Max Jorgensen offered nearly $2m by Sydney Roosters to leave Waratahs, Wallabies

While Sydney Roosters billionaire powerbroker Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson crafted an impassioned two-hour presentation to lure the rival code’s brightest young star, Rugby Australia’s boss was yet to even meet with him.

Waratahs and Wallabies star Max Jorgensen could be on his way to the NRL.

While billionaire Roosters chairman Nick Politis took the time to meet with young Wallaby Max Jorgensen – preparing to offer him $1.8 million to become their next James Tedesco – Rugby Australia boss Daniel Herbert is yet to personally sit down with his code’s most exciting teenager.

Rugby Australia head office have pushed Jorgensen’s contract “down the line” to their “contracting department” to negotiate as both Politis and Roosters premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson met with the 19-year-old.

Robinson talked with Max for two hours to discuss the Bondi club’s vision for the Waratahs playmaker.

The Roosters have big plans and hopes for Jorgensen, a footballer who’s been described as rare talent, a teen that plays at a “different level”, and it’s understood once Tedesco hangs up his boots, that fullback role could be his.

Jorgensen’s father Peter, himself a former Wallaby who also played league for the Roosters and the Panthers, is understood to be personally involved in the negotiations as his son makes perhaps the biggest decision of his football life.

And it is the vision and care shown by the Roosters hierarchy that has the NRL powerhouse club having the edge over Rugby Australia. They also have the money.

The NRL powerhouse club Sydney Roosters are preparing a two-year offer worth $1.8 million and pitched a vision for his career potentially too hard to refuse.

While Rugby Australia have also offered a deal of $800,000 less to the 19 year old – tabling $1m over two years – it’s understood the “impressive” and thoughtful pitch made by both Roosters coach Robinson and billionaire owner Politis for the 19-year-old’s career was so strong he could join the rival code.

Jorgensen was set to be a big part of the Wallabies side of the future, but instead could prove one of the biggest coups in rugby league history.

Jorgensen has long-held ambitions to play in the British and Irish Lions tour in Australia next year and the World Cup in 2027 – but if he departs it would be a massive blow to the Wallabies’ playing stocks and hopes of being contender in both events.

The teen’s talent has been described as being on a “different level” by Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker.

The Australian understands there is a feeling Rugby Australia may not be taking “the Roosters play seriously”.

The NRL club has had the upper hand on Herbert, who has been criticised for going missing in action within the game, and CEO Phil Waugh. Herbert has yet to sit down with Jorgensen and talk through rugby’s vision with him.

The highly professional Sydney Roosters NRL club is famed for its culture under Robinson and long-time chair Politis and they have a solid track record of recruiting young rugby stars from both the schoolboy and professional ranks.

Late last year Politis and Robinson’s strong presentation on their club to Wallabies winger Mark “Marky Mark” Nawaqanitawase caused him to walk away from rugby, blindsiding RA. The 23-year-old turned down a bigger offer from RA, ultimately settling for $450,000 over two years with the Roosters, starting in 2025.

Nawaqanitawase would have been paid $300,000 more if he stayed in Australian rugby. He also rejected a Japanese offer – turning his back on $2.6 million.

Instead, the 11-Tests speedster made the call to challenge himself in the toughest domestic competition in Australia.

Jorgensen could be set to do the same.

There is concern that archaic rugby factions will come into play with Queensland powerbrokers uninterested in retaining the young New South Welshman who strengthens the Waratahs.

Mark Nawaqanitawase with Max Jorgensen. Nawaqanitawase has already defected from rugby union and signed with the Roosters.

Max’s father Peter Jorgensen played for the Roosters in the 90s.

Rugby Australia chief executive Waugh has said he hoped to retain the best Wallabies talent by creating a culture that would see their best turn down “market rate” offers.

“And then I think it comes back to that piece around the Wallaby environment and culture – the success of the Wallabies – and that our players are desperate to be a part of it …(we hope) that goes a long way to hopefully not having to pay at a market rate that’s competing with the big dollars in France or in Japan,” Waugh said last month. “Because you’re actually creating a culture, an environment where players want to be a part of and will sacrifice elements of other opportunities to be a part of it.”

Jorgensen has had a tough run with injury. After recovering from a knee injury, he fractured his leg during the Wallabies rugby World Cup campaign in France.

On Wednesday it was revealed he was injured again and has been ruled out of the game against the Blues on Saturday night.

Jorgensen was a bolter in Eddie Jones’ squad and would have been in line for a Test debut against Portugal in Saint-Etienne had he not been injured in training.