him. And when the game plan allowed, he was able to ignite the backline as well, if not better, than any other 12 in Australia.
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Stewart is overlooked and is easily a better option at 12 than any of those you mentioned. He isn’t flashy with big hits but you know he’ll defend really well every time. He kicks better than any other 12 option and he has a rugby brain. Many tries start with something he does.
Wig1
Roar Rookie
Ken oath
John Ferguson
Expert
:laughing:
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
Hunter Paisami is 1.8m and weighs 91 kg. The only thing his try in the trial game proved is that the Waratah he ran over has poor tackle technique. Tate McD could have run over him too. Hunter is too small to be Test standard centre. Add on his very high error rate and he was consistently the worst player on feild in every Test he played. Hopefully, this year he 'll cut the errors and become a decent provincial level player :)
ojp44
Roar Rookie
I thought the same Fin; Walton had plenty of time to come forward off the try line and still set himself for the tackle, but *(from the vision I saw) he appeared to just wait close to the line for HP to arrive. Cant blame HP for that though :thumbup:
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
who were the 10's that were setting HP up to get smashed with poor lines? That is the question you need to ask.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Don... Rennie was using him as a battering ram too much and that is why everyone believes he needs an extra 10kgs. Rennies issuies as a wallabies coach is exactly that. He had a game plan and tried to make players play that game plan instead of building a game plan for the players he had. Wrecking ball 12 works with Kerevii but not with Foketi or Pasami.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
almost got it Markus... Pasami is not a 13 and when compared to Ikitau in defensive structures/consistency he is not in the same playing field. Josh Flook is a much better 13 than Pasami. The problem with Pasami at 12 like you said is his inability to get over the gain line when used as a battering ram. He is not a battering ram 12 and seems to be used as one at test level because the Wallabies have had great success with Kerevii performing that duty. Pasami has a very slick set of hands and a pretty good rugby brain. He plays well when he has to step in at 1st receiver and is excellent in taking the pressure off a 10 as a 2nd ball player. If he a world class 12? Not yet. Is he the best we have right now? could be.... Let see what Mr Kiss can get out of him at the reds.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
yeah but he does not play for the tahs which is what makes Foketi more superior.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Ah ok, I thought it was Max at 15. Still nothing to get excited about and I am a Reds fan.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Ikitau is our one world class player. If fit, he’s the first guy on the team sheet. If you’re a centre you’re playing for the space at 12
Wig1
Roar Rookie
I agree why is James in the frame. Another holding back the future do something James or sod off son