He was lost to AFL … briefly. Now a shock Wallabies call-up could beckon

In another life, Ryan Smith would have never been on the brink of a shock Wallabies call-up.

Upon announcing his contract extension with the Queensland Reds through to the end of 2025, he even hinted the AFL could have been in his sights before his mates at Brothers Rugby Club “brought another love” for the game.

Ryan Smith has re-signed with the Queensland Reds for another season, with his eyes now on a Wallabies debut.Credit: Getty

“Not at all, I was just in year 10 playing second grade at Sandgate – I wasn’t very good at all,” Smith laughed, when asked if picking up the Sherrin over the Gilbert was a genuine career move.

“I was sort of a bit over rugby a little bit during my later years of school, had a year of AFL and was sort of looking down other routes. I definitely would have still been doing my air-conditioning trade and still toiling around on roofs.

“I ultimately got my shot at the NRC [National Rugby Championship] through a strong Brothers performance in 2019. I started in the lower grades, which has sort of been the story of my career – just looking up to that next team and get some minutes off the bench, then look at the next team.”

Smith now finds himself with only one more team to reach within Australian rugby – he now dares to dream of a Test debut.

Ahead of the Reds’ quarter final with the Chiefs on Friday, the tireless lock could be just a finals series away from entering the Wallabies fold.

New national coach Joe Schmidt will be on the lookout for consistency in his forward pack, and players who execute at the breakdown with precision.

The Kiwi mentor could look no further than Smith in that department, with him having played more Super Rugby Pacific minutes this year than any Australian lock while sitting third in the competition for tackles won (189) and conceding just 10 turnovers.

The club have also not conceded a mauling try this year, while Schmidt appears set to name only players based in Australia for the July series against Wales, before considering the likes of World Cup second-rower Will Skelton for the Rugby Championships later in the year.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be on the lookout for consistency in his forward pack.Credit: Getty

“I’d be massively honoured if a Wallabies’ opportunity came up, but I’m really focused on the next couple of weeks with the Reds,” Smith said.

“I’m focused on finals at the moment, and I think that the higher honours stuff really takes care of itself if you play good footy.

“I’m not too worried about doing anything different outside of my game to please anyone else other than our Reds coaches.”

Smith’s re-signing news comes on the same day as teammate Josh Flook inking the same deal.

Since being brought into the Australia A camp last year, the 22-year-old has embarked on a breakout campaign – cementing a reputation as the “everywhere man” for his knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Coincidentally, it was the centre who scored the match-winner when the Reds conquered the Chiefs in round three: the leading chaser for an off-the-cuff long-range grubber by Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.

A path to a Wallabies debut has also opened up, given the season-ending injury to Jordan Petaia (shouder) and the expected absence of World Cup alumnus Izaia Perese ahead of his move overseas.

Flook’s formidable centre partnership with Reds “triple threat” Hunter Paisami could also work in his favour.

Josh Flook has turned in a career-best season for the Reds, and has re-signed until the end of 2025.Credit: Getty

“Australia A was obviously a very big accomplishment for me last year. Just being around some older heads like Bernard Foley taught me a lot about how he goes about his game, how he prepares for a game and how I can look into how I prepare,” Flook said.

“The dream’s always there, it’s been there since I was four years old. But I’m going to focus on putting in good performances for the Reds and making sure the team goes well.

“If the team goes well it’s a better opportunity that most of our boys will get that opportunity.”