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Titans statement: Wallabies' Carter Gordon quits union for NRL

Wallabies fly-half Carter Gordon is joining the NRL (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

New Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has been dealt a major blow with fly-half Carter Gordon quitting rugby union for a two-year rugby league deal with the Gold Coast Titans. Last weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final loss at the Hurricanes was Carter’s last match for the Melbourne Rebels as the club is now closing after 14 seasons.

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The decision by Rugby Australia left the entire squad looking for employment elsewhere and despite speculation that the 23-year-old Gordon would be soon snapped up by one of the other four Australian based franchises.

However, he has instead walked away from the sport and will play in the NRL in 2025 and 2026.
A Gold Coast statement read: “Wallabies fly-half Carter Gordon will join the Titans in 2025, with the exciting playmaker to make the switch to Rugby League.

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      “Formerly at the Melbourne Rebels, Gordon has played eight times for the Wallabies, making his international debut against the Springboks in 2023.

      “He is a current member of the Australian squad and has played at the Rugby World Cup. Gordon will join the Titans for the 2025 and 2026 NRL seasons.”

      Gordon said: “I’m excited with the direction that rugby league is taking and the positive feeling around the game. At 23, I feel like I had to take this opportunity now. I’m under no illusions and understand that this will be a massive challenge.

      “I was really impressed with the Titans and the professionalism they displayed in our meetings. I have loved my time with rugby as it’s given me the opportunity to represent my country which I will always appreciate.”

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      Titans Coach Des Hasler added: “Carter has competed well in rugby, representing his country and playing at the World Cup. What has impressed me is his attitude to test himself and take on the challenge of switching to a new code. He’s a skilful player who backs himself.”

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      Comments

      11 Comments
      J
      JI 390 days ago

      The basic story is as below.


      Rugby Australia, which is almost a subsidiary of the NSWRU Mafia, have tried to push ex-Rebels players such as C. Gordon, T. Tupou, J. Canham, J. Uelese and L. Salikai-Loto into the NSW Waratahs team.


      None of them want a bar of NSW, which is a management clusterf#@k, and are fleeing in all directions. On top of that, the ex-Rebels players view RA as back-stabbers pushing the agenda of the big RU states and city clubs.


      C. Gordon has gone to a low-level NRL team on less money than RA offered him to move to the Waratahs. The Titans are located in Queenland where he wanted to go, as he has family and friends there.

      S
      SteveD 404 days ago

      ““I’m excited with the direction that rugby league is taking and the positive feeling around the game.”


      Yeah. ‘Five tackles, kick. Five tackles, kick. Ad freaking nauseam’.

      J
      JI 390 days ago

      And don't forget the betting ads. Argrhhhhhh

      R
      Red and White Dynamight 404 days ago

      Absolutely BONKERS decision. Australia has an incoming Lions tour - the biggest series of games outside a RWC. And 2 years after that a home RWC. Instead Gordon will be turning out for the GC Titans, historically one of the worst teams in the NRL. His agent should be axed.

      O
      OJohn 404 days ago

      This is a tragedy for Australian rugby, on top of Marky Mark leaving. Carter Gordon is the brightest 10 prospect we have by far.

      An absolute tragedy.

      Could have been a world beater with the right Australian coaching.

      W
      Westy 405 days ago

      Very disappointing but one can understand why Carter has lost faith with the rugby establishment in Australia.

      J
      JW 405 days ago

      Debuting for a wing spot? 😅


      Would love for Carter to show players can easily transfer skills from one code to the other. Reckon he could still be picked for the Wallabies once the NRL season is over?


      I’ve ready too many converts articles recently I think. Wonder if he would have left this decision for one more year if things had been otherwise?

      P
      Perthstayer 405 days ago

      I don’t get why people are surprised. Short memories forget how he was humiliated by Jones.


      Question of when not if.

      M
      Mitch 405 days ago

      Not surprised at all. Rugby League's long term aim is to kill off rugby in Australasia. This is also proof to snobs like Hamish Mclennan that it’s all well and good being a big international game but you’ve got to have a strong domestic game and rugby is basically irrelevant in Australia.

      J
      JW 405 days ago

      I’m definitely with Hamish on this one. If these moves are a success it will pave way to a lot more league stars moving to lucrative rugby league’s later in their career.

      Y
      YeowNotEven 405 days ago

      Well that sux.

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      Comments on RugbyPass

      P
      PL 2 hours ago
      Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

      I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

      Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


      Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


      The officiating of last feet is non existent

      The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

      A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


      Powys v Evans lead to a ÂŁ> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

      Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


      About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

      Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


      The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


      I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


      The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

      Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

      Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

      My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


      Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


      Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

      Last feet to last feet + 1 m


      When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


      As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


      Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

      25 were scrum for dissent


      Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


      All the s.ite would disappear


      The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


      Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

      1 Go to comments
      S
      Soliloquin 3 hours ago
      Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

      For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or JĂ©gou behind.

      His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

      But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

      And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


      I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and GalthiĂ© likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

      For Depoortùre, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

      But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


      As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

      Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


      And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

      So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

      France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

      237 Go to comments
      S
      Soliloquin 3 hours ago
      Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

      Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

      But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

      He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

      Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

      He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

      He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


      I really hope that:

      -Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

      -Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for GalthiĂ©.

      -Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacîme


      237 Go to comments
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