The No.8 was a 20-year-old Wallabies regular after his explosive 2020 rookie season.
But he fell just as quickly down the pecking order and, after two years in the Test wilderness, was not in the frame when the 2023 World Cup squad was named.
Instead he returned to clubland and won a Brisbane premiership with older brother Will for Brothers, claiming player-of-the-final honours for good measure.
Exactly a year later, after knocking back overseas interest to remain in Australian rugby, he was captaining the Wallabies to victory in Argentina as the side's eighth leader in their last 15 Tests.
On Saturday at Suncorp Stadium the unlikely skipper will join James Horwill, John Eales and Nick Farr-Jones as a Wallabies captain for a British & Irish Lions tour.
"I've just always wanted to be a Wallaby," the 25-year-old said of what drove him when he was being overlooked.
"To me, it's the biggest honour you can get.
"You have your ups and downs - no-one has a career where you don't have downs - and I've definitely had a fair few.
"But I've just always wanted to put myself in these situations. It definitely has made the lows all worth it, to get back."
A desperate Wilson contorted his way over the line for the match-winning try against Fiji in the Wallabies last start and will be called on for a mountain of work at Suncorp Stadium with backrow partner Rob Valetini out injured.
New Zealand-born Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said that passion was central to his captaincy call.
"He just loves representing Australia, loves any Australian team," the coach said.
"He doesn't say a lot, Harry. But what he does do well is demonstrate.
"I'm not saying he can't speak, he's just out of breath a lot of the time."
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