Ryan Smith’s rise to Queensland Reds skipper for Monday’s clash in Japan is a moment he never imagined.
Even playing a single game for Queensland was not on his radar if you ask the 1.99m lock to retrace his steps.
Monday's link to view Reds v Wild Knights 2pm AEST is at:
https://www.youtube.com/@jsportsrugby
It says much about his progress over four seasons that Smith was the clearcut candidate for the job against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in Kumagaya.
His presence in the dressing room, the senior role he commands and the job he does taking care of business on the field all factored into it.
“I was pretty shocked to get my first game for Queensland in (2021). To reach 50 earlier this season was a cool milestone,” Smith said.
“To now be named captain is something I never saw happening. It’s an honour for sure.”
Smith was 24 before he played his first game for Queensland after toiling away in club rugby until former Reds coach Brad Thorn spotting qualities he rated.
He’s a late bloomer when you compare Smith’s trajectory to blond-haired centre Frankie Goldsbrough who will make his Reds debut on Monday at just 18.
“A debut at 18…amazing. Frankie is really mature and keen to learn,” Smith said.
“He came back from the recent Australian Under-18s win over New Zealand rejuvenated and excited for what was to come next.”
Smith has been in and around the leadership groups at his Brothers club and the Reds.
He hopes that what he feels he represents is picked up by teammates.
“I’m a pretty good example of never quitting. I got my start late and I always want to leave everything out there on the field,” Smith said.
“I like to think I have my house in order as a lock.”
Last weekend’s 59-29 trial win over the Wild Knights came with plenty of warnings despite the lopsided final score.
The Reds got a 14-0 jump. In the space of 13 minutes, they conceded a 70m counter-attack try off a kick and gave up two tries on turnovers to trail 17-14.
Smith played the 2022 game against the Wild Knights in Japan and made the Australia A tour of the same country later that year. He knows the dangers in Japan.
“He made a nice hard start. It was disappointing to let in a quick couple of tries. The Japanese have some silky skills and will score on you from anywhere if you are careless,” Smith warned.
“The Wild Knights are a proud club and this is going to be a really good test for us.
“I remember watching the Wild Knights doing an hour or more of ‘extras’ after training when we visited Kumagaya in 2022 so I know the work they put in.”
Smith joined the group of players and coaches for a clinic at the Kumagaya Shiritsu Nara Junior High School on Saturday when the skipper could have put his feet up back at the team hotel.
“I remember going to a Reds clinic at Ballymore when I was 14 or 15 and being in a lineout session run by (former Red) Ed Quirk,” Smith recounted.
“Those sort of things stick in your memory so it was pretty cool to think the Japanese kids might get some good value from a clinic with players from an Australian team.”
It’s a positive to spread the rugby gospel but the main event for the Reds is one thing only…winning on Monday to retain the Saitama-Queensland Shield.
This holiday Monday game in Japan marks the 40th anniversary since the Saitama prefecture and Queensland established a sister state relationship.
The Wild Knights include some familiar faces, notably backrowers Jack Cornelsen and Lachie Boshier.
Cornelsen was a two-time premiership winner for the University of Queensland but was always blocked for backrow chances at the Reds.
He gave it a try with the Wild Knights in late 2017 and his career has blossomed in a different direction ever since. He’s played major Tests for Japan, lived out a World Cup dream and won a Japan Rugby League One title.
Boshier was a quality flanker for the Chiefs and is well known to debutant Reds flanker Kohan Herbert.
“I played in New Zealand with his younger brother and I rate Lachie as being unlucky not to play for the All Blacks,” said Herbert, a former NZ U20s representative.
“You always want to be playing against the best players so I’m excited to go up against him.”
Queensland Reds v Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights
Monday, November 4, 2pm AEST
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Japan
REDS
1 Alex Hodgman
2 Josh Nasser
3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
4 Josh Canham
5 Ryan Smith (c)
6 Connor Vest
7 Kohan Herbert
8 Joe Brial
9 Kalani Thomas
10 Tom Lynagh
11 Heremaia Murray
12 Dre Pakeho
13 Frankie Goldsbrough
14 Floyd Aubrey
15 Mason Gordon
Reserves
16 Richie Asiata
17 Sef Fa'agase
18 Massimo De Lutiis
19 Taine Roiri
20 Hamish Muller
21 Louis Werchon
22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
23 Will Cartwright
WILD KNIGHTS
1 Craig Millar
2 Kazuma Shimane
3 Taiki Fujii
4 Ockie Barnard
5 Esei Haangana
6 Ben Gunter
7 Lachlan Boshier
8 Jack Cornelsen
9 Yuta Takagi
10 Kyohei Yamasawa
11 Tatsuhiro Tanji
12 Vince Aso
13 Seijun Kawasaki
14 Koki Takeyama
15 Ryuji Noguchi
Reserves
16 Yuji Shimogawa
17 Yusaku Kihara
18 AsaeliAi Valu
19 Ryota Hasegawa
20 Shunsuke Nunomaki
21 Atora Hondo
22 Takaya Saito
23 Joshua Nohra
