Brothers halfback Will Cartwright thought one of his mates was playing a prank when a text from Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss turned up on his phone.
That’s the back story to his astonishing call-up to train with the Reds just three months after sitting on the bench for Brothers in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.
The livewire halfback was still smiling today after spending this week training with the Reds squad in preparation for next Friday’s big clash against Wales at Suncorp Stadium.
“It was a real shock. When the text came through I did check the phone number against those of my mates because I figured someone was playing a joke,” Cartwright said.
“When Les called, it was real.
“There’s been a lot of new detail to learn but it’s been awesome.”
The 21-year-old has come into calculations for a possible bench role against Wales because of his form, versatility and the halfback situation at the Reds.
Halfback stocks are stretched with Tate McDermott away with the Wallabies and regular deputy Kalani Thomas out of action after surgery to repair a stress fracture of the foot.
Louis Werchon is the one halfback in the Reds squad certain of being available. The big upside to Cartwright is his versatility which means the Reds can consider a 6-2 bench.
While halfback is his specialist position, he has played regularly on the wing for Brothers this season because he’s too good to leave out of the top side.
The 76kg Cartwright is one of the quickest players in the Hospital Cup which he showed pre-season by scooting over for the matchwinning try against Randwick in the Australian Club Championship.
Cartwright is also a beacon for all those schoolboy players who persist.
He never played First XV rugby for Nudgee College. He was a seconds player.
It’s a timely reminder for all those kids with ambition throughout the ranks with the new GPS season kicking off on Saturday.
Nudgee College opened the season at Ipswich Grammar. Churchie are at home for the clash against Brisbane Grammar.
Wallabies great Toutai Kefu is in charge as coach of Brisbane State High for the home game against Toowoomba Grammar and The Southport School are on the Gold Coast to face Gregory Terrace.
Liz Alexander was one of rugby’s tireless and much-appreciated workers for the betterment of junior rugby for the Central Highlands Rugby Union.
Her recent passing has hit friends, family and the rugby community hard.
In 2022, she was a worthy recipient of the QRU’s Norbert Byrne Medal as Queensland Rugby Volunteer of the Year.
“Liz had a huge impact on rugby in the Central Highlands, particularly on the juniors front and had been the key driving force behind junior rugby for a number of years,” said Cam Heath, the CHRU President.
“Liz had also been working tirelessly to try and stimulate government investment for additional sporting fields to handle the growth in junior participation numbers, something we are still working on now.”
Her funeral will be held in Emerald on Monday.
The Queensland Rugby Union’s community coaching team will be out in force at Terrace’s Tennyson Playing Fields on Saturday.
The aim is to introduce competitive rugby to eager Under-11 students who may be new to the sport and the GPS system.
Reds players will be attending with multiple games kicking off at 8.30am.
The recent Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton were a popular success.
“We had more than 1000 players come to Rocky from across the state. The staging, positive atmosphere and the outcome rugby-wise exceeded all expectations,” said Queensland Country Rugby Union President Rod Hohn.
“The inclusion of an Under-18 girls division was fantastic and the fact we went straight into two Country v Brisbane matches for our age divisions was a winner.
“You could see the improvements across the carnival and the games.”
Country triumphed in four of the six games against Brisbane sides from Under-13s to Under-18s.
