Super Rugby 2015: Queensland Reds halfback Will Genia reignites his running game

REDS halfback Will Genia’s running game has been reignited and he wants to repay Waratahs boss Michael Cheika by ruining his Saturday night.

DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Will Genia of the Reds on the attack during the round three Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 27, 2015 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Rob Jefferies/Getty Images)

WILL Genia’s running game has been reignited and he wants to repay NSW Waratahs boss Michael Cheika by ruining his Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Seeing Cheika as the arch enemy is an easy flip from sharing challenges together in Wallabies colours, according to the gamebreaking Queensland halfback.

“Cheik is a really genuine personality but I don’t really see him as a Wallaby coach right now,” Genia said.

“I just see a blue jersey. He’s part of that team and what it represents so in essence he’s the enemy.”

Genia revealed a frank chat with Cheika, as Wallabies coach, late last year hammered home exactly what he needed to rediscover in his game and how.

“He wanted me to get strong again because he felt a big area of my game that kind of dropped off was work in the gym,” Genia said.

“As you do, you do as your told. I do feel strong again and it has maybe helped me in my game.”

Many other factors are buzzing through his upbeat “Free Willy” groove, including consciously enjoying the game more with his new life balance as a first-time father.

At times last year, Genia’s running game was on sport’s “Gone Missing” list last year alongside Tiger Wood’s chipping touch.

It dried up to the point he registered “0 runs, 0 metres” in back-to-back games against the Waratahs and Cheetahs.

He’s opened the new season with more ball-carries (29) than any other Reds player in their three games, scooted for 112m and beaten five defenders.

Playing inside four fill-in flyhalves while Quade Cooper has been injured has definitely fed Genia’s mentality to run and direct the show more.

“You take on a bit more responsibility because you don’t have the usual experience outside you in Quade,” Genia said.

“I enjoy that side of the game anyway with a little bit more leadership and it gives you a chance to influence the game a bit more as well.”

Only one side has scored fewer than the Reds’ three tries and Genia boomed his message that attackers had to back themselves more to beat the Waratahs.

“We’ve been a bit gun shy in taking the conservative option to carry the ball on occasions rather than pass,” Genia said.

“The coaches are backing us to have a crack which is good.”

Duels against Nick Phipps (Waratahs) and Nic White (Brumbies) over the next two weekends are timely measures against the halfbacks who usurped his iron grip on the Test No.9 jersey.

The 58-Test Genia isn’t buying into that or any need to be more Phipps-like in the way he plays.

“He plays the way he plays, I play the way I play. We’re completely different players,” Genia said.

“I don’t ever want to be like another player.”

The Reds will happily bank on what makes Genia unique.

Originally published as Super Rugby 2015: Queensland Reds halfback Will Genia reignites his running game