‘He’s ready to unleash’: How the Junkyard Dog is charting Wallabies’ path

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Tim Ryan was forced to watch as his New South Wales rival Max Jorgensen put on a masterclass two weeks ago, and demonstrate why he was arguably the most enterprising athlete in Australian rugby.

But the Queensland Reds flyer affectionately known as the ‘Junkyard Dog’ was quick to orchestrate a clinic of his own in his side’s 31-21 triumph of the Highlanders on Friday night. So much so, it led coach Les Kiss to make a telling declaration.

“I sense something in him that he’s ready to unleash,” the incoming Wallabies honcho revealed.

Tim Ryan at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Ryan’s breakout debut campaign in 2024 – which included two hat-tricks – led to a conversation with Test coach Joe Schmidt about his international future, only to be brought back down to earth the following year.

The 22-year-old scored just twice in 2025, as Jorgensen continued his ascent to becoming a Wallabies’ mainstay on one of the Australian flanks. Harry Potter, Andrew Kellaway, Corey O’Toole, Filipo Daugunu and Dylan Pietsch had all also stormed ahead of Ryan in the national pecking order.

But if Ryan continues producing what he did at Suncorp Stadium against the Highlanders, his star will continue to grow – potentially in time for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

After scoring in the Reds’ season-opening defeat to Jorgensen’s Waratahs, in which the latter scored twice and ran for 99 metres, Ryan burst to life in Brisbane – scoring a try and setting up another for Fraser McReight with an instinctive infield punt, following a miraculous tunnel ball from Harry Wilson.

He was cruelly denied the first points after kicking ahead for himself when Hunter Paisami was pinned for a knock on, but got the chance to showcase his silky footwork in the second half to provide the territory for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to muscle his way over.

He even did well to get a hit on rampaging Highlanders centre Timoci Tavatavanawai, who would have been certain to score if not for Ryan’s involvement, and did so below his physical best, with Kiss suggesting he had been nursing a stomach bug which left him feeling ill at halftime.

“We’d still like him to be a little more energetic off the ball at times, but I thought tonight he really stepped up for us. For a young guy like that, he’s only been out two games, but there is more in him,” Kiss said.

“He knows that, he’s really put his head down, knuckled down and getting what he needs to do to be a better player at this level so he can attain higher levels. But he’s willing to work hard, and I think he’s getting some return from it.”

Ryan was brilliantly supported in the backline by outside centre Josh Flook, whose short passing game and kick awareness featured in three of the Reds tries.

The shift of Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii to No.13 for the Waratahs may be an indication of where he fits into the Wallabies set-up, but the 24-year-old Queenslander seems to be doing all he can to prove he warrants the chance to add to his six Test caps.

Is Gordon the answer?

Carter Gordon’s maiden outing with the Reds proved a mixed bag, leaving question marks remaining over who Kiss’ leading five-eighth will be.

The returning Wallaby, who missed the season launch with a leg issue, rarely took the game by the scruff of the neck, but appeared to build into the contest the longer it drew on.

Carter Gordon during a training session last year.

An early skewed kick out on the full off the side of his boot ultimately did not cost his side, while his powerful grubber targeted straight at Tavatavanawai forced an error to get Queensland deep on the attack.

Reds hooker Matthew Faessler would score shortly after from a rolling maul. Come the second half, and Gordon’s kicking game looked more settled – back-to-back efforts after the Highlanders had scored through No.8 Lucas Casey allowing his outfit to wrestle back some momentum.

His defence was also aggressive, as he seeks to fend off a challenge from fellow Test star Tom Lynagh, who could return as early as next week from hamstring issues.

It was always going to take time for Gordon to regain the standing which thrust him into a Wallabies jumper for the 2023 World Cup, having spent most of 2025 on the sidelines with a spinal fluid leak suffered during his time in rugby league with the Gold Coast Titans.

While he was parachuted onto last year’s Spring Tour upon his comeback to union, he sustained a broken nose, cracked wrist and torn quad to limit his involvement. But Kiss was confident the building blocks put in place on Friday would be a launchpad towards greater success.

“Of his own admission, there were a couple of fumbles and a few passes and kicks that weren’t absolutely accurate, however I thought he added a really calm head,” Kiss said of Gordon.

“He gave us direction, he certainly ensured the forwards felt like they were getting on the front foot as much as possible. He’s certainly brave, but I think all our 10s are bloody brave – they all want to put their bodies on the line.

“He played strong and physical, and that’s important. He’s really happy with what is hit-out was, this was his first time with us, so it wasn’t complete, but it was good and strong.”