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Wallaby departure opens the door for former Northampton Saint to shine
By Online Editors
While sad to see Jack Maddocks leave Melbourne, new recruit Andrew Kellaway knows it could also help him break into the Rebels Super Rugby starting side.
Maddocks departed the Rebels earlier this month to join the Waratahs, citing a personal desire to shift home.
Kellaway was disappointed to lose his former schoolmate without playing a game together, even if it could work in his favour.
"Jack's a huge loss, he's a very talented player," Kellaway said on Tuesday.
"There's lots of depth in the outside backs but it does make life a little easier for people like me trying to break in there."
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Standing in his way are current Test players Marika Koroibete, Dane Haylett-Petty and Reece Hodge while Billy Meakes, Tom English and Campbell Magnay are among the other contenders for starting positions.
A stand-out of the Wallabies' World Cup campaign, Koroibete in particular has impressed Kellaway.
"He's a freak," Kellaway said.
"He's very fast, very strong, he gets on with his work and doesn't say much.
"He's awesome - a great guy to play with and a great guy to hang around and he's teaching me some Fijian which is pretty nice."
Kellaway has also been soaking up the knowledge of Rebels skipper Haylett-Petty, whose career followed a similar path with an early stint in Super Rugby and then a stint overseas before returning to Australia.
"He's a quality player for me to be able to sit there and pick his brain and watch what he does, probably more off the field than anything, that's pretty cool," Kellaway said.
Spending the past 12 months playing in the UK with Northampton and Counties Manukau in New Zealand, Kellaway returned to Australia with the ultimate goal of a Wallabies berth.
The 24-year-old, who had 25 Super Rugby matches with the Waratahs between 2015 and 2018, hoped his versatility would be an advantage as well as his oversea experience.
"I can fit into multiple spots and that's a valuable asset for the team," he said.
"It's not something you want to do all the time but if it's beneficial for the team than that's the way it's got to be.
"I feel like I'm in the best place I've been for a while with my rugby and I probably wouldn't be there if not for my experiences."
- AAP
Meanwhile, over at the Waratahs, new coach Rob Penney is excited to have Jack Maddocks on board:
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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