Cape Town - Incoming Reds hooker Stephen Moore says he doesn’t see his relationship with Andrew Ready as a competitive one, but rather a chance to mentor a rising star.
Moore was back at Ballymore on Thursday doing some solo
training ahead of his official return in January, ensuring he would be able to
hit the ground running in 2017.
The Wallabies skipper said he was looking forward to working
with Ready, who had a standout Super Rugby season for the Reds in 2016, with
the knowledge Moore was coming in.
Reds coach Nick Stiles has previously said Moore would not
be given any guaranteed starting spot and the 33-year-old said he hadn’t
contemplated the idea of being pitted against Ready next season.
“There's been a lot said about that, I haven't really
thought about it like that, to be honest,” Moore told the Australian Rugby Union's
official website.
“My goal is to help Andrew become the best hooker he can be
and that's the way I'm viewing it. I want to help him in all the different
areas involved with playing hooker at this level. He's already done a lot of
it, he had a great season this year, so I'm sure over the course of this
season, every player in the squad will be involved a lot.”
Whatever the hooker rotation looks like, Moore is adamant he
wants to make a strong impression as he returns to his first Super Rugby club,
after some eight years in Canberra.
"I know I've been here before but it's very much a new
environment for me and new players and I think I want to make sure I contribute
from the get go,” he added.
“It's exciting having a lot of young players as well that have
come through the Queensland system and part of my job will be helping those
guys to reach their potential.”
One player he won’t have much to teach is former Wallabies
and Brumbies team-mate George Smith, who Moore admitted he never expected to be
lining up alongside again.
“I never thought that would happen and I don't think anyone
did but it just happened and I think everyone's really excited to see George
back in Super Rugby,” he said.
“If anyone's been watching him play in Japan, he's still a
world class player, so he'll bring a lot to the team on and off the field.”
The Reds open their Super Rugby season against the Sharks in Brisbane on Friday February 24.