2022 Interview with Reds Co-Captain Tate McDermott

Welcome to Reds Rugby Rules 2022 !!!!

As I write this, I am the most excited about Super Rugby that I’ve been for a while. As we come out of the pandemic, I’m excited about where Super Rugby is going, and I believe 2022 will be a special one.

I loved getting back to Ballymore several weeks ago to watch Reds train and finish off pre-season. Everyone is in good spirits and ready to rip in.

At Ballymore with 2022 Co-Captains Tate and Liam

A week ago, I caught up with legendary Red in the making, Tate McDermott! I’ve caught up with Tate a number of times and this one was memorable! We’d arranged a Zoom catch up, not knowing that Tate would later test positive to something called Covid-19! He was in good spirits going his “isolation” at home, and it was great asking him questions about the Reds and also his experience so far with the Wallabies!

And yes, Tate did fully recover and will line-up against the Rebels tomorrow!

Hey Tate, thanks for taking time to catch up!

How’s isolation treating you?

Yeah, it’s all good. Obviously I can’t leave the house at the moment, but I’m all good. I have people doing iso with me so I’m not on my own. I’m just looking after the lawn (laughs) looking after the plants and making sure I’ve watered them all, I’m pretty bored at the moment and it’s only day 2! I was just lucky I don’t have any symptoms, but yeah, 5 days left, and then hopefully I’ll be good to go for the Rebels next week.

It’s been a while since we last caught up! A lots happened since then…

To start with, how was Christmas for you? Did you have a good break after the Wallabies Spring Tour?

It was really good. Really good. I’d just gotten out of hotel quarantine, so to be out of there just in time was great. I grew up next to the beach, so being in a hotel on the Gold Coast, with no fresh air, being able to see the beach but not go there was tough… so Christmas for me was just by the beach with my family, up at the Sunshine Coast in Mudjimba and I loved it. My sister came back from Tasmania, my brother was out at the mines for a little bit so they were all back and just to be around them for a little bit was really cool. So that’s where I was, I was at the beach with them and just absolutely loving it.

I’m extremely excited about this years Super Rugby season. I think it’s going to be a special one.

Yeah 100% Tommy, I’m super excited as well. 

It’s been a while since I’ve thrown on the maroon and played for Queensland.

Congratulations on becoming team captain - along with Liam! I believe you’ll be an awesome leader of the team this year. How will it look having 2 captains? Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Yeah. So it’ll be my first year, but Liam’s been there for the last couple of years, so he’ll be the guy that speaks to the referees. We'll split media pretty even, but he’s roped above me, which is fair enough, cos he’s been doing it the past few years

and he’s a really good mate of mine as well, so we've got a really good relationship where if either of us disagree, we can speak up to each other.

In terms of how we go on field, my role doesn't really change cos being a half-back anyway, your job is to tell people what to do, where to go, so I guess the only thing that will kind of change is having those conversations on the field, like whether we take the 3 points or the scrum, that type of stuff. It’s definitely exciting and a huge honour as well.

What are you looking forward to the most about this year?

Just to replicate and continue what we did last year. I think we did really well against the Australian sides, but I can’t wait to stick it to the kiwis as well. After last years disappointment, I think its massive for us to really stamp our authority on this competition and that’ll hopefully start when the borders open up, I think our first game should is against the Hurricanes. At the moment, our focus is on the Rebels, but I’m really excited to play the kiwis and give them a run for their money.

Our last interview was shortly before you were selected for the Wallabies back in 2020. What were some of your best memories from your debut?

Yeah. It was amazing. It was everything I wanted, apart from the result. We actually got flogged by New Zealand. But everything you dream of, Stadium Australia, facing the haka, I think it was pouring with rain actually... particularly with my good mate Fraser McCreight, as well.

But regardless of the result, it was pretty special for me and my family. I think the highlight that year was the game after when we beat New Zealand, at Suncorp as well!

I remember that game well! I was there!

That was pretty special, it was amazing mate. I guess this year was probably better from a Wallabies point of view, for me, I got a couple more runs in that nine jersey, which is the goal and we had a couple of wins at home, which was pretty special.

You actually beat me to my next question. What were some highlights of playing for the Wallabies last year? Home and Spring Tour games included.

Yeah I can go into more detail, that’s alright! I think my favourite games last year were the French series. I’ve never played 3 games in 11 days and for everything to come down to the third match in the series where we beat France with 14 men, on my first start, I think that’s something I think I’ll never forget, that was special to do that at home in front of my friends and family… a couple of other highlights were playing New Zealand twice in a row, we lost both those games, but that was pretty special to say that I’ve played at Eden Park, against Aaron Smith. That’s something that as a kid you never thought you were going to do, but something you wanted to do. The Spring Tour was pretty cool, I obviously didn’t play too much, but to got to places like Murrayfield, Twickenham and Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was phenomenonal. From a kid that used to get up at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning to watch those games, to actually be in one, where there’s 83,000 people at Twickenham, was something that I’ll never forget.

I know all of your focus is on the Reds right now, but I would like to say congratulations on making the Wallabies over the last few seasons - you made all of us Reds fans so proud.

Thanks Tommy. Thanks brother.

Here’s a random question to finish with: What’s your favourite thing to eat after a game?

That’s a great question. We don’t have it any more, but we used to have these fresh homemade sushi roles that would be in the changing rooms after games. They were beautiful.

I do get hungry after games, but I don’t eat too much… But that would definitely be my go-to if they’re available. We used to have a catering service, but that stopped cos of covid. So now we just get burgers delivered. They’re alright. But, hopefully the sushi comes back this year.

Thanks heaps for taking time to chat. I hope the rest of isolation goes ok. Enjoy the game on Saturday night!

Will do. Thank Tommy! Thanks for having me mate!

The Reds first official game of the season is tomorrow night, 19th February at Suncorp Stadium!!!!