Wallabies captain Tate McDermott’s promise to Australian rugby three years in the making ahead of All Blacks clash

Three years ago, in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tate McDermott took a stand.

Showing maturity beyond his years, that stand marked him out as a leader of his generation and culminated on Thursday in his selection as the Wallabies’ 86th captain.

With the game’s future under a heavy, dark cloud and no broadcast rights deal in place, the then-21-year-old didn’t shy away from the fact he might be short-changed financially.

But wanting to see Australian rugby turn the corner, the halfback, just as he does with ball-in-hand, said he would stay the course and try to take the…