‘There are a number of tens’: But Schmidt’s keen for Gordon to stay in rugby

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says he’d love Carter Gordon to stay in Australian rugby but appears unperturbed about him investigating a switch to rugby league, saying there are a number of talented young Australian five-eighths.

Schmidt gave his verdict on Gordon’s possible switch to the NRL as he also strongly indicated he would not use overseas-based players for the July Test series against Wales and Georgia.

Speaking at the launch of tickets for Wallabies home games, including an afternoon Bledisloe Cup fixture at Accor Stadium on September 21, Schmidt was asked if Gordon’s interest in playing rugby league was a concern.

This masthead revealed the 23-year-old was considering a code-switch and had spoken with the Gold Coast Titans.

“I had a chat with Carter, much earlier in the season. One of the things Carter is competing for a Wallaby spot, just like a number of the other tens,” Schmidt said.

“There are a number of tens; Tom Lynagh did really well last week I thought, Ben Donaldson’s been going well, and Noah Lolesio is the most consistent of the kickers, certainly at goal.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt speaks to media at Accor Stadium.Credit: Getty

“One of the things about having players who may or may not leave, and while it’s written about often, it’s a lot more often may not leave, than actually end up leaving.

“So I’d love Carter to stay and to be in the mix for the Wallabies. But if he doesn’t, then I’m excited about working with the next guy, or whoever we do select in that position.”

Rebels players have been unable to resolve their futures as the club remains under administration. The Rebels’ creditors will vote on their desired path on Friday, but even that may not influence RA’s decision as to whether it will return the Rebels’ licence and continue to fund the club.

RA has held off contracting talks given the situation, and though “frustrated”, Schmidt said he’d been trying to “build relationships” with Rebels players to keep them in Australian rugby, regardless of the outcome.

Rebels star Carter Gordon.Credit: Getty Images

As he looks towards picking his first Wallabies squad in June, Schmidt said he’d been encouraged by the competitive form of the Australian teams in Super Rugby, particularly in the trans-Tasman clashes. But Schmidt was quick to add the competitiveness is still too spotty, and looking ahead to the Bledisloe Cup clashes, the inability of Aussie teams to ice close games also needs fixing.

“It’s probably fluctuated a little bit like the Bledisloe have in the last two years as well, where being competitive one week hasn’t necessarily materialised into being competitive the next week. Driving that consistency of performance is massively important,” he said, citing the Brumbies losing heavily to the Blues and beating the Hurricanes in successive rounds.

Schmidt said he and his coaching staff are yet to narrow down the picture for selection for the first Wallabies squad. Asked when he would know his best 15, a smiling Schmidt replied: “Early December.”

Schmidt gave a little more away when it came to his view of selecting overseas-based players via the “Giteau Law”, strengthening his previously stated view by saying he planned to not use the likes of Marika Koroibete and Will Skelton in June.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and ex-Wallabies star Matt Burke pose during a Rugby Australia press call.Credit: Getty

“At this point, we’d never say never, but our priority is the home base players,” Schmidt said.

“Those first three tests, it is [a] very short [build up] and it makes sense to go local. Beyond that for us, it still makes sense to go local, if our endpoint is going to be the British and Irish Lions tour.

“We’ve got to build [and] we want to be as competitive as we can be when the Lions arrive. That’s my massive target. That’s the pinnacle event that’s next up. How do we do that?

“We want to be more and more competitive in Super Rugby and you don’t do that if your best players don’t stay and commit and play within the Super Rugby teams that are based here.”

Meanwhile, the Waratahs have “rotated” Max Jorgensen out of their side to meet the Hurricanes on Friday night in Wellington after some lacklustre form in recent weeks. Mark Nawaqanitawase moves to fullback and Dylan Pietsch returns to the side after playing club rugby last weekend. Jorgensen will play for Randwick on Saturday.

Hunter Ward has come into the NSW side at No.7, with more injuries at the Tahs. Ned Hanigan (neck) and Jed Holloway (concussion) have been ruled out.

In other news, NSW Rugby Union reported a $4.8m loss for 2023, due to a sizeable drop in revenue and RA funding, and increased professional costs. The union’s annual report showed NSWRU flagged potential issues around it being a going concern in 2024, prior to the deal being struck with Rugby Australia for head office to take full control of the Waratahs.

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