Queensland Reds flyer Tim Ryan has defied a timeless narrative in rugby union circles, one in which products of the 15-man game are lured to the NRL and lost to the Wallabies’ system.
Even with just three Super Rugby Pacific starting appearances, a crossroads decision for the 20-year-old is already paying dividends, with new national coach Joe Schmidt hinting he could help orchestrate a green and gold revival.
Tim Ryan became just the second Reds player to score a hat-trick when he made his starting debut against the Blues.Credit: Getty
The St Patrick’s College alumni proved proficient in both rugby codes growing up. But unlike State of Origin stars Kalyn Ponga (Churchie), Angus Crichton (Scots College) and Cameron Murray (Newington College), Ryan opted to pursue a Wallabies jumper, rather than chase any potential NRL offers.
“I had a little bit of a decision to make with whether I wanted to go into league or union, and I’ve made the decision in union to follow kind of what my dad did,” Ryan said.
“He played at Brothers, so I went to Brothers, and I haven’t really looked back after that. I don’t regret anything, I’m loving it.”
After scoring six tries in his three run-on games – including a hat-trick against the Blues – the Wallabies dream could be accelerated, after Schmidt spoke excitedly of Ryan days after his debut heroics.
Each time he has crossed the white stripe, Ryan has done so differently – classy finishes in the corner to long-range efforts mixed with an average of five tackle busts a game in the past month.
The Schmidt era promises to be one of revamp after last year’s failed World Cup campaign, with the likes of Tom Lynagh and Josh Flook sure to be on the radar for maiden call-ups.
But despite hearing his name whispered by the Kiwi mentor, Ryan was not allowing himself to dare believe a Wallabies berth was in his immediate future.
“I’m not really focusing on that. I get where the excitement comes from – you’ve got Darby Lancaster [from the Rebels] as well, so there’s a lot of young talent coming through,” Ryan said ahead of Saturday night’s clash with the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium.
Tim Ryan has quickly landed on the Wallabies’ radar.Credit: Getty
“Obviously, it would be pretty cool, and as a young kid, I would always watch the Wallabies, so it is a big dream of mine.
“But I’m not really focused on that at the moment, I’m just focused on the Reds … we’ve got a bigger job ahead of us leading into finals.”
Despite Ryan’s standout showings on the flank, Reds coach Les Kiss was not afraid to pull him back to the bench in last week’s defeat to the Fijian Drua in place of the man he unseated, Suliasi Vunivalu, as he adjusted to Super Rugby’s rigours.
Kiss has done the same with Lynagh, Flook, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Mac Grealy, in a bid to ensure they were not worn down by the demands of the competition.
While unsure whether that system would remain next season, he believed his blossoming products had shown enough grit to make statements for the Wallabies in the July series with Wales.
“I won’t try and predict what [Schmidt] is looking for, but I do know he’ll be looking for people who are in form, people who do the little things well, people who nail the first role of their position, and someone who contributes to their environment in a positive way,” said Kiss, who worked alongside Schmidt in Ireland.
“What we’ve seen from Timmy, it’s more than exciting, you just relish the prospect of what’s going to be in the future for him.
“All those guys – Tommy, Timmy and Flooky – they all do that, so that’s the baseline for any selection going on … and they’re bloody good footballers to boot.”
Queensland Reds squad vs Western Force
Ryan will make his comeback to the run-on side at the expense of Vunivalu again; the latter receiving a one-game suspension after being yellow carded twice in the 28-19 defeat to the Fijian Drua in Suva. He will be joined in the side by Lynagh, who returns from a three-game layoff for a hamstring injury, and prop Alex Hodgman, who has been working his way back from a shoulder concern through club rugby.
1. Alex Hodgman; 2. Matt Faessler; 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen; 4. Seru Uru; 5. Ryan Smith; 6. Liam Wright (cc); 7. Fraser McReight; 8. John Bryant ; 9. Tate McDermott (cc); 10. Tom Lynagh; 11. Mac Grealy; 12: Hunter Paisami; 13. Josh Flook; 14. Tim Ryan; 15. Jock Campbell
16. Josh Nasser; 17. Sef Fa’agase; 18. Zane Nonggorr ; 19. Connor Vest; 20. Joe Brial ; 21. Kalani Thomas; 22. James O’Connor; 23. Taj Annan
