Teenage playmaker Reesjan Pasitoa has spent 33 minutes playing in ACT Brumbies colours over the past 12 months. So little time he could almost rattle off every touch of the ball.
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Minutes were near impossible to come by last year after the COVID-19 pandemic saw Junior Wallabies games scrapped and kept Brumbies fringe players out of club football.
But the fire burns as brightly as ever for Pasitoa, who is determined to force his way into coach Dan McKellar's 23-man squad come round one for a return to his true home in Perth.
His first chance to impress could come in a trial match in Canberra in the first week of February but the COVID-19 pandemic has officials on edge about a potential late change to that fixture.
It serves as the Brumbies' lone hit out before their season opener against the Force in Perth on February 19.
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Noah Lolesio's stranglehold on the No. 10 jersey meaning Pasitoa likely to jostle with Bayley Kuenzle for a place on the bench.
"That would be pretty cool, I've obviously got some family there and a lot of friends over there," Pasitoa said.
"If I get to go, it'll be a good opportunity to play in front of them. Perth is really home.
"I'm really looking forward to this year, hopefully I get some more game time but we'll just see how it goes. I've really enjoyed it so far.
"I did get a few more reps [at pre-season training] which has been good, I've enjoyed my time training at flyhalf.
"It has been good trying to build those connections again after the break and even with the new boys as well. I have enjoyed it.
"Bayley, Noah and myself work well together as a little unit."
Pasitoa was on hand at Neville Bonner Primary School this week with the Brumbies taking a chance to get involved in six holiday programs across Canberra.
The coronavirus pandemic meant players were kept in a rugby bubble and dashed any hopes of community visits throughout the 2020 campaign.
Canberra junior turned Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan knows how important these visits can be having been on both sides of them.
"You just remember that stuff, remember their face," Lonergan said.
"It's a really positive thing to be able to reach out to the schools, because they're future Brumbies.
"To see the kids out here, I'm sure a couple of them will be there when we face the Tahs. It just makes it that much more special because we've got a connection with them. Really looking forward to the first home game."
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
