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Revelations Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson would miss the launch of the Super Rugby Pacific campaign has opened the door for the next generation to press their claims for higher honours, with a 116-kilogram wrecking ball in line to fill the superstar forward’s void.
Fresh off extending his contract with the Queensland Reds through to the end of 2027, powerhouse rookie Vaiuta Latu has now thrust himself into reckoning for a round one berth as Wilson recovers from knee surgery.
Wilson, who has become Australia’s most consistent Test skipper in the past two years and a staple selection in the nation’s No.8 jumper, is recovering from off-season surgery to a knee he damaged during the Wallabies’ historic triumph of South Africa at Ellis Park in August.
Vaiuta Latu of the Queensland Reds
He is expected to be sidelined for six weeks, ensuring he will miss the opening rounds of the Reds’ season which will include a second round bye.
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While Joe Brial, John Bryant and Seru Uru loom as the favourites to replace Wilson, as well as departing former co-captain and flanker Liam Wright, Latu’s form in the Super Rugby Australia series last year propelled him into consideration to make his professional debut against the Waratahs on February 13.
The 20-year-old was a late call-up in the first game of that tournament in September against the Western Force, scoring a try and setting up another, while running for 74 metres from 13 carries in an eye-catching display.
Latu, a product of the Reds Academy, entered that Super Rugby competition on the back of the second grade Queensland Premier Rugby title for Brothers, and he eventually garnered selection against touring Japanese outfit, Saitama Wild Knights.
He admits his frustrations at missing out on the Australia under-20s squad proved the catalyst for his rapid resurgence to suddenly a starting contender in Wilson’s absence.
“I was a bit down, but I used it as good motivation. I had some things to work on, and I dedicated sessions to those core skills like clean-outs,” Latu said.
“Coming into the Reds for Super Rugby Aus last September was a great experience to connect with the older boys in the squad. You can’t help but be a sponge for what they are teaching.
“Being involved in the Reds Academy meant I’d played a lot of defence against the main Reds boys at training, but it was good to switch that to carrying the ball and being in the team.
“All the work I’ve done in off-season training with the squad makes the next step not look as big. I’m nervous, but it’s good nervous about striving to play as many Super Rugby Pacific games as I can this season and against some big names.”
While Latu will be eager to seize his opportunity, Wilson’s setback is hardly the start to the year Queensland would have envisioned after enduring a horror injury toll in 2025.
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The 36-Test workhorse broke his right arm in 2024 and 2025, missing crucial chunks of each campaign, while halfback Tate McDermott is also racing the clock to be fit for round one after going under the knife for a hamstring injury suffered during the Bledisloe Cup.
However, Reds coach Les Kiss was confident he had the troops to fill the hole left by Wilson.
“He’s been impressive in his games and at training since and this is a worthy reward,” Kiss said of Latu’s contract extension.
“The opportunity now is for our other Reds backrowers to step up and show their wares.”
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