Australian rugby is breathing a sigh of relief after in-form centre Hunter Paisami turned down a massive deal in England to stay at Les Kiss’ Queensland Reds.
The Roar broke the news last week that Paisami was moving closer to join the Exeter Chiefs on a long-term deal after Rugby Australia couldn’t provide the same security.
But after the governing body initially only wanted to offer Paisami a one-year top-up deal, The Roar can reveal RA has come back to the table and offered the 26-year-old a two-year extension.
The deal not only provides Paisami and his young family security but will be welcomed at the Reds, with the midfielder putting together his best season in Super Rugby since debuting in 2020.
Hunter Paisami . (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
After debuting for the Wallabies later that season, Paisami has been in and out of the national team with injuries slowing his progression.
That was certainly the case in 2023, with Paisami struggling for form for the Reds before rediscovering his touch on the Barbarians’ tour of the United Kingdom later in the year.
But the midfielder has been in career-best form in 2024, regularly featuring as one of Kiss’ best this year.
It’s why the Reds were desperate to hang on to Paisami.
Once an individual player who would try to belt players in defence and run over them in attack, Paisami’s growth has been seen in his ability to ball play and create opportunities around them.
Indeed, his triple threat with ball-in-hand has been on show in recent weeks as he set up tries for Suliasi Vunivalu and Tim Ryan over successive weeks with clever, well-executed short kicks.
As Paisami approached his 50th Super Rugby match last week, Kiss marvelled at the midfielder’s development.
“Hunter hasn’t stopped surprising me I guess. He’s a professional. He’s a joy to have around the place,” Kiss told reporters last week.
“He still does that first job as a No.12 by creating that quick ball on the gain-line (off a strong run). He can be that target player or a genuine second five-eighth.
“His kicking game has been exceptional.
“I don’t think it’s a revelation. It’s always been there. It’s just the style of rugby you play can open it up.”
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
The other measure in Paisami’s game is that he’s stepped up when his Test teammates have been missing.
Although Fraser McReight returned last week from suspension, the Reds have been without Tate McDermott and Jordan Petaia yet Paisami has merely played his role perfectly.
“How important is he to the Reds?” former Wallabies Stephen Hoiles said recently on Between Two Posts.
“They’re a different side with him. He missed a lot of footy last year, been in and out this year, he’s so valuable.
“If a game isn’t going their way, he can lock down and hit blokes for fun. If he needs to carry hard, he can distribute, he’s really evolved his game.”
Morgan Tuirnui added: “He’s a much more complete footballer. He was great. He’s happy, he’s working hard, he’s got a mindset that no one’s going to get in his way in helping the Reds and getting his gold jersey back.
“He’s a much more complete footballer. Don’t call him a battering ram, he’s got nuance to his game and he’s got deception with his passing and kicking.”
The retention of Paisami is doubly important given World Cup squad member Izaia Perese signed with Dan McKellar’s Leicester Tigers earlier in the year.
And with regular Wallabies No.12 Samu Kerevi based in Japan and RA trying to tighten their eligibility laws, the loss of Paisami would have left Joe Schmidt with few options outside of the Waratahs’ Lalakai Foketi.
But it also means the Reds will have some stability going forward in the midfield, while providing a strong ball-running option for their emerging fly-halves Tom Lynagh and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips to play inside of.