3 minute read
Harry Hockings will get his chance at lock for the Queensland Reds on Saturday night against the Sharks.
Don't judge Harry Hockings by his 206cm frame and "baby-faced" appearance.
Behind the facade is a niggling, competitive and surprisingly nimble talent that Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn describes as a "little man trapped in a big man's body".
Fully recovered from a broken hand, Hockings will start at lock on Saturday against the Sharks (3-1) for the first time this Super Rugby season.
Wallabies flanker Lukhan Salakaia-Loto moves back to the bench as a result, while Angus Blyth is left out of the squad and Angus Scott-Young is back in the starting team after missing last week's rout of the Sunwolves.
Thorn, eager to exploit the Reds' depth in that position to stay fresh this season, knows a greater test awaits against a Durban team that has become the "talk of the comp".
But with players like 21-year-old Hockings itching for a crack he hopes they respond well.
"The call him the Hock, the Big Friendly Giant ... he's highly talented and (former Brisbane NRL teammate) Glenn Lazarus was one of them, they're little men trapped in big men's bodies," Thorn said.
"They're highly-skilled; Hock loves playing golf, he's got beautiful hands, but he's trapped in this six-foot-nine body.
"He's got that baby-face but he's a tough competitor, he loves to compete.
"(He) grew up in the boarding houses in Churchie and just playing sport every afternoon and not doing his homework."
Hockings can push his Wallabies case with a good showing against the Sharks, particularly with rival lock option Rory Arnold - at 208cm the tallest to wear Wallaby gold - now based overseas.
But he is vying for minutes at club level in a pack that also includes Wallabies regular Izack Rodda.
Junior Wallabies captain Fraser McReight is on the bench behind captain Liam Wright, while backline talent Isaac Lucas is another itching for more game time.
"Everyone wants to play; I mainly got to start and I wasn't a big fan of coming off the bench or missing games," former All Black Thorn said.
"So I'm aware of that; I'm just working out the best way of working that.
"(Once) you get depth of quality, you actually get challenged to make harder and harder decisions every week - every week starts to become a (difficulty).
"But that's where you need to be. A few years back, it was easy decisions. But it is getting tougher around that stuff and it will continue hopefully this year or in years to come.
"We're trying to go (forward) together and we're trying to win something."
