Isaac Lucas steps up audition for role as Reds’ flyhalf next season

Isaac Lucas will become the Reds’ next young gun gamble at flyhalf if he excels during the seven-round sprint of the National Rugby Championship.

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Isaac Lucas will become the Reds’ next young gun gamble at flyhalf if he excels during the seven-round sprint of the National Rugby Championship.

Lucas, 20, is eager to step up when the audition starts on Saturday for Brisbane City against the crowd-pleasing Fijian Drua at suburban Ashgrove.

The sharp-stepping Lucas is not so far removed from the hundreds of young faces who will dot the crowd because of the smart call to twin the game with the GPS Juniors break-up day.

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Isaac Lucas is keen to lock down the flyhalf role for the Reds next season. Picture: AAP

Lucas feels at home in his schoolboys position at No.10 but the education at fullback for the Reds and Junior Wallabies has been invaluable this season.

“I’ve been given a great opportunity to play some good footy in the NRC and we’ll see where that takes me,” Lucas said.

“It definitely feels good to be back at No.10 and with that whole different perspective of playing in the wider channels and learning new skills as a fullback.”

The Reds have a poor recent pick-and-stick history with Junior Wallabies graduates at No.10 who they expect to be instant worldbeaters. Jake McIntyre was a Reds flyhalf at 21 and Hamish Stewart was just 20 when first in the role, before backflips from coaches.

Lucas feels his first season at the Reds has only given him positives, including a one-off game at flyhalf against the Sunwolves in Tokyo.

Brisbane City flyhalf Isaac Lucas with GPS junior Thomas Revis. Picture: Brendan Hertel, QRU

“There’s more freedom at fullback than at flyhalf where you have to be in charge and on top of everything,” Lucas said. “Just having a year at the Reds to get to know everyone has been so important because you have to know your personnel on the field.”

Having sharp Reds halfback Moses Sorovi inside him and Junior Wallabies teammates Fraser McReight and Michael Wood in the backrow will be familiar assets for City.

Stewart will be trialled as an inside centre when Queensland Country take on the Western Force in Perth on Saturday with Rohan Saifoloi and teen reserve Carter Gordon covering No.10.

BRISBANE CITY: Lawson Creighton, Sefa Naivalu, Hunter Paisami, Teti Tela, Liam McNamara, Isaac Lucas, Moses Sorovi, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight (c), Michael Wood, Rob Puliuvea, Ryan Smith, Josh Nasser, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ruan Smith. Reserves: Sean Farrell, Rhys van Nek, Dane Zander, Bradford Kapa, Adam Korcyzk, Sam Wallis, Nick Chapman, Isaac Henry.

QUEENSLAND COUNTRY: Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Patrick James, Hamish Stewart, Joey Fittock, Rohan Saifoloi, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Dillon Wihongi, Angus Scott-Young (c), Harry Hockings, Angus Blyth, Carter Ozanne, Efi Ma’afu, George Francis. Reserves: Matt Faessler, Harry Hoopert, Bronson Fotuali’i-Tauakipulu, Jeremiah Lynch, Connor Pritchard, Reuben Wall, Carter Gordon, Tom Lucas.