Jason Ryles’ last-minute appointment to Eddie Jones’ World Cup coaching team might go down as a trivia question in time.
But without the former league hardman answering an SOS in the hours leading up to the Wallabies’ trip to France last year after Brad Davis quit, Carter Gordon might never have given the NRL a second thought.
Indeed, the genesis behind Gordon’s defection to the Gold Coast Titans starts with the affable Ryles.
Following the World Cup campaign, Ryles, a former State of Origin prop turned one of the most sought-after assistant coaches in the NRL, planted a seed in Gordon’s head that if he ever wanted to pop over to the Melbourne Storm for a training session, the rising 23-year-old would be more than welcome.
Until then, Gordon had never played a game of rugby league nor considered it.
Wallabies World Cup assistant coach Jason Ryles planted a seed in Carter Gordon’s head about defecting to rugby league. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Following the Wallabies’ disastrous World Cup campaign, and with growing concern about the Melbourne Rebels’ future, Gordon started thinking twice about his future in the 15-man game.
When the news eventually broke about Gordon’s meeting with the Titans in the NRL, it wasn’t just a player agent trying to set the cat amongst the pigeons in an attempt to force Rugby Australia’s hand.
It was a player disenfranchised about the direction of rugby union and one who wanted to test himself in one of the most popular and competitive codes in the crowded Australian sports market.
And who can blame him?
Carter Gordon has gone from Eddie Jones’ first-choice playmaker for the Wallabies at last year’s World Cup to switching to rugby league. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
While RA chief executive Phil Waugh started his playing career with the game flying and more than 100,000 people watching the ‘Game of the Century’ in Sydney, one which new RA chairman Daniel Herbert also played in, those days are decades ago.
Instead, over the past 10 years Australian rugby has stumbled from one disaster to the next.
This is what the current generation of emerging players has seen and experienced.
As such, the sorry demise of the Rebels, who were in limbo about their futures all year until the hours before boarding a flight to Suva ahead of the final round of the regular season, contributed to the negative perception of the direction of Australian rugby.
It’s why there was relief more than anything when Gordon decided on Wednesday to sign with the Titans rather than sign a new deal with RA.
Gordon, who was given until Monday to make a call on RA’s deal, accepted less money to go to the Titans on a two-year deal.
Carter Gordon offloads to Andrew Kellaway during Bledisloe II at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 05, 2023 in Dunedin. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)
He is the second player from Jones’ World Cup squad to switch to the NRL since the Wallabies returned from France after Mark Nawaqanitawase signed with the Sydney Roosters.
The decision to leave comes just 12 months out from the British and Irish Lions arriving on Australian shores and three years out before the cash-strapped union hosts the 2027 World Cup.
Given the investment in Gordon at last year’s World Cup, which ultimately was considered a building job by Jones ahead of the 2027 tournament, it’s a travesty that the blonde-haired playmaker has opted to leave less than one year into his international career.
As former Wallabies coach John Connolly told The Roar, it’s “only in the coming years that Australian rugby should be reaping the rewards of Gordon”.
“It’s a great shame,” Connolly said.
“You don’t begrudge him given the Rebels situation, but a lot of money has been invested in him and he could have been a real success story.”
While Gordon was in a tight tussle with Noah Lolesio to wear the No.10 jersey in 2024 under Joe Schmidt, last year Eddie Jones said young playmakers needed time in the saddle to succeed in test matches.
“If you know anything about rugby you know that tens need time in the seat,” Jones said ahead of Bledisloe II in Dunedin.
Whether or not Gordon succeeds in the NRL remains to be seen, but former dual international Mat Rogers is confident he will.
“He’ll be a bloody good rugby league player,” the 2003 Wallabies World Cup fullback told Wide World of Sports.
“A great running game, a bit Matt Burton like, a great kicking game, great hands. He’s going to have to learn a little bit and get fitter and stronger because it’s a bit of a different game.
“But I’ve got total faith that he’ll make it.”
Should he decide to return to the 15-man game, it’s possible New Zealand rugby outfits could chase him.
Why? The Roar can reveal Gordon could qualify for the All Blacks by the time the 2027 World Cup is played because of a New Zealand-born relative.
As far-fetched as it sounds, former All Blacks captain Justin Marshall said in commentary last week that New Zealand franchises across the ditch would be interested in Gordon.
“It’s interesting, isn’t it?” Marshall said in the dying minutes of the Rebels’ 47-20 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
“There’s rumours circulating that he’s had some offers from rugby league.
“Obviously, there’s a Wallabies squad to be named and if he makes that, his life changes, doesn’t it, dramatically?
“Equally, there’ll be a lot of franchises not only in Australia but in New Zealand looking for his services as well.”
Carter Gordon with the ball-in-hand against the All Blacks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2023. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
His comments come amid the Crusaders considering making offers to Australia’s young playmakers, including Tane Edmed and Mason Gordon, it’s not exactly crazy that Gordon could one day switch to New Zealand.
For now, Australian rugby is preparing to bid farewell to one of their best young playmakers.
It’s a situation that likely would not have occurred two decades ago as the Wallabies swooped on some of the best talent in the NRL.
Now, it’s the NRL honing in on Australia’s best up-and-comers.
It’s a concerning state of play with the rich getting richer.
