'It was pretty cool': The surprise phone call rising star received from Wallabies coach

Everything is pointing towards Josh Flook becoming a Wallabies star of the future, with the Queensland Reds centre having already caught the attention of coach Dave Rennie.

For quite a few years now, Australian rugby fans have been waiting in hope as a golden generation of talent begin to make their mark at both Super Rugby and test level.

Well, former Australian Schoolboys captain Flook is one of the emerging players destined for higher honours.

After guiding the schoolboys team to a drought-breaking win away to rivals New Zealand, the utility back went on to make his debut in the coveted maroon strip in Super Rugby AU a few years ago.

Flook entered the fray off the bench against the Melbourne Rebels, and hasn’t really skipped a beat since.

The Super Rugby AU champion has been a mainstay of the Reds’ matchday 23, and will seemingly have an opportunity to cement his place in the starting side this season after Hamish Stewart signed for the Western Force.

But to reiterate the point, his ceiling is seemingly limitless.

As reported by The Roar, Flook was having dinner with his family one night when his phone rang – it was Dave Rennie.

Flook missed Rennie’s first phone call, but made sure to call him call back, as they discussed what the rising star should focus on this season.

“They (the Wallabies coaching structure) just checked in on how I was and how the process is going, and what they’d like to see from me this year,” Flook told The Roar.

“I thought it was pretty cool that they even started speaking to me because I never thought of it like that, so it was really nice for them to just check on me and see (how) I was going.

“I never thought it would be last year or in the next couple of years. But that is always the end goal to pull on the gold jersey, whether it be for the Wallabies or Australia A.”

Flook injured his shoulder in the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific last year, which was second shoulder reconstruction in his young career.

But back now with the Reds in pre-season, Flook may have an opportunity to make a starting jersey his own.

There’s a vacancy in the midfield at the moment after the departure of Stewart, who usually started alongside Wallaby Hunter Paisami – although Isaac Henry is another possible option in the midfield.

In Super Rugby Pacific last year, the Queensland Reds placed seventh overall – as they finished the regular season with the third best record out of the Australian franchises.

But Flook is confident that they can “go a long way” this season if they address their discipline issues.

“We played some really good footy and won most of our game against all the Australian opposition (in 2022),” he added.

“So we’re just going to adapt a little bit better to how the Kiwi teams play.

“Also we worked out that we’re one of the most penalised teams in the competition last year as well, so we’ve put a lot of effort into our discipline and gone hard at that at training.

“If we can fix those two things up, I’m sure it’ll go a long way.”

The Reds begin their Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Hurricanes at Queensland Country Banks Stadium, Townsville, in late February.