Jack Maddocks is glad to be home in NSW after securing an early release from the Rebels but the new Waratahs recruit is keeping coy about what number his sky blue jersey might have on it in 2020.
The 22-year-old played plenty of 10 through his school years before switching to fullback in the Waratahs U20s and Junior Wallabies teams in 2016.
A switch to the Rebels saw him move to the wing, a position he featured in for the Wallabies as well.
While fullback is believed to be his preferred position, Maddocks said he was happy to slot in wherever the Waratahs had space for him.
"I haven't thought about that, it's day one, we haven't had any of those conversations so I'm happy to be here and once I've finished this and get out of the polo, we`ll probably start to have those convresations but for now I'm just happy and relieved to be here," he said.
“I played 5/8 until I was 18, 19 and then grew a bit and got a bit of speed and stuff so I moved to fullback but then when I went down to Melbourne I think I was best served on the wing..
“I've got a bit of experience playing a few positions and I guess wherever the team needs me to play I'm happy to do that.”
Waratahs coach Rob Penney was similarly open-minded when discussing Maddocks’ potential position.
Welcome home Jack!#ForTheLoveOfRugby pic.twitter.com/2DeVEbv39G
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) January 9, 2020
“I think there's some discussions around that stuff with Jack to be had and there's every potential for him to fulfil a number of roles within the group,” he said.
“The key thing is that we really want to see him fulfil his passion and dream of representing the Wallabies consistently and being a great player for the Wallabies so part of that will be about where he fits with us but without compromising his growth and development.”
Maddocks said he had first approached the Rebels about an early release after last year’s Super Rugby season finished, starting to feel homesick.
“Conversations probably started after Super Rugby finished last year but it wasn't really a real possibility until maybe the last couple of months,” he said.
“From a personal point of view, I have a girlfriend here, started to be a little bit homesick in terms of I was in Melbourne for three years and I loved my time there, loved my time at the club, made a lot of great friends and stuff,” he said.
“Don't want to be away (from Sydney) for too long so I'm stoked to be back and hopefully things go according to plan down here.”
And he has a simple plan for 2020.
“Work hard and improve as a footy player and win loads of games and as a team there's a lot of potential and we certainly in the next couple of years want to be winning a title,” he said.
Maddocks started last season off with a bang, leading Super Rugby in tries scored in the opening half of the year before fading away in the second half and ultimately missing out on the Wallabies’ World Cup squad.
He said that his growing desire to return to Sydney wasn’t a major contributor to his inconsistency but he was looking forward to being able to find better balance in his hometown.
“I don't know maybe subconsciously but I don't really want to make any excuses or anything (for my form),” he said.
“I think I didn't play as well as what I know I can towards the back end of last year and I'm not going to hide behind any other reasons other than maybe I didn't prepare myself well enough, I don't know.
“I'm just happiest when I'm around my parents, around my family, all that sort of stuff and from my time here earlier I know the Waratahs systems are very good and I've got a lot of mates here who spoke really highly about it and also on the outside looking in, when you see players go to a system, improve, that's obviously a great representation of what it's like.
“I'm keen to get into it and have a better balance between off-field life and I think it will be easier for me to finish a day and switch off, being around boys that I'm very familiar with.
“I just think NSW is a great place for me to be right now.”
Maddocks has also harboured ambitions to stay involved with the Aussie Sevens in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics.
He played in the men's side that won the Oceania Olympic qualifiers last November and was training with the team in Sydney this week before securing this Waratahs deal.
Maddocks said he still hoped to push for spot at Tokyo but no formal arrangements have been finalised.
“I think once we sorted this out, then we'll work out a plan moving forward in that aspect but for the last few weeks or even months, the firm focus has just been on securing a move back here and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
It’s a concept Penney said he was “broadly supportive” of but any specific discussions would be left mainly to Rugby Australia.
Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson said in a statement that a move to the Waratahs was in Maddocks' "best interests".
“We have reflected deeply on Jack’s personal circumstances and believe we are able to balance his best interests and those of the Melbourne Rebels by agreeing to this request," he said.
"Our retention and recruitment strategy ensures that we have plenty of experience and depth in our outside backs for 2020 and we will also now have the option to add a replacement player to our roster if we deem it necessary.”
The Waratahs play their first Super Rugby trial on Friday January 17 against the Highlanders at Leichhardt Oval.
