'He's stepped up': Forgotten Red becomes centre of attention

After years of setbacks, a spot in the Queensland Reds’ centres is now Isaac Henry’s to lose.

That’s the word from coach Les Kiss, who has admired the 27-year-old’s fight, despite years of brutal injuries, to remain in a squad stacked with midfield options.

But after long-term foot, hamstring and knee injuries, Henry is fit and will wear the No.12 for the second straight week when the Reds host the NSW Waratahs on Saturday.

His chance comes with Hunter Paisami sidelined by a lower-leg injury that Kiss says he could shake off before next weekend.

But Paisami and fellow Test centre Josh Flook have both been linked with moves abroad – to Japan and Italy respectively – once their deals expire this season.

Flook is reportedly set for a move to Benetton, where he was due to play as part of a secondment last season before he was pulled away to join the Wallabies’ squad.

Opportunities in the Test jumper were fleeting, though, and with the recent signing of NRL star Angus Crichton to the Waratahs, where it’s expected he’ll play in the centres, things will only become more crowded.

Kiss wouldn’t confirm those moves on Wednesday, but said Henry deserved his chance.

“Not at this stage; the main thing is, if both (Paisami and Henry) are fit, it’s a difficult decision now,” he said.

“He’s showing his robustness, can play 12 or 13, and we saw a snapshot a couple of years ago.

“Then came a couple more injuries, but he’s determined, persistent and … he’s stepped up.”

The Reds aren’t short on backfield talent, with Dre Pakeho, Frankie Goldsborough and Treyvon Pritchard among the next crop at Ballymore already impressing.

Pritchard will get another chance off the bench after debuting in the Reds’ comeback defeat of the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

The Waratahs were flogged 59-19 by the Hurricanes last weekend, but were far too strong for the Reds in their season-opener.

“We’re 70 per cent of what we can be at this stage,” Kiss said of the 2-1 Reds.

“They’ve been hard on themselves on what they need to do.”