Mike Harris: New Reds playmaker

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Harris at 10 for Reds

Mike Harris will take the reigns at fly-half when the Reds meet fierce rivals the Waratahs in Round One of Super Rugby 2012.

Harris enjoyed a magical debut season with the Queenslanders in 2011, winning the team’s Rookie of the Year honour for his efforts in the Reds’ drought-breaking Super Rugby championship success.

The goal-kicking ace continued that form throughout this year’s two pre-season trial victories - against the Brumbies (27-20) and Western Force (40-10) - and enters Saturday’s clash against the Waratahs with a 96 per cent success rate with the boot for the Reds.

While there won’t be the back-handed flick passes and cross-kicks from within his in-goal from Harris, he’ll relish defending in the front line.

“It’s a great opportunity but I’ve just been asked to go out there and play my own game to give the team the best chance to win,” Harris said.

“I’m certainly not going to play like Quade Cooper. I’m going to play like Mike Harris.

“I’m looking forward to it - I can’t wait.”

Cooper played every game of the Reds’ successful 2011 Super Rugby campaign, and so his injury prompted a mad pre-season scramble to find a replacement.

In the end, coach Ewen McKenzie said Harris had beaten another strong contender, Ben Lucas, to the position.

“There has been a focus from the outside world on who will replace Quade but the reality is we have been more interested in finding the best player to articulate and deliver the game we want to play in 2012,” McKenzie said.