Wallabies player Josh Flook has shared how a long-standing critique of his stature has motivated him to relocate to Europe to compete against some of the top teams in the world. Flook is set to leave the Queensland Reds after the conclusion of the Super Rugby Pacific season to join the Italian club Benetton in the United Rugby Championship.
At 24 years of age, Flook has come forward to support Queensland’s coach, who will also be taking over as Wallabies coach, Les Kiss, following the Reds’ recent heavy losses. This marks Flook’s first public statements since his two-year contract with Benetton was officially announced last month.
Initially, Flook was expected to join the United Rugby Championship team last year through a partnership with the Reds. However, he was called into the Wallabies camp for an end-of-season tour, where he only made one appearance, playing against Japan.
Reflecting on his move, Flook expressed uncertainty about how he would perform against the formidable centres from Scotland and South Africa. “I thought to myself, why not challenge myself in that competition and show that despite my smaller size, I can compete fiercely,” he remarked.
Flook, known for his timing, tactical angles, and skillful play, has faced comments about his height throughout his life, which he admits fuels his determination. “It’s something I’ve heard all my life; it drives me,” he stated.
He described his decision to leave Super Rugby Pacific as the “toughest” of his career, especially since many players from this league are likely to be selected for the upcoming World Cup in Australia. Nevertheless, he believes that competing against teams from Ireland, Italy, Wales, Scotland, and South Africa in the URC could potentially enhance his chances of making the Test squad.
“I deliberated over it for weeks, probably frustrating a few people in the process,” he acknowledged. “But at 24, whether I earn a gold jersey or not, my focus is on improving as a player and as an individual.”
Flook recently returned from an injury during a disheartening 42-19 defeat to the Western Force, which followed another disappointing loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington. The Reds, who could have secured third place with a victory in Brisbane, have now slipped to sixth in the standings.
This Saturday, Queensland (4-3) will face the Crusaders, currently positioned fifth (4-3), before taking a bye week and then competing against the Blues (second, 5-2) in Christchurch, followed by home matches against the Brumbies (fourth, 4-3) and the Chiefs (third, 5-2).
With the added pressure of Les Kiss set to transition to Wallabies coach after the Super Rugby Pacific season, the Reds’ performance has come under scrutiny. However, Flook emphasized that their recent struggles should not be attributed to Kiss. “We’ve had a lot of individual reflections, and as a team, we’ve evaluated what we can improve and what aspects of our game we are lacking,” he explained. “It’s unfair to place the spotlight solely on Les. Our recent matches have demonstrated that mistakes can be capitalized on by strong teams, but when we manage to hold onto the ball, we can perform exceptionally well.”
