Kobe Bryant is inspiring Max Jorgensen’s bid to snatch Wallabies spot from Joseph Suaalii

Off-contract rugby star Max Jorgensen has addressed rumours of a switch to the NRL, while also hinting that he won’t go down easy in the brutal battle for the Wallabies’ fullback spot.

SAINT-ETIENNE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 14: Max Jorgensen during a Wallabies training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, at Stade Roger Baudras on September 14, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Whiz kid Max Jorgensen is using legendary basketball icon Kobe Bryant to fight off Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Andrew Kellaway for the Wallabies’ fullback role.

Off contract at the end of the year, 19-year-old Jorgensen has shut down talk of a switch to the NRL, and instead plans to make the NSW Waratahs fullback spot his own and force incoming Roosters star Suaalii and Wallabies incumbent fullback Kellaway into other positions at both the Tahs and Wallabies.

Having had his dreams of a World Cup debut dashed by a broken leg at training in France, Jorgensen is fired up for a big 2024 with NSW and the late Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” is fuelling his season.

Max Jorgensen won’t let go of his fullback spot without a fight. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP)

“Kobe, just the mentality he had going into some games, and some of the stories you see, someone like Kobe I really look up to,” Jorgensen told Code Sport.

“Just the determination, like through all these rehabs I’ve been going through (leg and shoulder), he was obviously one of those guys who always stuck at it, always in before everyone, always working harder than everyone.

“So I like to try and take that attribute from him. I aspire to be like that. I wish I could be something like that, but I’m not.”

With Suaalii joining NSW in 2025, and Kellaway also returning to the Tahs from Melbourne Rebels, there will be a huge fight for the NSW fullback role.

Suaalii has been tipped to feature in that position following his transition from league, while Kellaway started in the No. 15 jersey in Australia’s final two World Cup games against Wales and Portugal last year.

Jorgensen wants to fend both of them off to different positions, with Suaalii also being considered as a centre while Kellaway has previously played on the wing.

“That’s what I’m aiming for, that’s the goal,” Jorgensen said.

“I just want to be better than I was last year, I’ll just try to keep taking those steps forward, better myself as a player and make the No. 15 jersey my own you could say, just by playing my game, doing what I do and backing myself.

“Hopefully (Wallabies coach) Joe Schmidt likes it.”

Andrew Kellaway is another in the mix. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

While Jorgensen has previously been approached by the Roosters to join the NRL, and will no doubt have other league clubs interested in his services, the teenager is not entertaining a switch.

“Not at the moment, I’m focusing on this year, trying to get through injury-free and making that No. 15 jersey my own, and then see what happens at the end of the year and how everything goes,” Jorgensen said, outlining how keen he is to feature in the 2025 British & Irish Lions series.

“It’s massive, it only comes around every 12 years, it’s pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I’ll probably never get another one again.

“So it’s massive, and then with the home World Cup coming up in 2027, it’s pretty cool.”

While much is expected of Jorgensen – son of former Wallaby Peter – he is determined not to be a victim of second-year syndrome.

“I try not to let it get to my head, the main thing is, I just want to back myself,” he said.

“So obviously there’s a lot of pressure there, going into the second season, you might not be playing as well.

“But I just like to think I have the ability. I’ve done it before so I can do it again – and I can do it better. I like to always have that confidence and know that I have the ability to do it and just back myself.”

Suaalii will be another in contention after his code swap. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Jorgensen was picked by Eddie Jones for the Wallabies’ World Cup squad but a freak training injury cost him a Test debut in France.

“I just went out for a high ball, it wasn’t even contested, it was sort of just a freak accident. I landed on it, and the fibula just snapped,” Jorgensen said.

“I didn’t think it was that bad. I heard something, but I’ve never broken a bone before, so I it hurt, it felt bad, but because I got up and I could walk a bit, I was thinking ‘It’s okay, it’s fine’.

“It’s just like a bad roller coaster. And then obviously when I got the scans back, it showed a break straight through the bone.”

But now he’s back to contact training with NSW, and has firm goals for 2024.

“First of all, having a good season for the Tahs, hopefully going all the way, winning the title, doing what they did in 2014,” Jorgensen said.

“That’s my main goal, that’d be unreal. And then after that, hopefully making my Wallabies debut. Hopefully that all goes well and I’ll get some games and hopefully I’ll get on the spring tour.”

Originally published as Kobe Bryant is inspiring Max Jorgensen’s bid to snatch Wallabies spot from Joseph Suaalii