Ex-Wallaby Carter Gordon sets sights on NRL pre-season after code switch

Carter Gordon is so focused on rugby league that the former Wallaby hasn’t “really been watching” Test rugby since switching codes. As the Wallabies prepare for their clash with England in London, Gordon is looking ahead to pre-season with the Gold Coast Titans.

It wasn’t that long ago that Gordon was a key member of the Wallabies’ squad. With coach Eddie Jones in charge, the young playmaker was the only flyhalf picked in the team’s Rugby World Cup squad, while Ben Donaldson was selected as a ‘utility’ option.

Gordon had only played five Test matches before the sport’s showpiece event, which included two starts against New Zealand and another away to France. With a game-breaking ability in both attack and defence, there was a lot to like about what the Aussie brought to the table.

But Gordon wouldn’t play for the Wallabies again before completing a stunning move to the NRL in July. Following the Melbourne Rebels’ campaign, the flyhalf bid farewell to rugby union after signing a two-year deal with the Titans for 2025 and 2026.

Unlike fellow 2023 Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase, Gordon didn’t debut in the NRL in 2024 but that opportunity doesn’t appear to be far off. The man himself is firmly focused on what lies ahead after committing to the Gold Coast club.

“I haven’t really been watching it to be honest,” Gordon told reporters.

“Obviously, I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can in the league.

“Obviously, every now and then you see a post that comes up and you see how the boys are doing, a lot of those guys are still my mates so I’m obviously checking in with them to see how it’s going.

“But definitely all (my) focus is on rugby league.”

With Tweed Seagulls in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup, Gordon was nothing short of sensational from the get-go. The code-hopper started two games at centre and another two at five-eighth – finishing the season with four tries, four line breaks, almost 400 running metres, and 41 tackles.

The Titans have listed Gordon on their website as a centre, but it seems that won’t be the case moving forward. While acknowledging that there’s a lot of work to be done during pre-season, the eight-Test Wallaby insisted that the halves is where he wants to play.

“I really enjoy playing in the halves,” Gordon said. “I actually enjoy playing in the centres as well.

“I think it’s just going to be a bit of a work in progress through the pre-season, but I’m definitely keen to get in the halves and ball play.

“Obviously, that’s something that I’m familiar with coming from rugby union.

“I think it just needs a bit of work in pre-season. Obviously, get a feel for it, but ideally, I want to be playing there.”

The Gold Coast Titans failed to make the NRL finals last season after finishing 14^th with a record of eight wins and 16 losses. They started the campaign with eight losses on the bounce before shocking the New Zealand Warriors 27-24 in Auckland on April 25.

With the squad boasting genuine quality, including the likes of fullback Jayden Campbell, former New Zealand Kiwis playmaker Kieran Foran, as well as Queensland Maroons representatives David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Gordon is excited to have joined the Titans.

“The Titans were one of the first clubs I spoke to and I was talking to them through the whole process,” he explained.

“I’m a Queensland boy originally, I grew up in the Sunshine Coast and the drawcard of coming back home was a big one for me.

“… You look at the squad’s that’s building now and the squad that we’re taking into 25, it’s strong. We’re going to learn on the back of last year and hopefully win a lot more games in 25.”