Henry Speight preparing for emotional return to Canberra
Henry Speight made the surprise switch from the ACT Brumbies to Brisbane for family – but he’ll be back in the place he called home much quicker than he could have foreseen.
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Wing weapon Henry Speight’s surprise switch from the ACT Brumbies to Brisbane all made sense when he had four generations of his family in the one room.
The owner of Australian rugby’s biggest afro always knew his switch to the Queensland Reds for family reasons would mean an emotional return to play in Canberra.
What no one guessed was it falling on Friday’s opening night of the Super Rugby season.
Speight, 31, became a cult hero with 45 tries during nine seasons in the national capital, an Australian citizen and a 19-Test Wallaby.
That history guarantees that Speight will be ripping in on Friday for the new backline he has the highest of hopes for.
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“It will be a bit of a funny feeling and I knew it would be when the schedule came out,” Speight said.
“Canberra was home for me and the community gave me a sense of belonging with a lot of really good friends and brothers down there.
“The only way to repay that is by rocking up and performing at my best because nothing else will do it justice.”
Speight seems certain to be selected on the wing for this showdown of the two clubs which should vie for top billing in the Australian Conference.
A 40-minute hitout in last Friday night’s trial against the NSW Waratahs in Dalby was proof a minor knee clean-up to remove a floating bone fragment has done its job.
He surged into the line off an Isaac Lucas pass, fended off two defenders and put fullback Bryce Hegarty away in the best early backline move of the trial.
“We have some good options in the backs and it’s not often you find a 20-year-old five-eighth (Lucas) who is so vocal and gets up to talk through plays in front of the whole group,” Speight said.
“He acts like a player who has been around for years not one season (of eight games).”
Speight’s vote on Lucas’s capabilities is one echoed around the squad and he is a sure thing to be wearing the No.10 jersey on Friday night.
Speight’s move to Brisbane late last year with partner Louise and newborn son Josefa brought them closer to family.
“My son met his 89-year-old grandfather (Sam) for the first time two weeks ago,” Speight said.
“Four generations of Speights were in the one living room which is pretty special and the luxury of now living in Brisbane.”
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Speight knows the Brumbies side that reached last year’s semi-finals has dangermen and none more so than fullback Tom Banks.
“He’s definitely a massive threat as a very strong ball-runner and someone who brings energy and chat,” Speight said.
The Brumbies will back youth at No.10 as well with Lucas’s former Junior Wallabies teammate Noah Lolesio, 20, all but certain to start there.
“He’s done his apprenticeship and learnt a lot from (Wallaby) Christian Lealiifano so it’s probably his time to take the reins,” Speight said.
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