Instant Queensland Reds hit Tim Ryan has re-signed with the Super Rugby club for two years and the Junkyard Dog is ready to scrap for his place in the reinforced side.
The 20-year-old had two hat-tricks in his first four starts, and tallied nine tries from his first seven appearances as his fan club swelled and nickname gained traction.
The only Reds player boasting multiple hat-tricks was then tested at outside centre in off-season games against Wales and Tonga in July.
That versatility will be crucial in a stocked-up Reds side flush with backline talent after Wallabies winger Filipo Daugunu and former Australian rugby sevens star Lachie Anderson both arrived from the defunct Melbourne Rebels.
“That’s perfect for me,” Ryan said of the squeeze for spots.
“It will make me work harder in pre-season because I know I’ll be fighting for a position.”
Coach Les Kiss has been careful not to over-hype the breakout star but has been reassured by his work ethic away from the fanfare.
“We saw an explosion of Tim Ryan talent didn’t we with the Junkyard Dog?” he said.
“It’s really positive to see a winger like him as part of our program.
“The thing we love is his commitment to his craft. Every part of his preparation is strong and he has a great future because of that.”
The season begins in February, a rematch of this year’s Reds-Blues Anzac Day, 11-try thriller set to be confirmed for April 25 as part of today’s fixture announcement.
The 11-team competition, thanks to the Rebels’ demise, will still feature 14 regular-season fixtures but move to a six-team, rather than eight-team finals series.
