'Your dad is here?'
It's the question that stumped Reds coach Simon Craig and ultimately shaped the Super W competition to the point that Kiwi-born flyhalf Carys Dallinger could find herself pulling on a gold jersey at the end of the month.
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Dallinger arrived at the Reds midway through the season in round three after starring for the Hurricanes side in Super Rugby Aupiki.
She has lit up Super W since, guiding the Reds to the Final with a last-minute penalty where they will face Fijiana Drua on Saturday in Townsville.
Craig knew what he was getting in the 23-year-old flyhalf until Dallinger sprung the shock news that she has an Australian dad following their defeat to the NSW Waratahs last month, making her eligible for the Wallaroos.
“It was two weeks ago when we were down (in Sydney) in the dressing rooms and she said ‘Oh my dad is outside…yeah he’s Melbourne born’ and I just couldn’t believe it,” Craig said.
This alerted Wallaroos officials, with the flyhalf position wide open following Arabella McKenzie's departure to England.
Coach Jay Tregonning will announce his squad for May 20's Test against Fijiana next week, with Dallinger all of a sudden rocketing into consideration.
The selection and commitment would be a major boost for the Wallaroos, with Dallinger featuring in the Black Ferns' pre-World Cup trial just nine months earlier.
“She’s been playing well and she has an Australian father so classifies through the heritage line and I think something exciting if she wants to play for the Wallaroos,” Reds and Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry said. “I think the opportunity would be there and hopefully she takes it.
“She backs herself and when I looked to here and the bench (with 90 seconds to go), she was confident and wanted the ball and I said ‘That’s fine, I back you.’ It’s a testament to her that she kicked that crunch kick and she was the first person to put her hand up and she did it twice for us today.
“That’s what we need in big moments for big-name players to stand up and she definitely did that.”
The announcement in kind set off a 'lightbulb' in Craig's mind, who had already used up his allocation of foreign players.
Craig had former Fijian sprinter and winger Heleina Young stuck on the sidelines, who had lit up Queensland Premier Grade with GPS.
With Dallinger clearing a spot, Young made an instant impact, scoring against the Drua on debut before saving her best for the Final with an incredible solo try to spark the 23-20 comeback win over the Brumbies.
“To have her not be in there and then come in, it’s been a great boost for us at the end of the season,” Craig said on Young, who finished with a double
“She stayed strong that whole time, didn’t miss training sessions and supported the game, knowing her time would come.
“To see her succeed out there today is a remarkable story.”
