Rugby Confidential: Les Kiss in line for Wallabies job as rival Dan McKellar warns of difficulties balancing two jobs
Les Kiss is set to be announced as the new Wallabies coach next week. But will he also stay on at the Queensland Reds?
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LES Kiss is set to be anointed as the new Wallabies coach next week, but NSW counterpart Dan McKellar says it will be a “big ask” for him to juggle both the national and Queensland Reds roles in 2026.
One of the key considerations is allowing Kiss to keep coaching the Reds next year, because he is contracted to Queensland Rugby Union until the end of the 2026 Super Rugby season.
RA chief Phil Waugh revealed this week the governing body is open to the new Wallabies coaching also leading a Super team next year.
McKellar, who is not in the running for the Wallabies job, has some experience in juggling two jobs having been head coach of the Brumbies and assistant coach of the Wallabies under Dave Rennie in 2022.
“It’s a big ask,” McKellar said.
“I did it as head coach of the Brumbies, and then I was assistant coach, you certainly enjoy that four to five week break at the end of the year, that’s for sure.
“But if it’s not a long-term thing I think it’s doable. You wouldn’t want to be doing it year after year after year, but a short-term possibility I think it can be done.
“It’s certainly a long season.
“I found that out for myself when I was assistant with Rens and coaching the Brumbies at the same time, there’s plenty to juggle there and it’s a massive workload. But it’s doable.
“Being head coach of both would take it up another gear again.
“I wouldn’t say it’s not possible, but it will certainly provide its challenges.”
NSW players Angus Bell and Andrew Kellaway said they’d have no issues if their national coach was also coaching their interstate rivals next year.
“Yeah, I don’t mind,” Bell said.
“It’s up to the people that are paid the big bucks to make that decision, it’s out of our pay grade.
“But look, it doesn’t really matter who ends up being the coach. It’s about transitioning that work that Joe’s doing now into what we’re going to do after.
“And if Les gets the job or someone else, then that’s fine.”
Kellaway recalled that Michael Cheika did the same after taking charge of the Wallabies at the end of 2014, and holding both the NSW and Wallabies head coaching roles in 2015.
“Cheik got a go as the Waratahs coach, so I guess if it happens that way, I’d be one-all, so leave it there,” Kellaway said.
Waratahs’ captain nearing new deal
HALFBACK Jake Gordon is inching closer to signing a new deal to remain in Australian rugby.
The Waratahs captain is off contract this year and has previously sought a release to head overseas, but seems eager to remain here with the aspiration of starting for Australia at the 2027 World Cup.
Gordon became Joe Schmidt’s favoured halfback through last year and the 31-year-old would have a key role to play for Australia should he re-sign.
Another off-contract star, Ben Donaldson, is also said to be leaning towards staying in Australia.
The Western Force playmaker has been the Wallabies No. 10 on and off since 2023, but after Noah Lolesio’s decision to sign a contract in Japan after this season, Donaldson’s retention is now key for RA.
Tom Lynagh is the other playmaking option for the Wallabies, and while he’s contracted to the end of 2026 and has been playing well for the Reds, Donaldson would be the favourite to take over from Lolesio based on Schmidt’s selection history.
Lolesio’s deal with Toyota Industry Shuttles Aichi is understood to be a one-year deal, with a second year in his favour. That means he could potentially return for 2027 and be in the frame for the World Cup, but missing the 2026 season will certainly hurt his chances.
Manu reportedly trying for a release from French club
REPORTS Joey Manu will potentially try to get a release from French club Racing 92 sparked speculation he could return to the NRL this year.
RA chief Phil Waugh was at a press event when the news broke and was naturally asked if Manu, best friend of code-switcher Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, could be a potential Wallabies target.
“We haven’t explored those sort of conversations or I’m not aware of them, but I think that what we’ve seen with Joseph and the impact he’s had off the field, but also culturally how he’s fitted into the environment seamlessly, I think that we’ve always got an open mind,” Waugh said.
“We need the best athletes in the world playing our game and playing for the Wallabies and you know if there are opportunities like that then we’d always have an open mind.
“We’re just very conscious that we ensure we’re managing our own backyard and providing the opportunity for players who have come through the system and are in our system.
“We’ve never had a closed mindset around talent that wants to engage with rugby.”
Manu would likely earn a bigger contract returning to the NRL, but has previously expressed his desire to play for the All Blacks at the 2027 World Cup, which would not be possible if he was playing in France.
The 28-year-old, currently playing in Japan, would have no shortage of suitors if he did try to get a release.
But insiders say Racing 92 would be seeking a huge compensation figure if that was the case, given the signing of Manu prevented them from targeting other players that have since come off the market, with their pre-season training set to start in July.
Suaalii to face one of his toughest tests
SUAALII faces one of the toughest tests of his young rugby career on Friday against the Chiefs, who will have Damian McKenzie testing him with kicks.
And while the Tahs have had two disappointing losses, the star fullback had a bold prediction this week when asked about whether he would have any more enforced stints on the sideline for NSW to prepare for a 15-Test Wallabies season.
“I don’t want any breaks, if they want me to have a break I’ll be pretty stern about wanting to play every game,” Suaalii said.
“That’s just who I am.
“I’m not sure, but in my eyes I’m playing every game until the grand final.”
Burke thinks cohesion will be a worry for Lions
WALLABIES legend Matthew Burke believes the British & Irish Lions will find it more difficult to find cohesion after Ireland failed to claim the Six Nations this year.
The former world No. 1 team were beaten to the title by a rampant France, and with former Ireland coach Andy Farrell now in charge of the Lions, there is far more uncertainty around selections than if the Irish had continued their dominant charge.
“With Ireland not winning, they’ve got to choose some more players from elsewhere,” Burke said. “So England will get their majority of players, Ireland will have their majority of players, Scotland will get some, Wales might sneak a few.
“So all of a sudden it’s a really difficult proposition then to get a culminating team to be able to thrive and be cohesive.”
Thursday marked 100 days before the opening Test between the Wallabies and Lions at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Aussie Sevens star goes viral
SEVENS star Maddison Levi went viral this week for her incredible try-saving tackle on Kiwi Kelsey Teneti in Singapore, but has revealed she pulled it off because she is uncoordinated.
Levi has already broken the record as the first Aussie to score 200 tries on the sevens circuit, but showed magical defensive nous to tackle Teneti over the tryline and somehow snatch the ball from her grasp, rise and run out of the in-goal.
“My intention was to try and knock the ball out,” Levi said.
“I think just by doing that movement I was lucky enough to get my arm under and I don’t know how it popped up in my arm, but then the next thing was, okay now I’ve got to run and get out of there.
“Everyone calls me a freak show. They’re like, if it’s going to happen to anyone, like you pull off these things. In Dubai, I caught the ball between my legs to score a try.
“The most unnatural things happen to me because, believe it or not, I’m really uncoordinated, so it kind of works in my favour for a lot of things.”
NSW teen sensation to face her sporting idol
NSW teen sensation Caitlyn Halse is preparing to go face-to-face against her sporting idol when the Waratahs tackle Queensland in Saturday’s Super Rugby Women’s Grand Final at North Sydney Oval.
Still just 18, Halse is already a grand final winner after being part of the Waratahs team that won a fifth title last year, but knows this time is different.
“Everyone’s just pumped for it,” she said. “We know how special it is to get this opportunity. Now it’s about grabbing it with both hands.”
Halse’s opponent in the Reds number 15 jersey on Saturday is none other than Charlotte Caslick, the Olympic Sevens legend who has crossed over to 15s in the hope of playing for the Wallaroos at the World Cup in England later this year.
“Charlotte was definitely someone I looked up to when I was younger,” Halse said. “I even started braiding my hair like her.“
“She was one of the reasons I wanted to make the Olympics for Sevens. It’s pretty crazy to think now I’ll be playing against her.
“There’s a lot more to fullback than people realise, especially with the positioning and backfield coverage. You can see Charlotte getting better each game.”
NSW Waratahs Women v Queensland Reds
2.40pm (AEST) Saturday, 12 April 2025 at North Sydney Oval, Sydney
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Originally published as Rugby Confidential: Les Kiss in line for Wallabies job as rival Dan McKellar warns of difficulties balancing two jobs
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