Stephen Hoiles believes Carter Gordon should still be considered for Wallabies selection this season as Rugby Australia appears poised to block an early release to the Gold Coast Titans.
Gordon, once viewed as a Wallabies playmaking saviour, stunned the Australian rugby landscape by signing a two year deal with the Titans on Wednesday.
With Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt laser focused on next year’s marquee British and Irish Lions tour, it would appear unlikely that Gordon will add to his eight Test caps this season.
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Schmidt omitted fellow NRL-bound star Mark Nawaqanitawase from his training squad and has Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh as promising playmaking options,
“But I wouldn’t put a line through his (Gordon) name for this season,” former Wallaby turned Randwick coach Hoiles told Stan Sport.
“You’ve got to win Test matches. So if Joe Schmidt believes that Carter Gordon’s the best No.10 to beat Wales and Georgia and then lead us through the Rugby Championship, I wouldn’t have a problem picking those guys.
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“I can see why there is a difference of opinion, but for Wallaby fans, we want to see the team winning and he’s contracted to the end of the year. So it’ll be interesting to see what the game’s position on this is.”
There is a June 30 deadline for Gordon to potentially join the Titans as early as this year but RA boss Phil Waugh has shot down the prospect of an early release.
“I still have exactly the same view, in the fact you have to win the next Test match and you pick the best team you possibly can to win the next Test match,” Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald.
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“It is not going to be a situation of ‘once you are going somewhere else, you are wiped’.”
Titans coach Des Hasler told reporters on Thursday that Gordon’s versatility was a plus.
“He’s a big lump of a thing. He can play a number of positions, so he’s got that versatility. He can cover a number of positions, so it will be fascinating to watch his transition into rugby league,” Hasler said.