Australia's 999th Wallaby on his injury-riddled road to Test debut

Isaac Henry has officially joined the ranks of Wallabies legends, making his rugby union Test debut for Australia against Japan. The 27-year-old Queensland Reds centre became Wallaby number 999, a significant achievement that comes after a long and arduous journey marked by multiple serious injuries.

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It's a great number, might have to talk to my wife about getting it tattooed.

Henry's debut occurred during Australia's hard-fought 35-32 victory in Osaka. Named on the bench, he was called into action after more than 70 minutes of play, demonstrating fierce defense in the closing stages of the match. This moment was the culmination of years of perseverance, having undergone four major surgeries in as many years, including a broken foot, hamstring tear, and two knee ligament ruptures.

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Right, I'm going to be back better than I was before.

Reflecting on his journey, Henry shared his determination, stating, "Deep down I'm stubborn; I wasn't going to quit, I wanted it too much, ever since I was a kid. And I set my mind to it." He admitted there were times he doubted he would ever reach this point, but the taste of Test rugby has only fueled his desire for more. "I loved it and now I've sort of experienced that I just want more. Loved the next level, loved testing myself," he said.

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It's nice to be here … you look back at those days and think 'how good'.

Coach Les Kiss noted Henry's versatility, highlighting his ability to kick from hand and off the tee, along with his strong carrying game, good hands, and sharp footballing mind. Despite the challenges, Henry is confident he can make a lasting impact if given further opportunities, particularly in the upcoming rematch against Japan in Townsville.

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Deep down I'm stubborn; I wasn't going to quit, I wanted it too much, ever since I was a kid. And I set my mind to it.