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BRISBANE - Four months ago Sean Hardman wasn't rated among the top five hookers in Australian rugby but perseverance has paid off for the perennial Reds battler.
The 30-year-old jumped from also-ran to World Cup contender with injuries to Brendan Cannon, Jeremy Paul and Tatafu Polota-Nau, and he grabbed the spot with his reliability in the basics of lineout throwing and scrummaging.
After nine seasons in the Super 12/14 for Queensland, never able to nail down the No 2 jersey, the fairytale selection behind Steve Moore and Adam Freier is a major reward for Hardman's persistence.
"From my perspective, and John Eales said it last night, you play your whole career for one of these opportunities and that's pretty appropriate in my case," he said.
"I wasn't part of the deal but suddenly there was a spot that became available and I slipped in there."
Cannon retired after a serious neck injury, Paul had shoulder surgery and lost the faith of the selectors, and the talented Polota-Nau injured his knee in the final Australia A game in Fiji.
Polota-Nau will be among a group of 10-15 players in a shadow training squad to be named this week but it was his unpolished lineout throwing which cost him the third hooking spot.
Hardman, a one-time junior rival of 72-test hooker Paul, who was farewelled on Monday night at the John Eales Medal, sealed the deal with a confident 27 minutes off the bench in the 25-17 win over South Africa on July 7.
"It's like anything, you just take your opportunities," said the 102kg Hardman, whose three caps have all come as a reserve.
Ironically, Hardman almost went to France a year early when Queensland were unsure whether to keep him for 2007.
Toulon came knocking and he went close to signing for the cashed-up French second-division club which has George Gregan, Andrew Mehrtens and Victor Matfield on their books post-World Cup.
- AAP
