Former Manly Marlins flanker Jordy Reid is in his fourth year at the Melbourne Rebels and will start at No.6 against the Reds this weekend in the highly touted Rebels backrow. RUPA and Rugby News caught up with Reid earlier this week to see how the Rebels are shaping up in 2016. 

You’ve been at the Rebels for four years now. How does this side and preseason rate compared to others you’ve had?

Every preseason seems to be the best one and it still gets harder every year but we did have a good one this year. The team has had a few years together to gel and had a few years under Dumper (Tony McGahan) as well so we didn’t have to spend time learning the systems or working on combinations, so that definitely made the preseason more efficient.

There is a lot of depth in the Rebels backrow. Does that make training more competitive?

Yeah we are always pushing each other at training. I think we all bring our own different aspects to the game, Seany (McMahon) has great defence and is a great ball runner. Colby (Fainga’a) and Scotty Fuglistaller are great around the breakdown and Thommo (Adam Thomson) is a great ball carrier out wide and great link player, so we all try and work with each other to work on different skills to make each other better players.

What are you working on to try and secure a Rebels starting spot week in, week out?

I think defence is probably my strongest point, I try to work really hard in defence and put lots of hits on, so at the moment I’m trying to work on securing the ball a bit more and be more effective at the breakdown and cause a few turnovers.

The Rebels have been a young side with lots of promise for a few years now. What do the Rebels need to do in 2016 to push for the Super Rugby finals?

I think for us, it’s really important to win all of our home games and the local derbies. Then we need to close out the tight games and try to grab a few wins away from home. If we can do that, then we will be in the mix.

You’ve just resigned with the Rebels until the end of 2017, you must be enjoying life down in Melbourne?

Yeah I’m loving it. I’ve just moved into a new place in Richmond, living in a good little spot with Seany McMahon, so I’m really enjoying the Melbourne lifestyle and everything it has to offer. I still get down to Bells Beach for a surf when I can, so it’s great.

Besides going down for a surf, what else do you like to get up to away from footy?

Away from footy, I’ve gotten into Melbourne’s cafe culture. It’s something I never really used to do in Sydney but I’ve tried to embrace it a little bit since I’ve been down here. Otherwise I’ll just hang out with the other guys, go to the movies or have a round of golf.

You face your former Manly Marlins teammate and former housemate Cadeyrn Neville this weekend, what’s it going to be like playing him for the first time? 

Yeah it’s going to be a bit strange seeing Cado’s face on the other side of the scrum. I think I’ll just be focussed on the game. We’ll both be keen to get a win for our team and then probably catch up for a beer afterwards I’d guess.

There are a few Manly boys down in Melbourne now, did you all help Reece Hodge settle in to Melbourne?

Yeah, I’ve known Hodgy for quite a while and actually played colts with him at Manly back in 2011, so it was great to link back up with him at the Rebels. We definitely tried to help him when he first came down, but everyone is really welcoming so it hasn’t taken him long to settle in.

You played for Dewar Shield club Harlequins in your first year, then had two years with Melbourne Unicorns. How have you seen that competition grow and improve in recent years?

The competition is far more competitive now, where in the past it was really one or two teams that really dominated. I’ve noticed this year, most of the clubs have had a big preseason that started back in November, so I think the professionalism has really risen right across the competition.

The Unicorns also have Reece Hodge, Cam Crawford and Mick Snowden this year, it’s not a bad side if all four of you are there?

Yeah definitely. We’ve all played plenty of club rugby up in Sydney and its something that we really enjoy and like to embrace. Once you get to know the guys at the club and all the management, it’s really enjoyable and I’m sure all the guys will be really keen to get out there if they aren’t playing for the Rebels.

This interview was conducted as part of a collaboration between Rugby News and The Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA), designed to help the Australian Rugby public get to know some of the newer professional stars of our game who have graduated from Club Rugby. For more information on RUPA and the services they offer, click here.