With Rob Valetini ruled out due to a low-grade syndesmosis injury that flared up in Australia’s13-10 loss to Ireland,coach Dave Rennie has entrusted Gleeson to wear the No.8 jersey for the team’s last match of the tour.

Gleeson was a late call-up to the Wallabies bench for game one against Scotland and was given a six-minute cameo in the dying stages of a 16-15 win. The 21-year-old also got 14 minutes off the bench against Italy.

“I wouldn’t have believed you[at the start of the year],” said Gleeson,who has played just 154 minutes of Super Rugby for the Waratahs. “It feels pretty good. I didn’t expect it.

“It’s unfortunate for[Valetini]. All our main ball runners are injured now.”

Gleeson grew up in Fiji and loved rugby league but has turned heads in the 15-man game for Manly.

“Me and my brother spent 10 years in Fiji then came over here,” Gleeson said. “I went to Narraweena Public School and then went to Cromer[on Sydney’s northern beaches].

“I did a bit of league,then got a scholarship with St Augustine’s College[in Brookvale] and then took the league pathway. I then went to South Sydney for a bit and did two years there.

“COVID kind of cancelled everything out,so I just went back and played union,played colts for the[Manly] Marlins,and then through there I got picked for the Waratahs academy. Then I played the trial game against the Brumbies runners and I got picked up from there.”

From all reports,this is the infamous game where Gleeson bowled over everyone in his way.

“It was a fun game,” Gleeson said with a laugh. “We had a pretty stacked team.”

He’ll be hoping for more of the same against Wales this weekend.

But rest assured,Gleeson will be sticking a little tighter to Holloway this time around.

“He’s very experienced,” Gleeson said. “Seeing him play at the Tahs,he’s killing it. I have full confidence playing with him.”

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