League thinks it got its man with Nawaqanitawase. Jorgensen puts him in the shade

3 weeks ago 8

In the never-ending battle for talent between rugby union and the NRL, Rugby Australia has landed the big prize.

Max Jorgensen is the best young footballer in either code in Australia, because “Big Match Max” is already putting runs on the board.

League types might think they got their man with Mark Nawaqanitawase, but Jorgensen is the more complete footballer – and his resume reflects it: tries against England at Twickenham, the Springboks at Ellis Park and Cape Town, and against the British and Irish Lions.

He was carving up Super Rugby Pacific before he was injured in an ugly hip-drop tackle against the Hurricanes, and the Waratahs were never really the same team without him.

At 20 years old, he’d walk into the Kangaroos as well as the Wallabies, and you’d have to assume the Roosters will at some point throw the kitchen sink at him as the heir to James Tedesco.

But Jorgensen has always professed his love for the 15-man game, and it’s a matter of when, not if, he shifts into the Wallabies’ No.15 jersey as his long-term position.

Max Jorgensen is the best young footballer in rugby or league in Australia.

It may or may not happen as soon as the two upcoming Tests against Argentina, but Jorgensen will play fullback for the Wallabies this year, because the argument for not moving him from the No.14 jersey falls down on the Will Jordan precedent.

Jordan is a brilliant No.14 for the All Blacks, but that hasn’t stopped them from shifting him to fullback – his preferred position.

The reasons for taking a similar approach with Jorgensen – and yes, I am putting him in that Jordan category – are fourfold.

First, the fullback role opens up both sides of the field for him, and we already know he can beat defenders off either foot.

Second, he’s a tough defender.

Third, he’s arguably the best Wallabies player under the high ball.

Fourth, he isn’t getting enough touches on the right wing.

That last point sounds absurd, but only because we’ve been tricked into thinking otherwise by Jorgensen. The youngster is making such an impact that it feels like there’s nothing to gain from changing anything.

Mark Nawaqanitawase has been doing special things for the Roosters.

However, consider this: of the 46 players in Cape Town last weekend, Jorgensen ranked 31st in touches per minute. He’s having a disproportionately large effect on Tests because he’s winning so many big moments – not because the No.14 jersey is where the ball is going.

At fullback, he’d automatically be in the top five for involvements, and at some point Australian selectors will want to give their best remaining attacking weapon more opportunities to influence the game.

The injured Tom Wright benefited from the same theory. It took time for him to grow into one of the world’s best fullbacks, but credit must go to the Brumbies and then the Wallabies.

They recognised his attacking threat and were prepared to live with a few growing pains, because there was nowhere else in the back line that afforded him the same number of chances to use his skill set.

Andrew Kellaway’s best football for the Wallabies has come in the No.14 jersey.

In that sense, Jorgensen – not Andrew Kellaway – is actually the logical replacement for Wright because the Wallabies would be replacing their best attacking player with their next-best attacking player.

Besides, Kellaway’s best footy for the Wallabies has come in the No.14 jersey, where he has predominantly been used. He can still impart all of his experience and knowledge from that position.

Perhaps the Wallabies should split the Argentina Tests between Jorgensen and Kellaway, but the former’s move to fullback will happen sooner or later – and Australia must be thinking likewise for next year.

The fact this debate is happening at all reflects a quiet success story in the Wallabies’ year so far: they’re building depth. They’ve lost Wright and Dylan Pietsch from the back three but still have options, with Corey Toole’s brilliant debut and Harry Potter’s return from injury providing a four-into-three debate for the selectors.

Up front, lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will be coming in off the long run as a potential replacement for Will Skelton, while Tom Hooper will be considered unlucky if he misses out on the starting XV to accommodate the return of Harry Wilson.

The signs are encouraging – but Jorgensen is the player who can make the most of Wright’s cruel luck.