Rising Melbourne Rebels star Jack Maddocks says he’ll make the most of his time on the wing as he waits for a crack at the No.10 jersey.
The 20-year-old has been earmarked by Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham as the next Test playmaker but Jack Debrecezeni has the jump on him at the Rebels, named there for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash with the Sunwolves in Tokyo.
Maddocks has held his position on the wing, where he played in their 45-19 opening win over Queensland, and said while it wasn’t his first choice he was warming to the role.
It says much about his prodigious talent that coach Dave Wessels wants him in the line-up out of position than not in the 15 at all.
“I never played there growing up and I don’t really want to play there long-term but running off a forward pack and backline like we have it’s not the worst gig in the world,” Maddocks said from Tokyo.
“I’ve got a fair bit of freedom to work in off my wing and get involved.”
Maddocks, however, acknowledged he was likely to make way next week for the return of Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete, who has a knee injury.
A talented junior cricketer who still has ambitions of playing in the Big Bash League, Maddocks was a development player on the Wallabies spring tour despite only having six Rebels caps at fullback.
There Larkham, a former Wallabies five-eighth, told him he had the attributes to play at No.10, where Australia has a dearth of players behind Bernard Foley, and he spent the tour training there.
“Long-term that’s my ambition and I’m certainly doing a lot of work there at training, even if I’m on the wing,” Maddocks said.
“It was the only position I played growing up but I was a lot smaller and slower and as I got bigger and faster, I moved to fullback.
“I always wanted to move back to 10 because I thought if I could combine my old game with the physical attributes I have now, there’s no reason why I couldn’t be a good 10.”
Maddocks said the Rebels used a team meeting to address any ideas of complacency against the Sunwolves, who have bolstered their side with Test players and now have Japan coach Jamie Joseph calling the shots.
“The Sunwolves haven’t traditionally been that strong but we watched their game last week and they nearly knocked over the Brumbies who beat us easily in the trial so we’re definitely not being complacent,” he said.