The rise of Langi Gleeson from Harbord Harlequins and Manly Marlins to his selection as the Northern Beaches’ latest Wallaby has been meteoric if bumpy, with perhaps two years lost to Covid, injury and rugby league.
And thus it’s like he’s come from nowhere.
One minute he’s bopping about at Manly Oval. Next thing he’s emerging like an Orc out of the Marlins’ ‘Wallabies Factory’ after Dave Porecki and Cadeyrn Neville debuted – alongside Manly Roos old boy Michael Hooper – against England in July.
He’s done it on the back of athleticism and brawn, recording numbers on the track and in the gym that Rugby Australia found literally unbelievable.
And as his team-mates James Hilterbrand and Max Douglas would tell you, you’re not advised to get in his way.
