The young winger, who is now on Eddie Jones’ radar, is certain that his club can successfully defend their Premiership championship.
Harlequins are the only squad who specialise in creating their own luck. The question is whether the Houdinis of English club rugby can once again create enough of it to ensure a new chapter in their exciting modern history. Because if Saracens take a 28-0 lead in the first half of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final, as Bristol famously did at the same time last year, there will be no miracle recovery.
It does not take a genius to understand how eager Saracens are to return to the winners’ circle after three turbulent years. Which places the onus on the defending champions to respond in kind: with all the customary crowd-pleasing gimmicks and sleight of hand, but also with the consistent control and ferocious toughness that the top teams exhibit. In other words, an acid test of the champs’ mettle is approaching.
Which makes it all the more intriguing to hear Quins’ players this week express absolutely no fear or apprehension. Cadan Murley, the club’s recently crowned player of the season, exemplifies the Quins’ almost palpable sense of inner confidence. The 22-year-old asserts rather matter-of-factly, “We believe we can go back-to-back, and that’s the most exciting thing.” This belief still exists.
Clearly, the power of optimistic thinking continues to fuel nearly all of the Quins’ actions. Murley and England fly-half Marcus Smith share a house in Guildford, and Murley reveals a fascinating story about Smith’s demeanour ahead to last year’s final against Exeter Chiefs. “As we were leaving for the final, I recall Marcus remarking, ‘Today is going to be a terrific day. I can sense it. Then he won the competition. On game day, you can see the excitement in his eyes. He simply believes he can go out there, pull the strings, and lead us to victory. I see him frequently, and he has the exact same confidence as last year.”
Smith will likely start alongside Owen Farrell in midfield during England’s summer tour to Australia. Obviously, this will not be an easy matchup. However, Quins believe that they may have a handful of modest but substantial advantages over their formidable London competitors. For starters, they are the only team still in the playoffs that was also in the final four a year ago. A warm, sunny day would also be ideal for their preferred type of fast-paced competition.
Anyone who witnessed the season’s best European try during Quins’ last-16 home match against Montpellier in April knows what the team is capable of when inspired. Call it telepathy or collective intuition, but as Danny Care acrobatically held the ball within his own 22-yard line by the touchline, Murley intuitively knew what he had to do.
“As soon as Danny held on to the ball and put it into Marcus’ hands, I thought, ‘I need to be alive here.’ As a result of anticipating the line-out, their forwards were dispersed over the field and there was no solid chase line. Marcus devours it. I was prepared and able to intercept Joe Marchant’s pass to finish him off. Who now receives all the praise for it.”
However, the teenage winger’s support play, deliberate running, and deftly executed last pass did not go unnoticed by those in positions of authority. Murley was already on Eddie Jones’ radar before he was nominated to the BT Sport Dream Team this week, and he might emerge as a late replacement for the next Australian tour. He reveals, “I had a great conversation with Eddie.” “I am currently unsure of what may transpire. He merely told me to keep working hard. We must definitely concentrate on the playoffs, but I’d want to be a part of the England squad.”
Since his days at Salisbury RFC and Bishop Wordsworth’s School, Murley, the son of an army officer, has come a long way in a relatively short time. His father, Jon, is from Cornwall and attended school with the parents of Jack Nowell in Penzance. Murley is a similar style of player to Nowell in that he is strong in contact, eager for action, and a superb team player. “When I was younger, I looked up to him as a winger. We’re quite a similar build. The way he goes in and around the ruck and doesn’t just carry on his wing would make him a worthy role model.
Murley’s value will continue to increase if he maintains his excellent late-season form; he has scored eight tries in his previous six league outings. It will also serve to emphasise the attacking quality that Quins presently possesses. Everyone speaks about Care, Smith, and their South African arrowhead André Esterhuizen, but it is becoming increasingly rare for Murley, Marchant, Tyrone Green (wearing number 14 for this match), or Huw Jones not to accomplish something exceptional in a high-profile match.
If some of the credit must go to the astute coaching of Tabai Matson and Nick Evans, among others, Murley believes his long-standing relationship with Smith and other academy graduates also contributes. In addition to Smith’s home cuisine – “The day before a game, when we’re loading up on carbs, he makes this incredible fried rice” – there is a proactive camaraderie on the field. “We enjoy playing and training together immensely. We’ve done it since we were 16 … This closeness is what helps us win many games when we’re behind by 20 points. It brings us closer together.”
So, can Quins repeat the feat? Murley believes this to be true given a rapid ball and a little space. ’ Almost a year ago, there was an element of surprise. But we thought, “We can surprise everyone; we know we’re capable because they’ve seen how we train and play.” This year has once again been the same. We need the entire team to be confident and on the same page. We’ve won huge games in the past, so we’re hopeful that we can do it again.”
