Matt Burke's 'ability to mind-read' reason Wallabies fullback role is locked up

Matt Burke expects Tom Wright to quickly re-establish himself as Australia’s premier fullback when the ACT Brumbies star returns from knee surgery this year.

The Wallabies No.15 had established himself as one of the world’s best fullbacks last year, impressing against the British and Irish Lions before engineering a historic comeback win against South Africa in Johannesburg.

He tore his anterior cruciate ligament a week later in Cape Town, the injury one of a long list that stole momentum from Joe Schmidt’s men.

After early joy, they finished the year with a 5-10 record and their first winless European tour in 67 years.

“Being able to follow the team on a week-to-week basis for the best part of 10 to 12 weeks post-operation …. it was difficult to watch from afar,” Wright said at Wednesday’s Super Rugby Pacific launch in Auckland.

“I felt like I was able to contribute a lot when I was there, and then you get removed from what you’re so accustomed to.

“That was probably the most difficult part. But since there has been no football on, it’s sort of gone quite quickly.”

Wright had surgery immediately after the August injury and, ahead of next year’s World Cup, there were initial fears he would miss the entire 2026 Super Rugby season.

But the 28-year-old is confident he’ll be back at least by the tournament’s midway point, with tests in a fortnight set to paint a clearer picture of his status.

“Maybe go off a little bit of feel, making sure that I feel comfortable to go back to the game so that I can get my timing and my feel,” Wright said of his mindset around a return.

“It’s pretty important for a player like me to get back up to speed with my handling and stuff like that.

“As soon as I have a better indication, I’ll let everyone know.”

With Wright sidelined, Max Jorgensen and Andrew Kellaway shared fullback duties for the Wallabies.

One-time Wallabies fullback Jordan Petaia is back in rugby, playing in France, after his short-lived NFL cameo and could return to the frame ahead of next year’s showpiece tournament.

Angus Crichton’s code switch next year could also see the NRL star slot into the centres and push Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i from the No.12 to the wing or fullback.

Wright can only watch them all push their cases before his return, and World Cup winner Burke can sympathise with his modern-day equivalent.

“When you’re injured, you can’t do anything,” Burke, who boasts 81 Test caps, told AAP.

“And I’ve been there, busted shoulder, and had (Stephen) Larkham and (Chris) Latham there.

“I said, ‘judge me when I’m back’ – and that’s all he can do.”

Burke views Jorgensen as a damaging winger rather than a No.15, and said the combinations Wright had built at the back would count in his favour.

“The competition is there, and it’s great, but they had some spots in those games last year, that broken field play was perfect,” Burke said.

“That’s time in the saddle … the ability to mind-read.”

The Brumbies, traditionally Australia’s best-performing Super side, have lost Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau and Noah Lolesio to overseas clubs.

“We always fly under the radar, don’t we? Always in January (people say), ‘this is the year the Brumbies won’t do well’,” Wright said.

“That’s what the Brumbies have been built on since their inception.”