Revelations Wallabies captain Harry Wilson to miss the start of the Super Rugby Pacific campaign has opened the door for the next generation to stake their claim to higher honours, with the 116kg wrecking ball in line to fill the superstar forward’s void.
Newcomer Vaiuta Latu, fresh from a contract extension with the Queensland Reds until the end of 2027, is now thrust into the one-round count as Wilson recovers from knee surgery.
Wilson, who has become Australia’s most consistent Test captain over the past two years and the nation’s top choice at No.8, is recovering from off-season surgery on a knee he damaged during the Wallabies’ historic triumph over South Africa at Ellis Park in August.
Vaiuta Latu of the Queensland Reds
He is expected to be sidelined for six weeks, ensuring he misses the opening rounds of the Reds’ season, which will include the second round bye.
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While Joe Brial, John Bryant and Seru Uru loom as favorites to replace Wilson, as well as departing former co-captain and fullback Liam Wright, Latu’s form in the Super Rugby Australia series last year saw him tipped to make his professional debut against the Waratahs on February 13.
The 20-year-old came on late in the first game of this tournament in September against the Western Force, scoring and setting up another as he ran 74m from 13m in an eye-catching display.
Latu, a product of the Reds Academy, entered this Super Rugby competition on the back of the second-tier Queensland Premier Rugby title for the Brothers and eventually earned selection against Japan’s touring Saitama Wild Knights.
He admits his frustration at missing out on the Australian under-20 team was the catalyst for his rapid resurgence, becoming a sudden entry contender in Wilson’s absence.
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