Andrew Johns has sent an ominous warning to former Wallaby Carter Gordon, who will switch to league with the Titans next season on a two-year deal.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behavior, Johns said he was called in by former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to work with the fly-halfs ahead of last year’s Rugby World Cup, and was “quite impressed” with what he’d seen from Gordon.
But he said Gordon was in for a massive pre-season to get his fitness up to the level required in the 13-man game.
READ MORE: Latrell, Riki binned after Bronco’s ugly high shot
READ MORE: Spine-tingling moment Shayna Jack poured out heart to coach
READ MORE: Origin star whacked in ugly sin bin incident
Then the next challenge would be adapting his skills to the nuances of league. Johns said that was the biggest challenge league players faced going the other way.
“League players who have gone to union have said it looks the same, the skill set is the same, but it’s such a difference,” he explained.
NEW PODCAST: Michael Atkinson and Sam Worthington react to the news of Wallabies star Carter Gordon’s bombshell NRL switch
“The ins and outs and the nuances of when to move the ball, when to kick – it’s a whole new game.
“It’ll be a real challenge to understand what his role is to start with, and then work on his combinations.
“Another big area is fitness – it’s a totally different fitness base. There’s a lot of stoppages in union, where league it’s all up and back and the ball can stay in play upwards of five minutes.
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
“First thing’s first, physically he’s gonna have to really rip in to training.”
The Nambour product played eight Tests for the Wallabies, including two appearances at the ill-fated 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign that cost former coach Jones his job.
The collapse of his Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby team meant Gordon was out of a job.
Johns said Gordon’s skills would have him suited to playing five-eighth, but his size could also put him in the frame to play lock.
He reckons coach Des Hasler will already have an idea of exactly where he wants him to play.
“It’s interesting where Des sees Carter, does he sees him as a five-eighth? He’s not a full back, so five-eighth or lock,” he said.
“Des would have done his homework – he’d know about the ins and outs of Carter, his strengths and weaknesses and what he needs to, and then the strengths and weaknesses of the other players.”
Carter’s former Wallabies teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase will also make the switch to league next season with the Roosters.