Tom Lynagh on the Reds battle that will ‘drive the whole club forward’

Tom Lynagh is firmly focused on the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season with the Queensland Reds, with the club boasting challenging depth at fly-half, following the signings of Wallaby Carter Gordon and Flying Fijian Ben Volavola.

Gordon spent some time with the Gold Coast Titans, making his NRL debut against the Wests Tigers in the final round of the 2025 regular season. The code-hopper made a high-profile move back to the 15-player game ahead of the Wallabies’ Spring Tour.

The Reds have also secured the services of utility back Volavola, who has played more than 200 games of professional rugby. Volavola made 38 appearances for Fiji but could become eligible for the Wallabies this August after completing a three-year standout period.

Australia A and AUNZ pivot Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is another representative fly-half on the books at the Reds, making the competition for the starting spot this season fierce, uncertain, and significant.

Lynagh, who started all three Tests for the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions last year, is embracing the battle for places this season. The 22-year-old isn’t thinking about what this Super Rugby season may mean for Wallabies honours, focused instead on pre-season in Brisbane.

“It’s obviously great to have competition,” Lynagh told reporters in Brisbane.

“It’s always great pushing each other to try and get that 10 jersey, so that’s going to drive the whole club forward as a club to be the best you can.

“It’s a long Super Rugby season first and you’ve got to take care of the Reds first before the rest follows.”

Following an injury to Noah Lolesio against Fiji in Newcastle, Lynagh emerged as Australia’s first-choice No. 10 during the Lions Series. The fly-half played the full 80 minutes in the second Test at the MCG, finishing with an 11-point haul in a valiant Wallabies performance.

Lynagh picked up a hamstring injury against Argentina during The Rugby Championship, which ruled the Italy-born talent out for the rest of the season. Tane Edmed, James O’Connor and Gordon were selected during the Spring Tour in the absence of Lynagh.

Four months on from facing Los Pumas in Townsville, Lynagh fronted the press at Ballymore Stadium, feeling good with pre-season underway. With the Wallabies’ Spring Tour representatives linking up with the Reds last week, the countdown to the new season is truly underway.

“Block was really good without all the Wallabies boys here, I feel like we got a lot don and a lot of things that we’re adding to our game plan,” Lynagh explained.

“We did all the basics there and nailed all the fundamentals and now with the Wallabies boys back it’s just gone up another level.

“Probably one of the best years of my life, I’d say,” he reflected when asked about 2025.

“I was very fortunate to be able to play and feature in some of those Lions games and feature heavily in the Reds season too.

“Very fortunate and it was a great year for myself, but like you said, in an out o the squads and dealing with a few injuries, it was pretty tough to deal with.”