“It was a childhood dream, really, to try and play rugby league. I was off contract and I had a bit of interest from the Tigers. I wanted to have a crack at it. To make my NRL debut was a major goal, growing up playing league,” Reilly said.

The chaos of Tiger town didn’t take long to emerge after Reilly was recruited by Michael Maguire and Tim Sheens in mid-2022. He’d previous played juniors for Newcastle and the Rabbitohs before taking up rugby at St Josephs’ College.

“I rocked up and was there for a week and Madge got sacked, I was like ‘oh jeez’. But Sheensy was great,” he said.

The plan for Reilly was to play NSW Cup in 2023 and progress to NRL this year, but after superb form playing in the centres for Wests in the NSW Cup (he was later named player of the year), the 24-year-old got the nod to debut in round 25, in a rare win.

“I had one my favourite years, even though the main team at Tigers only won a few games. But I played a lot of games, I played 20-odd games,” Reilly said.

“In previous years, I was playing a few games at the Tahs and a few games at Randwick. The amount of footy wasn’t enough. But I had a big year last year, just playing consistent footy week-in, week-out.

“I definitely feel I have come back a better player. Just the toughness and physicality of league, I feel like I have brought that back to rugby union.”

Though he debuted in 2020, Reilly only has seven Waratahs caps and his 40 minutes against the Crusaders, due to Pietsch’s injury, was the longest he’d ever been on the field. Reilly finished a nice try but also helped set up Jake Gordon’s try later, with a determined kick-chase and choke tackle.

“It was just good to get some minutes. Just with the way it worked out, getting on at half-time, it allowed me to get myself into the game,” Reilly said.

On a one-year contract, Reilly says he’s not sure which code he’ll be playing next year.

“But I am interested in giving it [the NRL] another crack because just with the way I left, I thought I could have played more games,” he said.

The Waratahs’ other starting winger, Mark Nawaqanitawase, is about to make the same code-leap. Reilly says he is so convinced he’ll be a success he won’t even need to offer advice.

“As I told Mark, he will kill it in league,” he said. “He will grow in the pre-season and he will figure out pretty quick what he has to do to get him ready for the game. But he is in good hands, going to the Roosters.”

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In other team changes, the Waratahs have recalled Ned Hanigan to the starting side to meet the Highlanders, with Fergus-Lee Warner moved to the bench. Izzy Perese comes back at centre, with Harry Wilson moving to the bench. Tom Ross has come onto the bench at reserve prop.

At the Brumbies, Darcy Swain’s return at lock sees Tom Hooper moved to flanker, and Tamati Tua starting against the Force at No.12. Bayley Kuenzle replaces centre Sam Spink (calf) for the Force.

The Reds have re-arranged their backline due to Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami out under HIA protocols. Jock Campbell starts at fullback, with Mac Grealy on the wing and Isaac Henry moved to No.12.

The Rebels have benched Taniela Tupou to take on Moana Pasifika, with Sam Talakai and Jordan Uelese called into the starting side. Vaiolini Ekuasi also starts at flanker. Jake Strachan will start at fullback, pushing Andrew Kellaway to wing and Filipo Daugunu to the centres.

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