Wallabies centre Josh Flook extends Reds stay ahead of Drua clash

Wallabies centre Josh Flook has re-committed to the Queensland Reds for another Super Rugby Pacific season, putting pen to paper on a one-year contract extension with the Queensland Rugby Union.

Fans will see this re-signing update as an important bit of business from the Reds, with Flook having become an integral part of the team’s backline in recent seasons. At 23, Flook has already played 55 matches in the famed maroon jersey of Queensland.

Flook was rewarded for yet another strong Super Rugby campaign in 2024 with a call-up to the national side, with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt naming the outside centre to debut against Warren Gatland’s Wales in Sydney.

Schmidt retained Flook at outside centre for the second of two Tests against Wales, which was held at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, and later named the midfielder in the matchday 23 against Argentina in Santa Fe and New Zealand at Wellington’s Sky Stadium.

Flook has only played two matches for the Reds this season, having picked up a hamstring injury during the early stages of the campaign, but is now on the verge of a return. But looking beyond the 2025 season, Flook is thrilled to have inked a fresh deal with the QRU.

“It’s another season down the track. The Reds have improved again and I’m really enjoying the direction of the team and the organisation as a whole,” Flook said in a statement.

“I’ve grown up playing with a lot of these guys at the Reds. This club, this team, is a big part of my life and when you see plenty of the boys re-signing, you don’t want to be anywhere else.

“Ballymore is a friendly place to come into each day, whether it’s on the footy side or having a chat to office staff. It’s a good environment.”

Flook featured in the starting side when the Reds ran out onto the field for the first time this season against Ardie Savea’s Moana Pasifika in Brisbane, which the home side won. The Nudgee College Old Boy played the entire 80 minutes in that fixture.

Reds coach Les Kiss selected Flook in the No. 13 jersey the following week too, with the Reds taking on the Western Force at Perth’s HBF Park. In a thriller, Flook scored two tries during a 50-minute shift, before Filipo Daugunu stepped up with last-minute heroics to steal it.

While Flook hasn’t featured since, Dre Pakeho and Filipo Daugunu have stepped up as reliable options in the midfield moving forward. Hunter Paisami is a more established player who has also been named in the centres, only adding to the team’s impressive depth.

But the importance of Flook can’t be undersold. Kiss was asked about the midfielder’s injury the day before the Queenslanders hosted the Hurricanes at Suncorp Stadium, with fans eager to see the Wallaby back in maroon.

“Having a 50-capper like ‘Flooky’ re-signing is great news for the Reds. He’s an impressive player in attack and defence with his communication and timing a key strength, which makes others around him better as well,” Kiss explained.

“Our medical and rehab staff have done an excellent job in working with Josh to get him back in shape for a return weeks ahead of the initial forecast.”

In a battle between the fourth-placed Reds and the fifth-placed Hurricanes, the Queenslanders were beaten in a thriller last Friday, going down by four points at home. The Reds now sit in fifth with only one round left, and they’re still no guarantee to play finals football.

Mathematically, the Reds can still drop out of the top six depending on other results, but they’re still very much in control of their own destiny. Queensland host the Fijian Drua in Brisbane this week, where a losing bonus point will be enough to see the team progress.

“I definitely felt more a part of game day again,” Flook added.

“This Saturday night is the last regular season home game for the Reds at Suncorp Stadium. It’s going to be a huge last round with so many possibilities still in play for the finals.

“Everyone at the Reds will be up for the game and we know the Fijian Drua will be trying to ruin the party when they come to Brisbane.”