“When I made the switch, I didn’t really look back – I wanted to play for the Reds. That was my new goal and I sort of left league behind.
“I just enjoyed it, and I think it was something different from what I always knew playing league all the time.”
Crichton will join the 15-man code once his looming season with the Sydney Roosters comes to an end, and will begin to mount his case for a Rugby World Cup call-up ahead of the 2027 showcase on home soil.
The Wallabies currently have a dearth of inside centre options, with Len Ikitau currently playing in Exeter on a sabbatical, and Hunter Paisami weighing up his future. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has also moved to outside centre for the Waratahs.
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But Pakeho – who Paisami said was “definitely putting his hand up” for Test selection – is adamant he can make his own statement on the international stage, as he vies with Paisami and Josh Flook for a spot in the Reds’ line-up.
“I think it [Crichton’s addition] is good competition, it keeps everyone on their toes and will make it more competitive and people more hungry for that spot,” Pakeho, who represented the Junior Wallabies at the under-20 World Championships, said.
“Definitely, of course it [the Wallabies] is always something I look towards, especially being next to Hunter and Flooky I think I could maybe be there one day too, and hopefully soon. I’m always aiming for that.”
Pakeho showed impressive signs in his debut Super Rugby campaign last year, managing 12 caps to be named the competition’s Rookie of the Year.
Those exploits included a standout showing against All Blacks sensation Rieko Ioane in the Reds’ 35-21 triumph of the Auckland Blues.
On that night, in which he played outside centre, he ran for 58 metres – including a clean break – while his 14 tackles for no misses kept Ioane contained to just 24 running metres from five carries.
“I feel like it did,” Pakeho said, when asked if that occasion made him feel like he belonged at that level.
“But at the same time, it was just another game to me. I really enjoyed myself that game – especially coming up against him, watching him on TV I wanted to be like him, so it was a pretty surreal moment.”
