Queensland Reds cast net south to prop up pack by offering trial to Sydney University prop Sam Talakai

THE Reds have ditched their “Made In Queensland” tunnel-vision on recruiting to trial burly 116kg Sydney University prop Sam Talakai.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Sam Talakai poses during the official 2013 NSW Waratahs headshots session at Allianz Stadium on June 6, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

THE Reds have ditched their “Made In Queensland” tunnel-vision on recruiting to trial burly 116kg Sydney University prop Sam Talakai as a possible signing for next season.

Tighthead Talakai, 22, knocked back the Sydney Stars to accept a spot in the Brisbane City squad for the new National Rugby Championship starting on August 21.

He has been conspicuously cherrypicked as the only interstate recruit among the 70 players selected for the Brisbane City and Queensland Country squads.

Stars coach Chris Malone, also Talakai’s club mentor in Sydney, said on Wednesday that the Reds had clearly done their homework in wooing him.

“Sam’s got terrific footy skills and he’s a good learner so I’m filthy he’s gone from a Sydney Uni and Stars point of view,” Malone said.

Reds forwards coach Nick Stiles will have Sam Talakai training underneath him.

“It’s smart from the Reds. He clearly sees a better opportunity to crack Super Rugby with them than NSW.

“Our whole charter is to push players through to Super Rugby so I’m pleased for him.”

Talakai will train under Brisbane City coach Nick Stiles, the former Wallaby prop, so the Reds have created an ideal environment to measure what he’s got.

The exit of Albert Anae (Treviso) and Jono Owen (Grenoble) to European clubs means the Reds have the chance to get more impact from their back-up prop spots.

The Sydney-born Talakai played his single game for the NSW Waratahs off the bench last year against the British and Irish Lions who featured his front-row cousin Mako Vunipola.

Reds scrumhalf Nick Frisby is on the mend after breaking his jaw against the Western Force in Perth.

Reds halfback Nick Frisby has the all-clear to play again after a month off mending the jaw fracture he sustained against the Western Force in Perth.

The return of his creative spark is a major boost for GPS’s chances of beating Sunnybank in Sunday’s Premier Rugby preliminary final at Ballymore.

Chomping into a steak at The Gap Tavern was as big a road test of his jaw as the one-on-one-tackling session on Australian Sevens ace Liam Gill this week.

“It’s all healed nicely. I’m clear to play,” Frisby said.

“Two weeks on soup and mushy fruit was the tough part. My first steak got me started on making up the 5kg I’d lost.

“Gilly was a bit cagey about whether he’d be playing for Sunnybank so I’m not sure on that front.”

Sunnybank coach Rod Seib confirmed yesterday that Reds flanker Gill would be a potent weapon off the bench after returning from the Commonwealth Games with a bronze medal.

Reds No.8 Jake Schatz will start in a strong Dragons backrow with emerging Australian Under-20s flanker Lolo Fakaosilea and Ben Adams.

Originally published as Queensland Reds cast net south to prop up pack by offering trial to Sydney University prop Sam Talakai