Fresh off signing a new one-year extension with the Brumbies, Corey Toole says he’s eager to head on next month’s Spring Tour and itching to lace up the boots again.
Toole, 24, returned from the Paris Olympics in August in time for The Rugby Championship but went unused throughout the tournament by Joe Schmidt.
Despite Marika Koroibete’s injury and the Bledisloe Cup being out of reach for another year last week, Schmidt opted for Dylan Pietsch and the versatility of Reds utility back Josh Flook instead of turning to Toole.
Schmidt said it was a matter of time before Toole got his chance, but the New Zealander added the flyer needed to improve a couple of key areas first.
“In Australia he is, certainly speed times there a couple of guys on the stats that I have seen that are a bit quicker, but he’d be right up there,” Schmidt told reporters in Wellington.
“Today the quickest guy at training was Darby Lancaster, he’s another very quick young man and we’re just trying to build the depth with those two guys [and it’s] really exciting.
“Darby has had an opportunity, Corey was at the Olympics and I thought they did a super job there, I thought they were so close to getting a medal.
“Corey’s opportunity will come. I had a great meeting with Corey yesterday and talking through his game, he’s got a few priorities that he’s working on. It’s a matter of ‘when’ as long as he keeps tracking as he does – [but] he’s quick, yeah.”
Corey Toole has scored 17 tries in 27 matches for the Brumbies. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)
After scoring nine years in his debut season for the Brumbies, Toole backed it up with another nine in 2024.
His stunning form, particularly against New Zealand’s sides, where he scored a double against the Chiefs and another outstanding finish against the Highlanders in Dunedin, led many to think he would earn a cap sooner rather than later.
But Schmidt had handed debuts to 16 players instead across his first nine Tests in charge.
The success of Springboks pocket rockets Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse only added to the feeling a debut was around the corner.
But Schmidt, who is running the Wallabies’ attack, admitted Toole was still in the infancy of his career in the 15-a-side game after transitioning from sevens and added players like Kolbe were able to physically stand up to the rigours of international rugby.
“Some of those small guys like Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe are incredibly powerful and quick and experienced,” Schmidt said.
“Corey really hasn’t had that much experience, he’s come from the sevens program, he’s had a season with the Brumbies and he’s still learning the XVs game, even positionally.
“We’re trying to fast-track him, as I say he is very fast, and so that track hopefully will get eaten up quite quickly.”
Toole said it was “awesome” to have his future sorted for another year and added that the fact the Brumbies had kept the same coaching staff, including Stephen Larkham as head coach, had made the decision easy.
“We got a taste of the semi-finals for the last two years and have fallen short, but I’m really motivated to go one step further next year,” he said.
“It’s such a great club to be a part of. With the coaches all signing on for next year, it gives me a lot of confidence that they can get the best out of me and the team next year.”
Larkham added: “Corey’s rapid rise in the game is extremely well deserved and is a credit to the work he puts in each day.
“We are very excited to have extended Corey’s time in the ACT and I have no doubt he will be a strong contributor to further success at the Brumbies in 2025.”
Corey Toole says he needs to continue to work on his aerial and contact elements of his game. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
With 64 players to head to the United Kingdom, including 30 in the Australia XV squad to take on Bristol and England A, Toole said he was hopeful of making the Spring Tour squad and pushing for a debut.
“Possibly, I’ve just got to keep working on my skills and putting my best foot forward each training session and maybe that opportunity might come,” he said.
Asked what feedback he had been given, Toole said he had to finetune a couple of his core roles.
“I’ve just got to keep training hard over the next four weeks, keep working on some skill areas – my high ball catching and contact areas – and we’ll just wait and see,” he said.
“I’m quite excited. Hopefully I’ll be picked in one of those squads. I haven’t played too many fifteens games in a while so it will be good to put the boots on and play some footy.”