'Just pick him': Freakish winger's Olympic juggling act

Two former stars are urging Rugby Australia to get creative and allow Corey Toole to strut his stuff for the Wallabies and at the Paris Olympics this year.

Brumbies winger Toole continues to light up Super Rugby Pacific with his pace and with five tries from four games is the competition’s equal-leading try-scorer.

The uncapped Toole – unwanted by Eddie Jones last year – is hoping to make his Wallabies debut under Joe Schmidt in 2024 but Australia sevens coach John Manenti would also love to unleash him in pursuit of a gold medal in France.

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Morgan Turiniui and Stephen Hoiles both played for the Wallabies and the national sevens team and debated the juggling act on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

Turinui also responded to criticism of the diminutive Toole’s defence.

“It’s the Bradman quote,” Turinui said.

Corey Toole of the Brumbies charges towards the try line to score.

“There was a journalist who left Bradman out of his all-time XI and he said ‘well, Bradman wasn’t great on sticky wickets.’ And someone said ‘well, wouldn’t you just pick Bradman and chance the weather?’

“Just pick him.”

Randwick coach Hoiles, a former assistant with Australia’s men’s sevens team, concurred.

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“We’ve got to pick guys in our national sides that can score freakish points – like we can’t be conservative in our selection,” Hoiles said.

“Corey Toole, if he’s managed well, can be in and around the Wallabies squad, hopefully playing some Test matches, going to the Olympics, getting back on the Spring Tour and be really ready to fire when the Lions come out next year.”

Australia’s women won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics but the men are yet to win a medal of any colour.

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Turinui said Toole could potentially be a change agent.

“If you’re watching the Olympics on Nine and you fall in love with Corey Toole, who scores three tries in a gold medal game and you get to watch him for the Wallabies, you’re going to drag some people across,” he said.

Hoiles added: “As a game, I’d like to assume that we’re trying to help our men and women win gold medals at the Olympics.”