Derpus
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Can be a nice break - I recall Foley saying it was unreal being able to get back to playing rugby just for funsies.
Wallabies 2025
- Thread starter rugbyAU
- Start date
The Ghost of Raelene
Tim Horan (67)
Just a solid job on best form though. McReight is one of our very few world class players. Whatever Fraser wants we should give.
Dctarget
Jason Little (69)
Yeah I'd argue that the drop off from Mcreight to the next is similar from Wright to the next too.
The Ghost of Raelene
Tim Horan (67)
Probably correct right now but there is more chance of JAS or Jorgo taking the next step into being a legitimate contender for the jersey then any other 7 country wide challenging Fraser IMO anyway.
Both are must retains regardless.
Both are must retains regardless.
Adam84
Tim Horan (67)
I agree….
perhaps a conflict of interest over what is a key retention target for wallabies and what is a key retention target for RA owned Waratahs
Presumably Jake Gordon is a key retention target because he's the current coach's first choice, Nic White is 34 and Tate McDermott has already been retained.
JRugby2
Colin Windon (37)
31 going on 32 isn't old especially when there is a World Cup in 2 years time.
High performance advancements in the last 10 years mean that a 34yo half at the world cup, can be expected to do a job still - even starting.
Wilson
David Wilson (68)
I think the main difference between Gordon and the others is due to his age there's very little scope to offer him a long term deal, or at least one that is competitive with overseas offers. Based on the chat with Nick Phipps on inside line the other week there's also very little opportunity for a sabbatical as a 9 right now (unless you're Dupont), so that lever isn't there either.
So it's not so much how key a retention he target is, but how much room to move there is in retaining him.
JRugby2
Colin Windon (37)
Why do we need to offer him a long term deal?
2 years gets us to the RWC and we can shake hands and say goodbye, and I'd be surprised if any offer from RA was longer than that - so to me, at 31/32 - his age is irrelevant, right now.
Whether we can match overseas offers is a separate issue.
Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
It’s old for paying overs. Gordon doesn’t set the world on fire imo. He’s not gonna get any better in 2 years time so it’s a risk I’d rather we didn’t take. I’d back Teddy, Thomas and Werchon to take his place if we’re only selecting from Australia.
wamberal99
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Scrum half is our weakest position.
Wilson
David Wilson (68)
No, we don't need to offer him a long term deal, but one of the ways of countering a bigger offer overseas is with a longer one here which provides the player more certainty, particularly in the event of injury. It's something that is being actively explored to retain talent, and a key part of working out Harry Wilson's deal.
My point was that with Gordon's age it's not a something we really could consider doing there, in the same way that we can't really match offers over a certain value.
JRugby2
Colin Windon (37)
Heaps of potential, sure, but none of these three have shown with the (albeit, limited) opportunity given that they should be commanding the money from Gordon, based on his age.
Maybe that will change this year for at least Teddy and Kalani? Can't see Werchon getting heaps of minutes
Major Tom
Peter Fenwicke (45)
A long contract gives job security so you’d sign for less.
JRugby2
Colin Windon (37)
For sure. Maybe I'm miss interpreting the original point - but 31/32 is not old by modern standards, and I strongly disagree that at that age someone is over the peak - again, with modern standards, and so I can easily see why he's a priority re-signing.
The Ghost of Raelene
Tim Horan (67)
Great talents but only Kalani has a Super Rugby start to his name and 9 across 5 seasons. He and Wilson are just starting to look like genuine pros. Gibson-Park's 33 and going well. Halfback has a lot of responsibility throughout the side that I think age does help as well.
It's probably the weakest position group so I can understand RA not wanting the current coaches pick at the spot to walk. Is he worthy of a big deal at other points of depth in the spot? Probably not, but hes the beneficiary of it not being.
Wilson
David Wilson (68)
Apparently the offers for McReight are up past $1 million per year:
Reds Rick
Chris McKivat (8)
And says that RA offered him $600k just before Xmas with a slight improvement since then…
If they don’t throw money at him, who are they going to throw it at?
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
$600k is an insult.
We don't have many players who can alter the course of a game on their own with key involvements, McReight is one of them.
Samu had that aura a few years ago, then went to Japan, copped injuries and now he's nearly out of the picture.
Taniela was on his way there a few years ago, again before he got injured and ended up going to the chill zone franchise where the wheels fell off.
Just lock McReight, he's in a good place at the Reds and its a done deal.