Wallabies aspirant Dre Pakeho has revealed why he turned his back on a potential career in the NRL, having blossomed through the Brisbane Broncos’ ranks before finding his true calling.
The 21-year-old, who on Sunday announced a two-year contract extension with the Queensland Reds through the end of 2028, has emerged as one of the hottest centre prospects in Australian rugby at a time when fellow rugby league convert Angus Crichton has been recruited to help bolster the No.12 stocks.
Despite growing up in New Zealand until he was eight, Pakeho initially played rugby league and attended Wavell State High School upon his move to Brisbane – where Queensland Maroons legend Greg Inglis also attended.
Dre Pakeho scores a try for the Reds.Credit: Getty
But a move to Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) changed his fortunes, leaving the 13-man code behind him, despite having come through the Brisbane Broncos’ academy system.
While he now stands at 102 kilograms after spending his preseason gaining muscle, Pakeho was a halfback in rugby league “back when I was skinny”, and appeared destined to pursue his NRL ambitions.
But he said once he made the switch, he never questioned it.
“I was still young when I was playing, I was at academies and stuff but nothing really too serious. I was in Broncos academy for a bit, it started when I made Queensland under-12s, and then it went from there,” Pakeho told this masthead.
“There were times there I got sick of it a little bit, so when I made the switch I was learning new things, new game plans, so I think that’s what made me enjoy it quite a bit.
“When I made the switch, I didn’t really look back – I wanted to play for the Reds. That was my new goal and I sort of left league behind.
“I just enjoyed it, and I think it was something different from what I always knew playing league all the time.”
Crichton will join the 15-man code once his looming season with the Sydney Roosters comes to an end, and will begin to mount his case for a Rugby World Cup call-up ahead of the 2027 showcase on home soil.
The Wallabies currently have a dearth of inside centre options, with Len Ikitau currently playing in Exeter on a sabbatical, and Hunter Paisami weighing up his future. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has also moved to outside centre for the Waratahs.
But Pakeho – who Paisami said was “definitely putting his hand up” for Test selection – is adamant he can make his own statement on the international stage, as he vies with Paisami and Josh Flook for a spot in the Reds’ line-up.
“I think it [Crichton’s addition] is good competition, it keeps everyone on their toes and will make it more competitive and people more hungry for that spot,” Pakeho, who represented the Junior Wallabies at the under-20 World Championships, said.
“Definitely, of course it [the Wallabies] is always something I look towards, especially being next to Hunter and Flooky I think I could maybe be there one day too, and hopefully soon. I’m always aiming for that.”
Pakeho showed impressive signs in his debut Super Rugby campaign last year, managing 12 caps to be named the competition’s Rookie of the Year.
Those exploits included a standout showing against All Blacks sensation Rieko Ioane in the Reds’ 35-21 triumph of the Auckland Blues.
On that night, in which he played outside centre, he ran for 58 metres – including a clean break – while his 14 tackles for no misses kept Ioane contained to just 24 running metres from five carries.
“I feel like it did,” Pakeho said, when asked if that occasion made him feel like he belonged at that level.
“But at the same time, it was just another game to me. I really enjoyed myself that game – especially coming up against him, watching him on TV I wanted to be like him, so it was a pretty surreal moment.”
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