Reds halfback Spencer Jeans not shy to call on the expertise of James O’Connor

An ankle injury to Reds co-captain Tate McDermott has given rookie Spencer Jeans an opportunity he’s keen to make the most of.

Rookie Queensland halfback Spencer Jeans feels blessed to have a player of James O’Connor’s class alongside him as he prepares for a likely Reds starting debut against Western Force in Perth on Friday night.

Jeans, 21, came off the bench as a replacement for injured co-captain Tate McDermott in the Reds’ gritty 20-16 Super Rugby Pacific win over the NSW Waratahs last Friday night at Leichhardt Oval.

With McDermott set to be sidelined for least four weeks with an ankle injury, Jeans has a chance to play an extended run of games, and is sure to seek advice from experienced Reds and Wallabies flyhalf O’Connor.

“I probably annoy him a bit too much asking him questions all the time about what I need to be doing, or how I want to do it, or what we’re doing,” Jeans said.

“He’s always straight back with a really solid answer and he’s been really supportive.

“Growing up as a kid and watching him play and be the player he was, to play with him last week was pretty special.

“I’m very fortunate in the position I’m in to have a (flyhalf) outside me. He’s very knowledgeable of the game.”

Like many Queenslanders in Brisbane at the moment, the clean-up has begun at Ballymore #MudArmy#BNEFloodspic.twitter.com/Cu46KZiCIr

— Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) February 28, 2022

The Reds trained at Brothers on Tuesday as Ballymore continues to recover from the south-east Queensland floods.

“For us here as a squad, we’ve just got to look at not feeling sorry for ourselves,” Jeans said.

“We’ve got a job to do on the weekend ... and we don’t have it as bad as some of the other Queenslanders out there.”

The impact of the flooding at Suncorp Stadium has led to Fijian Drua moving their match on Friday night against the Melbourne Rebels from the Milton venue to Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Fijian Drua CEO Brian Thorburn said: “We’ve really had no choice but to move the game given the flooding and water levels in and around Suncorp Stadium.

“We’ve had to make an early call due to the significant logistics associated with moving a match only three days before kick-off.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the adverse weather conditions in parts of Queensland and northern New South Wales.”

Originally published as Reds halfback Spencer Jeans not shy to call on the expertise of James O’Connor