Tate McDermott’s pledge of allegiance to the Queensland Reds for another four years is all about the worthy motivation of unfinished business.
The game-breaker at halfback is adamant he has much more to achieve with the Reds and Wallabies and he wants to be a big part of the future of both teams.
His new four-year deal, announced on Thursday, follows the Reds' recent re-signing of all-action flanker Fraser McReight, lock Angus Blyth, utility forward Seru Uru and flyhalf Tom Lynagh.
“There’s no other place I really want to be. I could have looked at a couple of things overseas but I haven’t achieved enough here yet,” McDermott said.
“A lot of fellas share the same mindset. The boys are eager to pull on the jersey.” McDermott made the strong point that the momentum to make the Reds more successful was a shared vision.
“A lot of guys who came through with me are still here. We’ve had a few long-term deals signed this week and we may have a few more next week,” he said.
“We’ve got plenty left to achieve. That’s part of the motivation and you also see what’s ahead with the new facility at Ballymore.
“I’m really grateful for the faith shown in me across my whole six years at the Reds. It’s a massive privilege to stay another four in Queensland and Australia.
“There are a lot of good things happening here in Queensland and we just have to transfer that onto the field.”
McDermott will play his 71st game for the Reds against the ACT Brumbies in Friday night’s peak clash at Suncorp Stadium.
At just 24, he’s on track to join legends Peter Slattery and Will Genia as the only Queensland halfbacks in the “100 Cap Club.”
Re-signing McDermott is vital on another level. The crowd-pleaser is a fan favourite at Suncorp Stadium where the Reds will be missing another pin-up when prop Taniela Tupou heads to the Melbourne Rebels next season.
McDermott’s honest emotions are a big part of that. He thrills to victories with a smile but there is no one more obviously gutted after a loss.
“Queensland is very special to me. It’s my home. When we’re winning, of course, I’m going to be smiling. On the flipside, I don’t like losing. I hate it,” he said.
“For me, I just want to get better and I want this club to get better.
“We’re not happy where we are at the moment. If I can be a small piece in driving us forward and getting this group hungrier so be it.”
Being left out of the 33-man Wallabies training squad, announced by coach Eddie Jones, has been met by the reaction you’d expect.
“I was pretty disappointed but, at the same time, it was expected. I would have been surprised to be in it. Excluding that Crusaders game, I’ve not played amazing footy this season,” McDermott said.
“There’s plenty of footy ahead. I had a conversation with Eddie around just having to sharpen up.
“I appreciate honesty like that.
“I know better than anyone I’ve got to improve if I want to be in France at the end of the year (for the World Cup).
“My strength has always been the running side but probably the sharpening has to come, as before, in the bread-and-butter elements for a halfback.”
McDermott banging a kick out on the full against the Hurricanes in Townsville in Round One was a demerit in front of Jones in the stands. Equally, his heads-up grubber kick for the Jordan Petaia try against the Crusaders was perfect.
Finding a higher level of consistency is what all players chase.
Playing against the Brumbies has become the rivalry match of recent years with the sides each taking five wins from the 10 clashes since the beginning of 2020.
“It’s huge. We love playing the Brumbies, regardless if it is in Brisbane or the capital,” McDermott said.
“For us, we’ll front up to play a positive brand, a disciplined brand, of rugby. They’ve been the buzzwords this year but we need controlled aggression to go with that which is what we haven’t had.
“We’ll show up for Queensland but when we say we are going to do something, we actually have to do it.
“Obviously, a couple of boys really showed up against the Crusaders. The challenge in this game is for it not to be a couple but all 23 men in maroon showing up and going to war.”
McDermott and the Reds will take on the Brumbies tomorrow night at Suncorp Stadium. Buy tickets via https://bit.ly/40IKImn.
