KOB1987
John Eales (66)
I hate to give you the bad mail but this will be McMahons last test for the foreseeable future. If he can be persuaded to return in 2019 then he will make an excellent back row bench option. Lets not forget that the reason McMahon is leaving is because he was not made a reasonable offer by the ARU, presumably under instruction from the current coach.
I think your last sentence is pure speculation. If anything it looks like the current coach is motivating him and giving him the opportunity to get said offer raised. He's gone for this Jap season but it's a 1 + 1 deal so it's not unthinkable that he's back part way through the next soup season.