Most people thought Billy Pollard was crazy. For a moment, even Billy Pollard thought he was being crazy. But the emerging ACT Brumby is convinced turning down an NRL glamour club was the right move, despite Australian rugby's turbulent six months.
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"Ever since I've been down here, I can honestly say I don't regret it one bit," Pollard said, speaking for the first time since signing a four-year Brumbies deal.
"I was a bit skeptical at first because I wasn't sure what the right decision was. I'm just really looking forward to rugby getting back on track. Obviously a lot of changes have to be made, but hopefully I can contribute.
"I wanted to go to a club that would help me develop my style, rather than being cornered into doing something I wasn't made to do. That's what I found with the Brumbies, they would allow me to play free-flowing footy in the structure. That helped me make the decision.
"I try to stay away from [wondering what if], I've made my decision and I don't second guess it. I've got time so I don't have to rush the things I'm not physically ready for."
Pollard is the relatively unknown teenage hooker, who starred for the Australian schoolboys last year and moved to Canberra to pursue a rugby career.
Seven NRL clubs were reportedly lining up to recruit 18-year-old Pollard, South Sydney even inviting Pollard into the change rooms before a game to seal the deal.
The reality, Pollard says, is that Souths and master coach Wayne Bennett were the only serious options and a meeting with Brumbies coaches quickly led him down the path of the 15-man game.
Australian rugby has copped plenty of body blows over the past 12 months and most have been self-inflicted. But Pollard and a group of new talent is giving the rugby brigade a glimmer of hope for the future.
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In rugby league Pollard was a hard-running second-rower, who put himself on the NRL radar with big hits and sublime ball skills for a big man.
The same skills made rugby coaches take notice and the Brumbies went after their man following Pollard's role in the Australian schoolboys ending a seven-year drought against New Zealand.
"I still remember my first scrum session [at the Brumbies], I couldn't breathe for the next two days," Pollard laughed on Tuesday.
"It's definitely something I've had to learn, and learn a passion for. Because I didn't really like the set piece, in all honesty. But they've really got a passion for it down here and I'm learning to love it.
"Coming from a big league background, when the ball goes out you have a bit of a rest at the scrum. You don't have to throw a lineout, so it was a bit different. I always just focused on attack and defence, but I've learnt it's part of my role down here and I've got to nail it."
The Brumbies have a rugby league flavour scattered through their side, which had won five of six games before coronavirus shutdown the Super Rugby season.
Solomone Kata and Tom Wright have starred on the wings, while Pollard's junior teammate Reesjan Pasitoa made his Super Rugby debut after also turning down the NRL's advances. Irae Simone was in the South Sydney junior system before switching to rugby union and eventually moving to the Brumbies.
The rugby league could come in handy with the Super Rugby relaunch considering law variations to introduce NRL-style line drop-outs and 50-22 metre kicking incentives.
All have had to train patiently while the NRL relaunched its season two weeks ago. Rugby Australia is still trying to finalise its domestic competition, with plans for a format and draw announcement this week.
The Brumbies are expected to host the Melbourne Rebels in the opener on July 3, but coach Dan McKellar is taking a slow and steady approach to Pollard's progress to ensure he's ready for the physical demands of scrum time.
One of the men he will be competing with, however, is adamant Pollard has what it takes to make it to the top.
"He's always learning. He's taken [bits of] myself, Connal [McInerney and Lachlan Lonergan] and combined it into his own game. That's pretty cool and there are exciting times for Billy ahead," said 12-Test Wallaby Folau Fainga'a.
"We're lucky to have him. He's going to be a great hooker for us in the future and he's always asking questions."