His future formally settled, Jake Gordon has turned his consideration to retaining the Wallabies’ No.9 jumper for the much-anticipated three-Check sequence towards the touring British and Irish Lions.
After revealing his intention to remain in Sydney final week, Gordon on Wednesday formally introduced a two-year contract extension with the NSW Waratahs and Australian rugby.
The star halfback’s retention coincided with a agency message from Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss that he deliberate to be closely concerned in averting poaching threats from cashed-up abroad golf equipment eyeing off Australia’s elite expertise.
Gordon, though, insists he doesn’t want to be anywhere else than at the Tahs and playing for the Wallabies in the showpiece Lions showdown and the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see what was overseas,” Gordon said.
“The risk of not being involved in a Lions series and a home World Cup is a big one.”
After being cold-shouldered during the ill-fated second coming of Eddie Jones and missing the 2023 World Cup in France, Gordon finished as Joe Schmidt’s preferred scrumhalf last year.
He started ahead of Noah Lolesio in the Wallabies’ last Test of 2024, against Ireland in Dublin.
But, with Lolesio heading to Japan at year’s end and Schmidt open about his policy of selecting his Wallabies from within the local Super Rugby Pacific competition, Gordon will go head to head on Friday night with his new No.1 challenger for the role, Queensland Reds playmaker Tate McDermott.
Gordon knows coach Schmidt will be watching intently with the first Lions Test in Brisbane now just two months away.
“Tate’s had a really good year, and traditionally performs really well when he plays and this is a big rivalry for us,” said Australia’s incumbent No.9.
“The Reds will probably be pretty disappointed with the game in Fiji (losing to the Drua).
“So, yeah, I’m excited for it.”
Another keen observer will be Kiss, the Reds mentor who won’t take over from Schmidt until midway through next year.
But the 60-year-old is already addressing the threat of losing more Wallabies to Europe, Japan and even the NRL following Peter V’Landys’ claim that he’d already fielded calls from South African rugby agents about joining the new Perth franchise in 2027.
“It’s not in the fabric of their world at all but you’d get some good athletes that’ll turn up for it,” Kiss said when asked about the prospect of of South African players making it in rugby league.
“The Bears would be wise to look into that space for sure … we’re aware these things are challenges for rugby but it’s on the rise here so let’s stay positive.”
Kiss said he would “certainly be involved” in retaining Australia’s best players headhunted by the rival code or overseas clubs.
“Another team coming in like that does put pressure on the system,” he said.
“We’ve got to be aware we don’t fight on the same battlefield. Our opportunities, we extol the virtues of the international game, to tour and once you’re in rugby you can go anywhere in the world.
“We’ve got to make sure we keep those things front and centre.
“But we’re realistic about the threats that the French league in particular offer and there will be some planning around that for sure.”
