The re-signing of Tom Lynagh for two years is only part of the puzzle at No.10 for the Queensland Reds as they plot the club’s playmaking future.
The experienced James O’Connor has indicated he is keen to stay in his home state beyond this season, even mentioning the mentoring of Lynagh as part of it.
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If that positive comes to pass, the Reds will also have another major beneficiary in young gun Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.
McLaughlin-Phillips' signing during the off season until the end of 2025 was without the Lynagh fanfare but just as important if you listen to shrewd judges.
He was playing Queensland Under-18s last year in his final year at school and will likely be sharing the Australian Under-20s flyhalf role this year with Joey Fowler.
McLaughlin-Phillips has already stepped up in first grade. He was a significant cog in unfashionable Souths knocking off University of Queensland 18-14 last Saturday.
In Lynagh and McLaughlin-Phillips, the Reds have two excellent yet very different No.10s.
Lynagh’s kicking is the best of any young No.10 in the country and he has polished mechanics to his passing. He did tackle Hurricanes beast Ardie Savea in the open field on debut for the Reds but his tackling and physical aptitude are still work-ons.
McLaughlin-Phillips is far more of a dasher in attack. He mixes it in the frontline and his role in a fine try for the Reds in their pre-season trial against the Western Force was a show of his style.
By also having Lynagh on the books until the end of 2025, Queensland rugby may have shrewdly sidestepped that problem of having so much young talent in a specialist position that contenders inevitably disappear to other states.
Let’s start with David Pocock. New Wallaby squad flyhalf Carter Gordon needed to go to the Melbourne Rebels when blocked for a run in his home state of Queensland.
Lynagh, 19, is delighted to continue his education at the Reds where the chances will be abundant to build on his four-game start to Super Rugby Pacific.
“Obviously, I’m very happy. I don’t want to be anywhere else to be honest,” Lynagh said on Tuesday when his two-year deal was announced.
“It’s very exciting times for Australian rugby with the (British and Irish) Lions tour coming up (in 2025) and the home World Cup in 2027.
“With the addition of Eddie (Jones) to the coaching staff, it’s a pretty good time for the game.
“A lot of people want to be a part of it, especially me.”
The son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh is an ardent Arsenal fan, the club sitting atop the English Premier League, so things are pretty good right now on multiple fronts.
Young Lynagh’s main frustration is a delayed comeback from a head knock sustained against Fijian Drua in Round Four.
Picking up the clues from Reds coach Brad Thorn and Jones, Lynagh will miss a third game when sidelined from Friday night’s key clash against the ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium.
“At times, I’ve not been feeling right with symptoms popping up. Obviously, it’s pretty frustrating because I want to be playing but you want to play the safe game,” Lynagh said.
“There’s been a bit of dizziness and headaches but I ran fine on Monday.”
Just being mentioned as on the “not considered because of injury” list when coach Jones announced his Wallabies training squad last Sunday was a plus.
“It was nice to know I was in the thought processes. My goal is just to get back playing for the Reds and playing consistently,” Lynagh said.
Coming from the English system, Lynagh’s adept kicking in general play and for goal is a differentiating point.
“Tactical kicking has become a massive part of the game. You see South Africa winning the last World Cup with excellent tactical kickers,” he said.
His foot skills haven’t all come from rugby.
“I loved my soccer as a young fella, loved the attacking side of the game (as a left wing). I’ve been an Arsenal fan for 10 years and they are finally at the top of the league,” Lynagh said with a smile.
“When I was 13 or 14 I really wanted to play (football) professionally but I realised it was already a bit too late to do it seriously. I was already part of the Harlequins Academy for rugby so I went with the one I enjoyed more.”
Lynagh said O’Connor’s generosity with tips about playing No.10 was part of the enjoyment in the Reds environment at Ballymore.
“Experience has been the biggest teacher playing with and against men for the first time over the past two years,” Lynagh said.
“James has little chats with me at training. if plays go one side of the field, the ways to get back the other side...game management stuff like that.”
O’Connor will be at No.10 against the Brumbies. He’s played some excellent patches and set up some fine tries in his few comeback games from injury but also spluttered with errors.
His lifting of the tempo and taking-on-the-line was responsible for the Reds’ strong second half in the 23-17 loss in Canberra in March when the teams last met.
“I still feel like I have some energy to give and that might be bringing the next guys through," O'Connor said of plans beyond this year.
“I’m very content where I am in Australia with my home life and with my life on the footy field.”
The value of such an experienced head around Lynagh and McLaughlin-Phillips would be immense because you have recall the Tate McDermott situation. He lamented never having a senior halfback to lean on the Reds squad for his first few years.
