Uncapped halfback Kalani Thomas has been backed to deliver in Wallaby gold after being selected alongside fellow Queenslander Aidan Ross for the upcoming Spring Tour of Japan and Europe.
Thomas, 25, has already racked up more than 50 Super Rugby caps for the Reds and faced the British & Irish Lions on three occasions this year - lacing up for Queensland, the AUNZ Invitational XV, and the First Nations & Pasifika XV.
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Now, the Ipswich Grammar product is in the frame to become Wallaby #994 following his selection in a 34-man Test squad including fellow halfbacks Jake Gordon and Ryan Lonergan.
Reds coach Les Kiss told reporters Thomas was ready for Test rugby "without a doubt".
"I think he's proven his worth continuously since I've been here, but it's great to see him get this opportunity," Kiss said on Monday.
"I was speaking to him in the last few days, and he was really pleased with how he went in the Wallaby camp leading up to the last Bledisloe Cup game in Perth.
"He really enjoyed the environment, so he's got an opportunity now to poke his nose into that space more and go from there.
"He's an explosive, instinctive player, but he's learned to grow his understanding of how he serves his forward pack in front of him, and how he demands more out of him.
"If he sniffs an opportunity, he'll take it, and he's very, very dangerous. I love the fact that he'll quick tap on his instinct when he feels that he's got an opportunity.
"I think he's just growing into a more and more complete player, and meeting demands of every level, and I've got no doubt he'll be fine at that next level."
Regardless of whether Thomas earns a Test debut or not, Kiss will be more reliant than ever on his services in 2026 following Tate McDermott's serious hamstring injury.
The Reds co-captain is expected to miss the start of Queensland's Super Rugby Pacific pre-season and will go under the knife later this week.
It leaves Thomas competing for the starting jersey with Louis Werchon, who has impressed on loan to Benetton in the URC.
"At this stage, I doubt he'll be part of the start of pre-season. It's a fairly significant injury … and he goes into surgery later this week," Kiss said of McDermott.
"Once he's had surgery, we'll get a chance to see how long that timeline could possibly be, but how long is a piece of string? We don't know yet. Until we get surgery done, he'll be working with us in December in the rehab, and we'll see where we are at Christmas."
