Max Jorgensen returns to the scene of his iconic try on Sunday (AEDT) as Rugby Australia patiently wait for the young superstar to make a decision on their contract offer.
RA have tabled a five year contract to the 21-year-old outside back in a play that would keep him in the game through to the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States.
Jorgensen is contracted for the 2026 season but RA are desperate to lock in an extension as R360 and the Sydney Roosters circle.
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Max Jorgensen of the Wallabies dives over to score a try. Getty
Jorgensen spent time training with the Roosters before committing to the NSW Waratahs and Trent Robinson is a huge admirer.
Ex-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has also joined the Roosters staff.
Former Test star Cameron Shepherd said Jorgensen was in the top three most important players for RA to retain.
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Max Jorgensen of the Wallabies celebrates after scoring a try. Getty
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Jorgensen was currently on a $525,000 a season deal that would need to be bumped up significantly.
“Money is going to become a big incentive to try and lure someone like Max Jorgensen,” Shepherd said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
“Does a 21-year-old want to sign a five year deal, not knowing what might happen with something like R360? I’m not so sure.
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“I would think maybe a shorter deal might be the right idea, but the big thing is going to be money because he’s extremely valuable and everyone’s going to want a piece of Max Jorgensen.”
Wallabies legend Tim Horan agreed Jorgensen was in the must keep category.
“There’s probably five players that you have to keep for the next 4-5 years,” he said.
“Harry Wilson’s already signed, Rob Valetini, Joseph Suaalii, so Max Jorgensen is the next piece of the puzzle…
“If you sign a five year deal, then you’d allow him to go overseas, have a sabbatical, go over and play in Japan for an off-season, play in France, give him that opportunity to make a bit of extra cash.
“But I actually think it’s probably more than that. I actually think it’s a marketing ploy from Rugby Australia, for all the young boys and girls to see a guy like Max Jorgensen, 19 years of age, come into professional footy, and he’s the pin-up boy for those younger generations to come through from schoolboy level.
“Joseph has been amazing for this 12 months and what he’s brought to the game in marketing speak and the coverage that he’s got the game. And he’s playing some good footy.”
Jorgensen will start on the right wing against England at Twickenham.
He scored the famous match-winner 12 months ago in a 42-37 Wallabies ambush in front of his father Peter, a former Test player.
Max Jorgensen’s father Peter watches on from the crowd. Getty
Father and son have a special connection to England.
“Max was born in Yorkshire because I was still finishing off my rugby career playing for Northampton and Rotherham and then Edinburgh,” Peter told Stan Sport in an interview that will air before kickoff.
“My wife still laughs at me, that I sort of ensured that we drove all the way to London to make sure that (first son) Jake and Max got Australian passports before they got British ones…
“I think Max and Jake equally dislike the Poms as much as I do!
“To be there at the England game last year was pretty amazing. To see that win, which doesn’t happen very often at Twickenham, to see him score that try… it felt surreal. It almost still does.
“Jo, my wife, was jumping up and down when he scored that try. In the 84th minute, I was still in my seat, couldn’t believe that it was happening. Was it a dream? Was it real?
Max Jorgensen of Australia celebrates as he scores his winning try. Getty
“Were they going to call it back for a forward pass? Not that I thought it was ever going to be, and not that I thought it was a forward pass, but I thought, is this really happening? It was just such a special moment for every Wallabies supporter to see that happen.”
Peter and Jo will be in the Twickenham stands again this weekend.
“His dive at the end, that has become a little bit iconic, which was unlike Max because he’s never had a try celebration in his life and he might never have another one, knowing Max,” Peter said.
“But I suppose that just shows you what it meant to him and the Wallabies.”
ENGLAND (15-1): Freddie Steward, Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Guy Pepper, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje (c), Joe Heyes, Jamie George, Fin Baxter
Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith
AUSTRALIA (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Hunter Paisami, Harry Potter, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Angus Bell
Reserves: Josh Nasser, Tom Robertson, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Ryan Lonergan, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu