Queensland young gun Isaac Lucas says he is learning plenty from James O'Connor as they work to form a dual playmaking combination they hope will lead the Reds back to the Super Rugby finals.
After making his Super Rugby debut in round one last year only weeks out of his teens, Lucas played eight games before helping the Junior Wallabies to the World Rugby U20 final in Argentina.
While he played at fullback in that campaign, he's set to wear the no.10 for Queensland, with O'Connor the man most likely to be outside him, giving the Reds greater versatility at playmaker as they chase a first finals appearance since 2013.
"He's been great since he's come in," Lucas said of O'Connor, who signed a two-year deal with the Reds last year, facilitating his return to the Wallabies and a World Cup spot.
"Not only on the field but off the field - just small chats to see how you're going. On the field, obviously we play in similar ball-playing positions, so he's been great to learn off.
"He's obviously got a wide range (of skills), he's been around for a while and he obviously burst on to the scene pretty young (as Lucas did).
"He's been around a professional environment for a number of years now so he brings a great deal and helps me out a lot."
While former flyhalf Hamish Stewart is also an option for the Reds at inside centre, O'Connor is expected to start there, although he has also been training at flyhalf.
"I'm training at the moment at 12 and 10, so we'll see what fits best," O'Connor said.
"I've been impressed with Zaccy (Lucas) at 10 there, he's been steering the ship pretty well there and he reminds me of a young me.
"He's quick off the mark and he's got great feet and he attacks the line really well. Whether it's going to be nurturing him outside him or jockeying for 10, I'm not sure but we'll see how the trials go and go from there."
O'Connor said he was happy to slot into the backline wherever it best suited the team.
"I guess it's what balances correctly," he said.
"I do like playing at 12, it's where I've been playing the last couple of years but I wouldn't say no if it's the best thing for the team to move into 10."
Lucas said the pair's combination was starting to grow and would be important for the team.
"Having that ball player at 12 makes things easier for the 10, he can just pass and deliver," he said.
"And I think that's what we're trying to bring through. It's started now and we've just got to keep on developing our relationships and work out how each other actually like to play and strengths and weaknesses."
It's something O'Connor is committed to, not only with Lucas, but other youngsters as he looks to share his experience with other emerging players as an elder statesman of the team.
"I had that. I had guys guide me through and you learn so much as well," O'Connor said.
"When you're helping guide them around the field you remember things that you might not have thought about in a while and it sets off little triggers.
"For me, it's about coming home and trying to bring some success back to Queensland. This is where I started playing rugby and this is my home.
"I am an older player in the team now, so it's (about) trying to bring the younger guys through. There are talented guys in this backline and I want to try and bring out the best out in them."
After losing talisman Samu Kerevi, and with a fit Jordan Petaia at their disposal this season, the Reds are expected to employ a game plan that focuses on several backline threats.
Coach Brad Thorn said Kerevi would be missed - as a leader as well as a star player - but he was excited at the talents coming through the ranks who were starting to become seasoned Super Rugby players.
"Losing Samu, he's a power player and he was developing his kicking game and passing game and he'll be sorely missed," coach Brad Thorn said.
"We had Jordan Petaia for one game last year and he showed what he can do and then we didn't have him again.
"It'd be nice to have him back for more than one game but there's other guys in there - we've got James O'Connor who can play 10 or 12, Hamish Stewart, Chris Sautia and Issac Lucas.
"The team might be slightly different but I think there's still a lot of talent there and I'm excited about what they can bring as a unit."
Reds attack coach Jim McKay, who mentored Lucas at Brisbane City during the NRC season, where he played every minute of the season at no.10, said he had seen plenty of growth in the 20-year-old's play.
"Massive growth. It's well documented his capabilities at fullback and he can play 10 as well, so we gave him that experience there in senior men's rugby," McKay said.
"It was fantastic experience for him."
McKay said both Lucas and O'Connor were "very creative playmakers", whose skills would be employed well as the Reds ran a more dynamic style in 2020.
"Last year, I felt probably a lot of stuff came down to Bryce (Hegarty) as a primary playmaker but then this year, you look across and if Jordan (Petaia) can stay fit, he creates things, so off the back of that, things happen," he said.
"You've got James there, who can create things for himself and also for others and then you've got Bryce in the mix and Jock (Campbell) and Isaac. Suddenly you've got more guys where you can get more movement across the park.
"Last year, a lot of the ownership and responsibility was left to one or two. Samu obviously had a terrific season and he did a lot for us but we need to evolve our game, big time.
"I feel this year, we'll have multiple threats across the park. I look at it like a synergy, a dance - we've got to be moving together and there's a much better connection and understanding this year to set us up to have a good season."
