Tackling machines Michael Hooper and Luke Jones have a long history
One was trying to put out a firestorm and the other was singing Queen this week, now they go head-to-head in a backrow battle at the SCG.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Lifelong mates and now Super Rugby’s top tacklers, Michael Hooper and Luke Jones enter Saturday’s showdown with vastly different preparations.
While Hooper was attempting to galvanise his NSW Waratahs squad in the wake of the Israel Folau controversy, Jones was belting out a song to cheer up his Melbourne Rebels teammates after their surprise defeat last week.
“It’s frustrating that I have to stand here,” Hooper exhaled on Monday, addressing a huge media pack having to react to Folau’s social media storm.
In Melbourne, Rebels coach Dave Wessels asked Jones to sing a tune to lighten the mood at training.
“I ended up singing Bohemian Rhapsody to the boys, I get pretty into it, the boys got behind me which was good,” Jones said.
“I can do anything, I don’t have one range, I can do that and then switch to a bit of heavy metal, throw anything my way.”
The pair met in year six at St Pius X College, played together at Manly and for the Australian under-20s squad before eventually becoming Wallabies together.
In 2019, Hooper and Jones lead the Super Rugby competition for tackles and their backrow battle will be crucial to the outcome at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in what is Hooper’s 100th match for the Waratahs.
While Jones grew up in Sydney with Hooper, he is now firmly entrenched in Melbourne and says he does not want to move back.
“I texted Michael this week a little bit, we’re good mates and a have a laugh off the field,” Jones said.
“It is a bit sentimental for me going [to Sydney], but I’ve been down here for six years – two years away and straight back – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
For Hooper, the milestone will be secondary to getting his side’s playoff hopes back on track after three defeats in four games.
NSW playmaker Bernard Foley knows Hooper better than most.
“He’s been massive for us, he’s probably been the soul of the club since he’s come back [from the Brumbies in 2013], he’s won that many Matt Burke Cups (five in the past six years), he’s led the side from his second year back to the championship,” Foley said.
“He’s been the flag-bearer for our club, he’s been a great example for a lot of the young kids who have come through and played with him, and he’s got a lot left to give as a legacy here.
“His workrate is immense, and how passionate he is for the jersey – whichever jersey that is – and how he leads from the front, I just love how his actions are his biggest strength, and he does that for 80 minutes.
“My favourite memories are how he buries himself so much in games, then he pulls his head out of a ruck, his eyes are going every which way, but he’s doing it for the team and all the other players.”
SUPER RUGBY 2019
Most tackles after nine rounds
Michael Hooper (Waratahs) – 102
Luke Jones (Rebels) – 94
Matt Todd (Crusaders) – 92
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) – 89
Liam Wright (Reds) – 89
Originally published as Tackling machines Michael Hooper and Luke Jones have a long history
Tears, tries and a dad’s dream: The real Suaalii story
Rugby’s $5 million man, cross-code superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been big news since he was 14-years old, now Jamie Pandaram reveals the complex character behind the headlines.
Reds primed for Super season
The Reds don’t want to waste their good work on a successful pre-season tour of the United Kingdom when they kick-off their Super Rugby Pacific season later this month.