Wallabies and Reds playmaker Carter Gordon is looking forward to representing the Brisbane-based outfit even if it means he might have to make a positional switch.
After an 18-month stint in rugby league with NRL outfit the Gold Coast Titans, Gordon returned to rugby union in October after agreeing terms on a three-year contract with Rugby Australia and the Reds through until 2028.
Gordon was parachuted into Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt’s 34-man squad for their end-of-year tour and made one appearance in the Test against Italy in Udine but sustained an injury in that clash which ruled him out of Australia’s other Autumn Nations Series Tests.
He is on the road to recovery, however, and is ready to give his all to the Reds’ cause in Super Rugby Pacific in 2026, but competition for the team’s fly-half position is tough as fellow Wallaby Tom Lynagh, ex-Australia U20 star Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and experienced Fiji playmaker Ben Volavola are also in head coach Les Kiss‘ squad.
Although Gordon prefers playing in the number 10 jersey, he’s a team player and is willing to shift to a different position in a bid to help the Reds.
‘I’m happy to do whatever’
“I love playing No.10, and that’s the position I want to play, but whatever’s best for the team,” he said. “I’ll follow Les in, so whatever he wants, then I’m happy to do whatever.
“It’s stacked, and the rest of the team’s stacked as well. Competition’s good regardless of what position you play.
“You always want to have a couple of boys working hard for that role.
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“We all push each other, and it’s better not just for the individual but for the team as well so that’s what we’re chasing.”
Wallabies coach-in-waiting Kiss revealed that it is an open race to see who gets to start at fly-half when the Reds kick off their Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Waratahs in Sydney on February 13.
Spoilt for choice
“They will all get their chance to show their wares. The off-season has been led by Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, who has trained throughout the off season and looks in great form,” Kiss said.
“Tommy Lynagh is also coming along well and is getting stronger and stronger, while Carter [Gordon] will finish off this year with a light session to see how he goes, and Ben Volavola is a really experienced ten who can give us direction.
“I like that all can play a number of positions which gives us enough scope to be flexible with our decision in terms of starting, bench and who rotates.”
Gordon is looking forward to making his Reds debut after his brief stint in the NRL.
“I felt more at home within the first week of playing union than what I did in 12 months playing league,” he revealed.
“I think I got to learn a lot in that space. I got to experience playing rugby league and training rugby league in their system, and I think that’s put me in a good spot, and it’s taught me things that I can take back into union.”