The well-oiled pass could belong to a 25-year-old yet the mystery figure who has appeared unannounced at the Queensland Reds is a 36-year-old former All Black.
The Reds have co-opted Alby Mathewson as injury cover on a short-term contract while Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott is out for at least a month with a high-ankle sprain.
Mathewson landed at the Reds last week and was today doing drills with young Reds halfbacks Spencer Jeans and Kalani Thomas.
Mathewson made his name in Kiwi rugby with the Hurricanes and Blues but played more Super Rugby games for the Western Force as a star import.
His acceleration, playmaking and poise were integral to the Force’s best performances during his time in Perth between 2013-16.
He has clocked up more countries than a rookie TripAdvisor reporter since with stints at Bristol, Toulon, Munster and Ulster.
Mathewson made contact with the Reds late last year when he set up home on the Gold Coast so the club always knew he was a possible player in an emergency.
With Premier Rugby in Brisbane not due to kick-off until April 23, it’s not as if a club contender could be easily plucked.
With Jeans, 20, and Thomas, 19, both so young, having a battle-hardened veteran around training serves twin purposes.
“Alby is a perfect fit. He’s played more than 300 first class games so his support around Spencer and Kalani is already proving a plus,” said Sam Cordingley, the Reds’ General Manager, Professional Rugby.
“There are skills you learn as a halfback around delivery, the back of the scrum and so on. He is passing on some of those instincts to Spencer and Kalani.
“Alby’s arrived in good shape and we put him through a physical so there are no issues in that way.”
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Reds coach Brad Thorn would not have blinked at the age on Mathewson’s passport. Thorn played provincial rugby until he was 40 and played three Tests beside Mathewson in 2010.
Thomas is starting at halfback against the Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night (6.45pm AEST time). Jeans will come off the bench.
