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Lost Titans: Kevin Gordon a square peg in rugby league’s round hole

HE has the third most tries in Titans history but may have been best known for a viral video he made of himself riding a “magic carpet”.

HE has the third most tries in Titans history but may have been best known for a viral video he made of himself riding a “magic carpet”.

Welcome to the enigma that is Kevin Gordon.

Arguably the most colourful character to have played for the Titans in their 11-year history, Gordon agrees he was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole in the NRL.

While he fulfilled a childhood dream by making it to NRL level, the flying winger ultimately realised his happiness would be found away from the footy field.

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A far cry from his days in the NRL — Kevin Gordon in his guise as an actor and dancer. Picture Mike Batterham
A far cry from his days in the NRL — Kevin Gordon in his guise as an actor and dancer. Picture Mike Batterham
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When a chronic hip injury forced him into premature retirement in 2015, Gordon headed to the US to take acting lessons and satisfy a longheld passion.

“(Playing in the NRL) was my dream growing up as a kid and to accomplish that is very good,” Gordon said.

“But I had a few epiphanies when I was 25 and I thought back to the days of when I was a younger kid and thought, is this what I really want to do?

“I thought about it for six months and thought, I really like music and acting and doing weird stuff. So I thought I’d take the risk, jump off the ledge and grow wings on the way down.

“I’m still flying.”

Gordon has always cut a different figure and that is still the case.

“I’m just expressing myself as truthfully as possible and the forms I use to do that are music, music videos and short films,” he said.

Kevin Gordon in action for the Titans where he had 58 tries in 118 games. Photo: Getty Images
Kevin Gordon in action for the Titans where he had 58 tries in 118 games. Photo: Getty Images

“I’ve been practising dancing as well just to improve my craft. I hope to inspire other people to express themselves more truthfully because it’s a strange world we live in — it’s hard to tell real from fake.”

Gordon was set to return to football this season but played just one trial match with his brother before realising it wasn’t for him.

“When I retired I felt like I was a bird leaving the cage, just flapping my wings and going to the sky because the sky was the limit When I realised what I really wanted to do, I had to do it.”

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/lost-titans-kevin-gordon-a-square-peg-in-rugby-leagues-round-hole/news-story/34cd5b8d5be2f296362ad1dcfc978508