NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika might have orchestrated the ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby demise, but he might also have created a future Brumbies hooker as well.
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Seilala Lam was an openside flanker until he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. When he returned from his knee reconstruction Cheika suggested he switch to the front row.
Now the former St Edmund's College student is hoping to pick the brains of Brumbies rakes Stephen Moore and Siliva Siliva as he looks to jump-start his career with the Canberra Vikings in the National Rugby Championship.
Lam is pushing to be hooker for the Vikings' inaugural NRC game against Perth Spirit at Viking Park on Saturday.
"I had a bad run of injuries in 2012 just with my knee and I started to slow down," Lam said. "My lungs got a bit too small and I gained a bit of weight so it was actually Michael Cheika's idea for me to go to hooker and try it out.
"He said there weren't many hookers going around in Australian rugby so I thought I'd give it a go.
"Ever since then I've just had opportunities pop up so I thought I'd just stick with it and keep playing."
Lam was born in New Zealand and moved to Canberra when 11. He grew up playing rugby for the Queanbeyan Whites.
Former Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles lured him to Sydney to play Shute Shield for Randwick, which led to his spending the pre-season with the Waratahs last year.
He jumped at the opportunity to return home to play for the Vikings, seeing this as his last chance to establish a professional career in Australia.
He also represented Australia at schoolboys and under-20 levels.
Lam hopes he can follow a similar path to his brother Jack, who now plays for Super Rugby's Wellington Hurricanes after graduating through the ITM Cup.
He has already had a taste of Super Rugby as 24th man for the Brumbies after Stephen Moore and Siliva suffered season-ending injuries.
"I was pretty surprised and pretty stoked [to get made 24th man] because it was my first year at hooker," Lam said.
"I was nervous even though I wasn't playing.
"Hopefully [I can turn it into a permanent opportunity], especially being back here in Canberra. If I do get the opportunity I'll be happy to take it.
"This is kind of like a last leg for me, if not then I'll probably look to go overseas, but in the meantime this is what I want to concentrate on.
"[My brother] is a good inspiration and good motivation for me ... He just started from scratch and he got the best player award this year for the Hurricanes."
NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday: Canberra Vikings v Perth Spirit, 2.30pm
