Filipo Daugunu has revealed he spurned an overseas move to announce his comeback to the Queensland Reds, after the demise of the Melbourne Rebels left him pondering his future.
Described as a “force of nature” by Reds coach Les Kiss, the veteran of 11 Tests joined his Rebels teammates in finding a new way forward after the club was cut from the competition on financial grounds.
Daugunu, who ended a two-year Wallabies hiatus under Joe Schmidt, said the departing national coach helped him return to peak form.
Wallabies star Filipo Daugunu has added to the Queensland Reds’ growing stocks.Credit: Getty Images
“[Schmidt] told me: just play what you love,” he said.
“He gives you the freedom to do whatever you want to, and the way he taught us how to play and the style he brings to the team, everyone loves it.
“Les and Schmidt are similar types of coaches, and everyone wants that type of game – it’s just free play.
“I learned a lot from Joe Schmidt, and to come here and be told the same thing has helped me to not be afraid to do it, and just play.”
Having recovered from an injury that cut his season short, Daugunu said his future beyond 2025 would depend on whether he wears the green and gold again, or would be better off pursuing a lucrative contract in France.
“It depends on how I play throughout the season [and] if they call me back to the Wallabies. I’m happy to stay if they want me to stay,” Daugunu said.
“Moving down to the Melbourne Rebels was a big challenge [and] I was trying my best just to play my footy. I was thinking of going overseas after the two-year contract with the Rebels.
“But then things happened, and in my mind, if the Rebels were done, the only team I need to go play for was back to Queensland. How they played last year, I knew I could add more to the line-up.”
Daugunu is joined at Ballymore by five other relocated Rebels: Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Canham, Mason Gordon, Lachie Anderson and Matt Gibbon.
For 41-Test forward Salakaia-Loto, the ordeal in Melbourne did not prove a deterrent.
“I felt like I thrived. It was probably one of my better seasons, and it provided an opportunity for me to lead through my actions,” Salakaia-Loto said.
“I really benefited from my time in Melbourne. That’s put me in good stead to come back here and have an impact.”
But less-established players, such as Anderson, faced uncertainty.
The 27-year-old managed 36 Super Rugby games across five seasons, and was yet to cement his place among rugby’s upper echelon.
Fortunately, the Reds came knocking – a telling move given the losses of wingers Jordan Petaia (NFL), Suliasi Vunivalu (La Rochelle), Mac Grealy (Force) and Floyd Aubrey (Souths Logan Magpies).
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has returned from the Rebels to the Queensland Reds.Credit: Getty Images
Anderson admits the confusion took a toll.
“That uncertainty, trying to play a season under that, was tough. It was a hard 12 months for everyone involved,” he said.
“To be able to move up here and get that stability really narrows your focus a bit. That’s been a wonderful gift to come up here and just worry about rugby, knowing where I’m going to be.”
The loss of an Australian club has been viewed as both a potential benefit, given the added competition for selection, and a potential weakness, with fewer opportunities across the teams.
Queensland Rugby Union chief executive David Hanham said condensing the talent pool was necessary to compete in one of the strongest competitions in the world, where Australian teams have won just five out of 26 seasons.
Ahead of this year’s British and Irish Lions tour, and the 2027 home Rugby World Cup, Hanham said Australian teams needed to perform to attract crowds and lay a foundation for future success.
“If we’re going to sustainably compete on the field, you need that depth. Yes, it’s shrinking, but that will drive better performance for the four teams who remain,” Hanham told this masthead.
“Whilst it’s a tough decision, it’s going to put us in a good state. There are challenges around recruitment – everyone wants to be in the match-day 23 – but if we’ve got four highly competitive environments in Australian rugby, that will only bode well for the Wallabies.
“We’ve got to elevate the quality of our Super Rugby teams. If we do that, then we address the underlying challenge, which is the viability of Super Rugby.”
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