Frankie Goldsbrough and Kohan Herbert have been honoured with starting debuts for the Queensland Reds to face the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan on Monday.
There will also be a debut on the wing for Heremaia Murray and a potential first cap for backrower Hamish Muller from the bench at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium.
The game will be streamed on YouTube with a stream provided on game day
The side will be skippered for the first time by Ryan Smith. It is a worthy honour. He will join a roll call of lock captains for Queensland that includes John Eales, Rod McCall, Bill Campbell and James Horwill.
Preparations have ramped up for the focus of the team’s tour of Japan where the Reds will defend the Saitama-Queensland Shield won over the Wild Knights in 2022 (55-30) and 2023 (31-29).
For Goldsbrough, selection in the centres is recognition of his progress since being contracted straight out of school last year.
At 18, he will join the likes of Elton Flatley and Jordan Petaia as players to have enjoyed their first minutes for the Reds at that age.
Goldsbrough has been paired with Dre Pakeho, his former schoolboy centre partner in 2022 at Anglican Church Grammar School.
The pair played a strong 80 minutes together in last Sunday’s 59-29 trial win over the Wild Knights when the dangerous speed and counter-attacking of the home side was identified.
The diligent Herbert will start at openside flanker. He had a fine season for Souths in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup and has hardened his rugby with a range of experiences.
His father’s Kiwi heritage created a chance for the Downlands College product to play abroad where he represented the New Zealand Under-19s and Bay of Plenty after being an age group Queensland representative.
Murray is on tour as a player of interest to the Reds. His pedigree for Northland in NZ flowed into three games for the Crusaders earlier this year.
Muller’s opportunity should be a beacon for club players in Queensland believing anything is possible.
Five players from the Brisbane club scene and Buildcorp Reds Academy were selected to tour after training with the Reds squad for a month.
Muller’s strong-carrying cameo at No.8 for the final 19 minutes of the trial game has earned him a spot on the bench to cover the backrow positions.
The 1.95m Muller, 21, played in Brothers’ premiership pack this season after starting his rugby journey at Toowoomba Grammar.
There's also reward for Will Cartwright on the bench, as halfback-wing cover, with the Brothers back again impressing after cameos against Wales and Tonga.
Reds head coach Les Kiss has installed Tom Lynagh as starting flyhalf behind a seasoned pack with four forwards of Test experience.
At halfback will be Kalani Thomas, the sharp-passing No.9 who successfully returned from injury in the trial game.
“It’s terrific to have these international experiences as a team and to keep building on this relationship we have with the Wild Knights,” Kiss said.
“Ryan Smith has been a leader within the squad all season and to name him captain is a reward he deserves.
“We said from the start that this tour could provide opportunities for some players from club rugby so it’s a highlight to see Kohan and Hamish earn their spots.”
The Wild Knights have named a strong line-up including Japan’s 2023 World Cup backrower Jack Cornelsen, the former University of Queensland premiership forward.
For the third year, the match will be played on November 4 and will recognise the 40th anniversary of the sister state relationship between Saitama prefecture and Queensland.
Monday, November 4, 2pm AEST
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Japan
1 Alex Hodgman
2 Josh Nasser
3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
4 Josh Canham
5 Ryan Smith (c)
6 Connor Vest
7 Kohan Herbert
8 Joe Brial
9 Kalani Thomas
10 Tom Lynagh
11 Heremaia Murray
12 Dre Pakeho
13 Frankie Goldsbrough
14 Floyd Aubrey
15 Mason Gordon
16 Richie Asiata
17 Sef Fa'agase
18 Massimo De Lutiis
19 Taine Roiri
20 Hamish Muller
21 Louis Werchon
22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
23 Will Cartwright
