Tuggeranong Vikings flanker Michael Oakman-Hunt got a taste of professional rugby life when he joined the ACT Brumbies at training this week as back-row cover for the Super Rugby side.
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But just hours after stepping into Brumbyland, the 23-year-old was in agony with a dislocated shoulder at Vikings training and contemplating six months out of action.
The Brumbies sent out a call to Oakman-Hunt twins Michael and Dean this week to join training after Ita Vaea retired and with David Pocock serving a two-match suspension.
Dean was in Sydney and couldn't make it to Brumbies HQ for training. But Michael, who was preparing to make his comeback from a shoulder injury, jumped at the opportunity.
His shoulder showed no signs of weakness when he tackled the likes of Rory Arnold and Sam Carter.
But backing up for the Vikings proved a different scenario and now he faces surgery and an injury-ruined year.
"I'm just trying to stay positive ... I subluxed my shoulder in a trial game for Tuggeranong and this was supposed to be my first week back," Michael said.
"Obviously I wasn't ready, I wasn't expecting it to flop out like it did. I was just lucky the physios were still there.
"I never expected to train with the Brumbies, they wanted Dean initially but he couldn't make it. The Brumbies are pretty wounded at the moment. It was a great chance to learn. Fingers crossed I'm still in the mix [when I recover] from injury."
Michael has been ruled out of Tuggeranong's clash against Wests in the third round of the John I Dent Cup on Saturday.
The Vikings held on for a narrow win in the opening game of the year, withstanding a late charge from the Gungahlin Eagles to clinch a 26-22 win before having a bye last weekend.
The Vikings won four premierships in a row between 2011-2014 before being beaten at the death by Royals in last year's decider.
Dean Oakman-Hunt hopes to use the John I Dent Cup to press his claims for future Brumbies duties if needed.
The flanker impressed in his debut National Rugby Championship season last year and was picked in an Australian Barbarians team to tour New Zealand.
"Coming off the back of a pretty good NRC season for me ... that helped me bridge the gap for that next level," Dean said.
"That was a big step for me and hopefully it put in the back of [Super Rugby coaches] that you can play at that level."
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND THREE
Saturday: Gungahlin Eagles v Easts at Gungahlin Enclosed, Wests v Tuggeranong Vikings at Jamison, Queanbeyan Whites v Uni-Norths Owls at Campese Field. All games at 3.05pm. Royals - bye.
