Campbell Magnay has far from turned his back on Australian rugby, despite a looming move to Japan.
Magnay will join Matt Giteau’s Top League side Suntory for the 2017-18 Japanese season, but the youngster is still keen for a return to the Reds in the Super Rugby.
The Queenslander is keen to learn off Giteau, one of his childhood idols and a major lure in looking for an overseas option.
The Reds have expressed a desire to bring the centre back into their fold in the future and Magnay said he was still hoping to feature for Queensland in 2018, though that hasn’t been made official.
“I always wanted to come back and play (in Australia), I want to play for the wallabies I guess that's the end result,” he said.
“I’m not too sure (where), hopefully (in) Queensland.”
Though he has had an injury-prone start to his professional career, Magnay opted to take up the chance to head overseas and rack up more games, rather than another season of training and an NRC campaign in Brisbane.
“I thought I haven't play many games, I have trained a lot over these last few years so I just want to play some footy," he said.
“I thought that's the best decision.”
The 20-year-old had his chance to play a string of Reds matches late in the season at his preferred 13 spot after an injury to Samu Kerevi, someone who has been a major influence on him at Ballymore.
“When he got injured, I wasn't injured so it was good how that worked out but he helps a lot,” Magnay said.
“He helps me with my decision making and grabs me at training, yells at me, I can hear him on the sideline if he's injured, yells at me, tells me what to do so he's very good.”
Kerevi had big wraps for his rookie teammate as well, on his return into the Test camp.
“I’ve always rated Campbell,” he said.
“Obviously we’re together all the time in Brissie and that but we’re always pretty competitive against each other because we’re obviously in the same position but he’s a lot quicker than me, he’s real strong as well.
“So, I’m really happy that he’s put his foot in the door and Cheik’s opened that for him and whatever he does with his future, especially with the Wallabies, I know he’ll really flourish.”
