He's fought back from a career break and shoulder reconstruction to get his chance with the Reds and while the Super Rugby competition has gone into hiatus for now, Scott Malolua is well equipped to deal with the latest stoppage.
Malolua has worn the no.9 jersey for Queensland for the past two games, starting in front of Wallaby-in-waiting Tate McDermott after recovering from shoulder reconstruction surgery that ruined his World Cup dream.
Malolua knows what it is like to have to wait for an opportunity.
Just two years ago, the scrumhalf had given up on rugby and returned to work as a chippie, believing his chance to play at the elite level had passed him by.
When he received a call from Reds coach Brad Thorn while on a building site, he thought he was being pranked.
But he grabbed his chance last season when McDermott picked up a long-term injury, playing well enough to earn a Test cap with Samoa before his World Cup shot was cruelled by a shoulder injury in the clash against the Wallabies.
"I think at the time there were a lot of emotions just missing out on the World Cup," Malolua said.
Having left the game once before though, there was no question Malolua would give up and he spent the off-season working hard to make it back to Super Rugby.
"What I took out of (the experience with Samoa) was confidence," he said.
"Being around all those players - most of them have played 50-plus games for Super as well - I just took a lot of confidence being in that camp."
Thorn took many by surprise when he decided to rest McDermott for the match against the Crusaders and give Malolua first shot at scrumhalf.
"I was a bit surprised myself when I got the nod, especially up against the Crusaders," he said.
"I didn't know how to feel, I was a bit more nervous than excited but I think Tate had a little niggle so I got the nod."
But his quick, clean service helped the Reds push towards and upset in Christchurch in an effort that bolstered the Reds' confidence.
"There was a big emphasis on stepping up, so I think everyone stepped up and it made my job a lot easier," Malolua said.
"The likes of Wilso (Harry Wilson), Lukhan (Salakaia-Loto), just stepping it up, all I had to do was give them the ball really and they made me look half decent."
Thorn says that's Malolua under-selling himself.
"It's a contest with those two," Thorn said.
"Tatey's been doing some really good things and (playing) good footy and he's continuing to grow his game.
"Scotty Malolua, you've got to remember he got picked for a World Cup and he got time in a Test for Samoa and he's a good footballer as well.
"There's good competition there and you've got Moses (Sorovi) as well - he's got an injury at the moment - but they'll be good for each other and bring out the best in each other, I feel."
While the competition is suspended, that intra-squad competition may be as good as it gets for Malolua.
But coming off the back of a bonus-point win against the Bulls and having pushed the champion Crusaders outfit, the half said something special was brewing at Ballymore.
"Coming out of that Crusaders game and even leading up to it, the boys were so up for it and confident, there was belief," he said.
"Even though we lost, I think we took a lot out of that game and this back end of the season all the boys are keen to rip in and I'm pretty excited about that."
