The importance of clutch goalkicking in Super Rugby’s torrid local derbies has put Queensland radar-boot Mike Harris’s nose in front in the battle to replace Quade Cooper.
Harris’s impressive three-for-three effort, including two from out wide, in the Reds’ 27-20 trial win over the Brumbies has put the Kiwi recruit in pole position to wear the No.10 jersey in the opening February 25 clash with the NSW Waratahs.
The interstate grudge match is the first of three local derbies scheduled to start the Super Rugby champions’ title defence and coach Ewen McKenzie expects they’ll be as tight as ever.
That, and the need to slot penalty goals, gives extra significance to Harris’s kicking display in Cairns on Saturday night when fellow five-eighth contender Ben Lucas missed all three of his attempts.
McKenzie admitted it was difficult to get a gauge on their playmaking due to the stop-start nature of the four-tries-to-one win but praised Harris for both his goalkicking and restarts.
“He’s brought some things to the table there,” he said.
It was Harris’s first match since he injured his left knee – forcing two bouts of surgery – last May against the Melbourne Rebels.
Before that, the tall 96kg North Harbour product had been talked up as a Wallabies bolter, eligible through an Australian-born grandmother, for his play outside the now-injured Cooper at No.12.
Harris, 23, showed through a desperate cover tackle on Brumbies winger Joe Tomane that he’s lost no speed as his knee came through his return with no problems.
“It was nice to have the ball in the hands and being out there doing what I love to do,” he said.
“For myself, I was pretty happy with my goalkicking.
“It certainly wins games. If teams are willing to give away penalties in your own half and you can get three points, it’s a pretty easy way to get cheap points.”
Harris rates the art 90 per cent mental and has worked closely with Reds sports psychologist Phil Fowler during the off-season, when he resumed kicking before running.
Three-quarter Aidan Toua’s hamstring injury was the sour note for the Reds but McKenzie said Anthony Faingaa would return early from shoulder surgery to play at No.13 against the Western Force in Perth on Thursday night.
Fellow Wallabies centre Ben Tapuai, a first-minute try-scorer through a chargedown, was a stand-out at Barlow Park while Will Genia, Digby Ioane and James Horwill all made an impact in the second half.
“At crucial moments, they made things happen and that is what you want from those that have played at a national level,” McKenzie said.
