Carter Gordon credits Quade Cooper and James O’Connor for the push he needed to change codes
Two of Australian rugby’s biggest stars convinced rising Wallabies playmaker Carter Gordon to quit the game and chase an NRL career with the Gold Coast Titans.
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Queensland rugby icons Quade Cooper and James O’Connor played a key role in convincing Wallabies star Carter Gordon to quit the game and chase NRL and State of Origin glory with the Gold Coast Titans.
Gordon walked out on Super Rugby and a potential British and Irish Lions tour showdown for the unknown in a career-defining switch to rugby league.
The 23-year-old flyhalf is preparing to embark on his first NRL pre-season under two-time premiership coach Des Hasler following a four-game cameo in reserve grade to end the year.
A silky playmaker, Gordon is targeting a spot in Gold Coast’s halves after signing a two-year contract and also has dreams of playing Origin for Queensland.
“Absolutely it’s a goal, growing up in Queensland you wished you were out there playing Origin,” Gordon said in his first interview since joining the Titans in July.
“I’m not going to come out and say I want to play Origin in two years or anything like that. I just want to bide my time at the Titans, take that step first and hopefully get a crack with the boys soon.
“If Origin comes I would love to play but for the moment I’ll keep chipping away at the Titans.”
QUADE’S REGRETS
Growing up in the private school rugby system on the Sunshine Coast, Gordon was shielded from rugby league but always had the 13-man code in the back of his mind.
It took the crash of the Melbourne Rebels and advice from two of Queensland’s most polarising rugby figures to convince Gordon to make the jump.
Cooper flirted with a switch to the Brisbane Broncos numerous times throughout his career while O’Connor was a schoolboys sensation that could have starred in league and both urged Gordon to make the move.
“I was sitting on it for a long time,” Gordon said.
“I spoke to the Titans around (April) and I didn’t make my mind up until after I finished playing Super Rugby. I really contemplated everything and made sure I made the right decision.
“Growing up I always wondered how I’d go in league and it was in the back of my mind but I never thought I’d be given the opportunity. I’m 23 now and if I kept going in rugby I wouldn’t have had this chance again.
“I spoke to guys like Quade Cooper and James O’Connor who had the same opportunity to transition and both of them said ‘I regret not having a crack when I was younger’.
“I hold them in high regard so to hear that from them reinforced I was making the right decision.”
THE SWITCH
While Cooper and O’Connor flirted with a move to league, neither made the jump that Gordon has.
He has walked away from the only game he has ever known in the prime of his career, leaving behind a blossoming eight-Test Wallabies career for no guarantees at the Titans.
Gordon had never played a game of rugby league when he signed with the Titans and said it was difficult to walk away from the Wallabies jersey he dreamt of wearing as a kid.
“It was hard (to walk away from the Wallabies). Growing up, a big goal of mine was to play for the Wallabies and I achieved it,” Gordon said.
“It was tough to leave but looking at the big picture I feel like I’ve made the right decision and I’m enjoying the transition. There’s some excitement, you feel like a kid in a toy shop.
“There’s new people, new systems, a new environment and a new city. It’s been really exciting for me.”
RUGBY CRISIS
Gordon has followed rising Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase (Roosters) in quitting a game that is seemingly in free fall.
Gordon was part of Australia’s disastrous World Cup campaign last year and held talks with the Titans as doubt hovered over the future of the now defunct Rebels.
He believes he won’t be the last to jump to league and fears for rugby’s future amid the rise of the NRL, which is plotting an expanded 20-team competition while Super Rugby contracts.
“A lot of the union boys are really interested,” Gordon said.
“I’ve had a lot of them reach out to me and wish me luck and say they’ll be following me.
“I think there could be more (that switch), but I’m one of the first halves and ballplayers to do it. It’ll be interesting to see how I go and what other teams think.
“Rugby is not in a great space at the moment – anyone can see that.
“It struggles not being on free-to-air TV and having rugby league running Thursday to Sunday. People are obviously going to watch that over a paid app.
“Winning games helps and the last few years with the Wallabies and World Cup hasn’t been great.
“At the end of the day they need to go out there and win to win back the supporters and viewers. Once that happens, you start getting your following and bring more money into the game.”
SCHOOL WARS
Gordon arrived at Parkwood having never played a game of rugby league.
He attended Sunshine Coast Grammar until Year 9 before moving to Brisbane Boys’ College to finish school, ensuring he never ventured outside the GPS system.
But it’s hard to ignore rugby league in Queensland and Gordon believes rugby has lost its grip on the state’s rising football stars.
“When I was growing up union was pretty big in Queensland with the Reds around 2011 (premiers),” he said.
“But you had State of Origin, the Broncos … I watched more league than union. I used to love watching Darren Lockyer, (Johnathan) Thurston and all of those guys play but I was in the private school system and that’s how I got into union.
“(League) has already really got into the schools. I’ve heard St Joseph’s Nudgee College is linked up with the Dolphins and league is starting to really become a big thing within the private schools.
“When I was in school we’d have a lot of league kids come in from state schools and transition to union.
“Nowadays those kids are happy to be in state schools and play rugby league. I don’t think the feel of going to a private school and playing GPS rugby is the same as what it used to be.
“It shows how well the NRL is doing. The NRL is growing while Super Rugby is having teams drop out. That shows you where the two games are at the moment.”
NEW BEGINNINGS
Gordon’s first game of league was for Titans feeder club Tweed Heads in Queensland’s top competition – the Hostplus Cup – and he scored a try in all four of his appearances for the Seagulls, also producing some slick plays for his highlights reel.
He isn’t sure where he will fit into Des Hasler’s best 17 next year but is aiming for a spot in the halves for round 1.
Time will tell whether he has made the correct decision switching codes, but Gordon is confident he is on the right path at the Titans.
“One thing that caught me by surprise was how professional the presentation from the Titans was,” he said.
“I sat down with Des a couple of times to talk about how I would fit in, what the squad’s looking like for the next few years, the potential and growth they see in the team.
“I was blown away by that because it was something I hadn’t experienced in rugby union. It was really cool.
“I had Ezra (Howe, recruitment boss) and guys from the club texting me to see how I was tracking. I felt like I was really wanted by the Titans and that was a good feeling to have.
“Des has given me a little bit of leeway but he’s had a few sprays and looked at me, so I assume they were meant for me (laughs). He’s been great, I’ve really enjoyed working with him.
“I sit down with the coaches a fair bit because I’ve got to learn everything. They are teaching me every little part of the game.
“The players have been great too. I sometimes ask them silly questions and they laugh. I’m really enjoying it.”
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