Eddie Jones’ reputation precedes him. Everywhere he goes, and across generational gaps.
Even the thought of working or playing under the notoriously tyrannical mentor has been enough to send staff to a new job or players to a different country.
While Jones’ claims he has mellowed, and learnt to be a little more “arm around the shoulder” in his approach, the Wallabies coach is still very much capable of a tirade that would make a grizzly bear run for cover.
Josh Flook of the Reds scores a try against the Western Force in Melbourne.Credit:Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Josh Flook is ready for anything.
The 21-year-old Queensland Reds centre is relishing the prospect of working with Jones after being named in the Wallabies 33-man squad for a three-day camp on the Gold Coast later this month.
“Heard he’s a hard nut”, Flook told Brisbane Times.
“It suits my playing style. I don’t mind getting sprayed here and there.
“I think it definitely benefits me as a rugby player.”
Flook isn’t your usual Gen Z athlete. He even leaves his phone on silent for long periods, preferring to stay disciplined.
On Sunday, the Nudgee College product felt he should keep his phone handy, given the speculation he might be named in Jones’ first Wallabies squad in almost two decades.
While training in the Ballymore gym, his phone rang.
He sprinted over to answer, only to find it was a friend trying to organise a game of golf.
He cut the call short, fearing it might be blocking a more important call from the Wallabies coach.
But that call never came. In fact, Brisbane Times understands Flook still hasn’t heard from Jones.
Instead, Flook found out via social media.
“I got in the car and looked at my phone and there was a message saying ‘Congratulations’,” Flook says.
Not wanting to be mistaken again, Flook scrolled through Instagram and found his name listed on the Wallabies post with the squad announcement.
The selection of the former Australian Schoolboys captain came as a shock to no one except the young man himself.
“I was speechless. On the phone to mum and dad [when I found out], I really didn’t have any words,” he says.
Josh Flook almost scored a hat-trick during the Reds’ win over the Force.Credit:Getty
But when he could find the words, the likes of “stoked”, “over the moon” and “dream come true” quickly came to mind.
Flook has the look of a young lawyer or accountant, but his play is far more tradesman-like.
Already, he has been compared to legendary All Blacks centre Conrad Smith – a two-time Rugby World Cup winner: Smart, unassuming, athletic and a master of “the 1 per centers”.
The comparison has followed Flook since he left school.
Smith was a master of the unseen work and, because of it, invaluable to his team.
Flook holds the same value to the Reds, and it has not gone unnoticed by Jones.
“He seems like he’s got a good head on him, good character, good hard-working player,” Jones said of Flook.
The Wallabies coach also praised Flook’s rugby brain, specifically “that ability to read the game, that instinctiveness to read the game”.
Despite his slender frame, Flook relishes the defensive side of the game.
He has been developing his strength and stature and has already held counsel with Wallabies defensive coach and former NRL premiership winner, Brett Hodgson.
“It was really cool that he even knew my name,” Flook says of his meeting with Hodgson.
“He just sat and got to know a little bit more about me, about my family, my life outside of rugby and then we just talked a little bit of defence at the same time.”
Astute rugby minds see the little things players like Flook do well, that casual observers might miss. But his form in 2023 has made everyone take notice, with Flook becoming just the second Queensland Reds player after Chris Latham to score three doubles in a season.
That’s a try tally Flook’s hoping to add to this Friday against the Brumbies.
Motivation will be high for the Aussie derby, after just four Reds players made it into the Wallabies squad – compared to the Brumbies’ 13.
“We’re all fighting for jerseys and higher honours,” Flook says.
