Former Brisbane Bronco Caleb Timu has made a striking audition for a Wallabies debut

MICHAEL Cheika has been given food for thought after watching the Waratahs’ Super Rugby shootout win over Queensland — with powerhouse forward Caleb Timu pushing for a Wallabies’ debut.

Timu pushes Wallabies case Caleb Timu of the Reds scores a try and could have a Wallabies call-up in his sights.

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POWER-RUNNING former Broncos Under-20s forward Caleb Timu has made a striking audition for selection in the Wallabies side to face Ireland on Saturday night at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Coach Michael Cheika was perched in a private box to sense the game-changing energy of last night’s end-to-end interstate spectacle won 52-41 by the NSW Waratahs.

He could not help but take notice of Timu’s mark when he entered the game for the Queensland Reds when they were down 35-19 with 34 minutes to play and were soon to lose Kane Douglas to the sinbin.

Caleb Timu (C) celebrates after scoring a powerful try against the Tahs.

Rugby league convert Timu revived the Reds when he stormed onto a neat Samu Kerevi pass and dangled the ball one-handed before setting sail for the tryline himself.

He steamrolled plucky Waratahs halfback Nick Phipps in the process. Timu ran forcefully five times for 32m, broke tackles and fed a pass to teenage winger Jordan Petaia for his try as well.

“He’s just got that big knee-lift action when he’s running … there’s just raw power there,” coach Brad Thorn said.

“I think the boys call him ‘The Big Show’.

“There’s a physicality I’ve been encouraging him to bring.

The Big Show? Timu’s earned a new nickname with his physical play. Pic: AAP

“When he was scoring that try, you could see him looking to do stuff (with a possible offload) but then he decided ‘I’m actually just going to run over you guys’.”

Timu, 24, is still piecing together all the elements of backrow play from breakdown and lineout impact to his game sense but he is standout raw material.

Even NSW skipper Michael Hooper could see it.

He was an opponent last night but will be a teammate from Sunday when they both join Wallabies camp.

Brad Thorn (L) is a big fan of the former Broncos prospect. Pic: Mark Calleja

When asked what he thought of Timu’s strong late-game cameo in a Test context, Hooper was open.

“He changed the momentum of the game when he came on … he’s a big, ball-carrying backrower and that’s something you like to play with.

Thorn enjoyed the breakout game of halfback Moses Sorovi too but the defence conceding soft tries and poor exits from the Reds’ quarter made it a rollercoaster night of emotions again.

“I go into the coaches’ box feeling like I need a seatbelt … I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Thorn said.

“There’s something there in these boys. We just need to keep chipping away.”

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Originally published as Former Brisbane Bronco Caleb Timu has made a striking audition for a Wallabies debut