Former NRL star Curtis Rona in Wallabies squad
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...34b48ee4264842
CURTIS Rona has taken his first step towards becoming a Wallaby after being invited to a Michael Cheika “catch-up” camp in Canberra this weekend.
But the horror week of dumped Reds duo Nick Frisby and Andrew Ready only got worse with news they’re not on the list for the three-day Wallaby powwow.
Frisby, who was a Wallaby last year, and Ready, who was on the fringes, are among the notable absentees. They were dropped by Reds coach Nick Stiles this week on form, but it didn’t help they also missed a recovery session on Sunday after going for beers following the Reds’ loss to the Hurricanes the night before.
Cheika doesn’t publish the list of invitees to his mid-season catch-ups, but Leroy Houston is also not going; fuelling speculation he is looking for a return to Europe. Houston has yet to play a game for the Reds this year after coming home on a two-year contract amid much fanfare last year.
Rona will fly to Canberra on Sunday night with other Force attendees after they play the Kings in Perth.
The power running of the ex-NRL centre has caught the eye of Cheika.
Other new faces who’ll be at the catch-up will be Reds rookie centre Duncan Paia’aua and backrower Adam Korczyk.
Force halfback Ryan Louwrens was on Cheika’s radar before he suffered an ACL injury.
Nick Phipps and Joe Powell will attend but Jake Gordon is not going; although the starting NSW No.9 is on a wider scouting list of Cheika.
