How Wally Lewis and Andrew Slack set Reds young gun Izaia Perese on path to glory

IT took “The King” and a Wallabies legend to nudge a naughty kid named Izaia Perese on to the right track to become the new tackle-shredding dynamo at the Reds.

IT took “The King” and a Wallabies legend to nudge a naughty kid named Izaia Perese on to the right track to become the new tackle-shredding dynamo at the Reds.

Perese is still just 19 so his memories of meeting footy royalty are vivid as he prepares to face Digby Ioane and the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium Saturday night.

Coach Nick Stiles has laid down the admirable new standard for the Reds by dumping 31-Test Wallabies lock Kane Douglas, Adam Korczyk and Chris Kuridrani to the bench for the unacceptable crash to the Western Force.

In come the new Izzy to inject sparkle on the wing, Izack Rodda to throw his 119kg frame around at lock, and Hendrik Tui as a line-busting, ball-runner at flanker.

The Reds smiling assassin Isaia Perese.

Perese was in grade seven at Aspley State School when the deputy principal Margaret McKinnon resorted to a novel ploy to keep the exuberant 12-year-old in check.

“Because I was naughty, Miss McKinnon made the promise that if I was good for the last term she’d organise for Wally Lewis and Andrew Slack to come talk to me,” Perese said.

“I still had a few hiccups but she was an awesome lady, saw past the little behaviour things and I got the greatest visit.’’

The moment might have stayed hidden but for Slack and the Vintage Reds meeting the current crop in the stadium dressingroom before the opening round.

Uncapped Perese walked up to Slack unannounced, retold the wonderful story of inspiration and the former Wallabies skipper was blown away.

Young guns Isaia Perese and Izack Rodda.

Rugby was invisible on TV to the young Perese, who may well have followed his early rugby league roots in the code that Lewis once dominated.

His early idol was not in rugby but in a Melbourne Storm NRL jersey.

“I really looked up to Billy Slater as an amazing player for how he would put his body on the line for the boys,” Perese said.

Perese plays the same way because it is sheer leg drive, willpower and pace that pinballs him through much bigger defenders when he is only 1.80m and 91kg.

One-time Reds favourite Ioane has beaten a hip niggle to win his first start in the All Blacks-studded Crusaders line-up and set up a riveting “master versus apprentice’’ comparison.

“I thought Digby was a phenomenal player,” said Perese, who got to watch him at the school rugby nursery of Churchie.

Perese grinds during a boxing session.

“Some of how I play is similar to him but, at the same time, I always want to be recognised as myself, Izaia Perese.’’

Stiles is excited by the punch Rodda provides at 119kg but his words equally apply to Perese in a smaller package.

“Izack has got that youthfulness that doesn’t care,’’ Stiles said. “He wants to bash whatever he can, carry as hard as he can and he’s just got the right attitude.

“I want guys to go out there and front-foot the Crusaders and play tough, hard football.’’

REDS: Karmichael Hunt, Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua, Eto Nabuli, Quade Cooper, Nick Frisby, Scott Higginbotham, George Smith, Hendrik Tui, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Sam Talakai, Stephen Moore, James Slipper (c). Res: Andrew Ready, Sef Fa’agase, Taniela Tupou, Kane Douglas, Adam Korczyk, James Tuttle, Jake McIntyre, Chris Kuridrani.

Originally published as How Wally Lewis and Andrew Slack set Reds young gun Izaia Perese on path to glory