As far as rapid rugby rises go, Langi Gleeson’s story is about as good as it gets.
At the start of Waratahs pre-season late last year, Gleeson hoped he’d have the privilege of wearing a gold jersey within a decade.
He ticked that off his bucket list against Scotland at the weekend.
“I didn’t expect to be a Wallaby within 10 years,” Gleeson said. “I was just trying to make my Waratahs debut this year.”
Truth be told, senior figures at the Waratahs told him the same thing, adamant 10 years wasn’t an unrealistic timeline given how much Gleeson had to work on his game and mindset.
The raw talent was there, but Gleeson hadn’t yet understood what it took to be a professional rugby player.
Langi Gleeson poses for a photo after his Wallabies debut at the weekend against Scotland. Credit:Wallabies
So you could imagine their shock – and sheer thrill at the same time – watching the Manly back-rower run on in the 75th minute of what turned out to be a one-point Wallabies win against Scotland on the weekend.
“The Waratahs group chat lit up,” NSW coach Darren Coleman told the Herald. “When we turned it on at 3.30am, no one knew he was playing. Then someone heard that Pete Samu was out and Langi was in.
“Everyone loves Langi and people like him, who are just humble and unassuming. That’s Langi.
“The fact everyone saw where he was in October last year and how far behind he was … it’s such a great story that he stuck at it and he’s got his debut. It was an awesome night.”
Gleeson, 21, wasn’t named in Australia’s match-day 23 for their opening Test of the spring tour but was a late inclusion due to a back injury that Samu picked up in the gym during the week.
“On Saturday at 10am I got the call from [Dave] Rennie that he’d pulled out and I was in,” Gleeson said. “I was pretty excited. I was pretty stoked. I told my roommate Nick Frost first. I then called the brother. I called Mum and Dad. I’m pretty sure it was late at night. They were really happy to hear about that and watch the game at 3.30am in the morning.”
After just 154 minutes of Super Rugby, Gleeson’s childhood dream had been achieved.
“It’s pretty special. It’s all been a blur really,” Gleeson said.
The story goes that Gleeson caught the eye of Wallabies attack coach Scott Wisemantel at a Waratahs testing day.
During a 40-metre sprint test, Gleeson’s pace and acceleration left Wisemantel, who’s seen a few players in his day, in awe.
“He’s never stopped talking about him since,” said Coleman with a laugh. “The sky’s the limit for him.”
The Waratahs pre-season was a tough lesson for Gleeson, who learnt quickly the expectation of being a professional footballer.
But it was Gleeson’s power into contact and athletic traits that have left nobody in doubt of his potential.
After training with the Wallabies this year and now a debut as the icing on the cake, expect to see more of the 109kg forward who can cover all three positions in the back row with aplomb.
Everyone at the Waratahs is certainly hoping the shy St Augustine’s College product can manage a few more Tests this spring tour. Australia’s next game is against France on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT).
“He’s quiet but there is a cheeky and humorous personality,” Coleman said. “Presentation night was a bit of a breakout night. He had a few beers and I saw a really fun-loving side of him I hadn’t seen.
“In pre-season, he was just keeping his head above water.”
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