Rugby Australia secures Jorgensen on five-year, multimillion-dollar deal

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Rugby Australia has landed a second major signing in as many weeks with young superstar Max Jorgensen agreeing to a five-year, multimillion-dollar deal, fending off the interest of NRL clubs and rebel rugby competition R360.

Jorgensen, 21, has recommitted his future to rugby in one of the longest deals struck in Australian rugby. Only Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and star winger Lote Tuqiri had previously signed for five years.

The deal, which is set to be announced later this week, will mean Jorgensen remains with Rugby Australia and the Waratahs through to the end 2031, but will also contain two seasons where the outstanding young back can have a sabbatical overseas, according to informed sources.

The Jorgensen deal comes a week after RA and the Waratahs signed Roosters star Angus Crichton.

RA chief executive Phil Waugh labelled Jorgensen a “generational talent” last year and the governing body pushed hard to keep the former schoolboys star. Informed sources said Jorgensen will earn more than $900,000 a season, with the capacity to earn in excess of $1 million a year.

Having previously attempted to sign Jorgensen twice, the Sydney Roosters were again keen to bring the 21-Test Wallaby to the Bondi club, and R360 had also pushed hard to recruit the outside back before the rebel competition was postponed until 2028.

Rugby Australia has secured the long-term signature of Waratahs back Max Jorgensen.

Jorgensen made his debut for the Waratahs as an 18-year-old in 2023, and after a broken leg denied him a Test debut in the 2023 World Cup, he earned his first Wallabies cap in late 2024. A match-winning try at Twickenham began an outstanding run of performances in gold, with Jorgensen scoring memorable solo tries in two of the three Lions Tests last year, as well as in Tests against the Springboks and France.

Wallabies teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii appeared to hint at Jorgensen’s deal at a Waratahs media day on Wednesday when asked if he hoped the Roosters don’t poach his teammate.

“No, Max is here for a bit,” Suaalii said. “I love the Sydney Roosters. I’ve loved that club ever since I got there. I still do. But hopefully they don’t take Max. He’s been killing it here. He’s a superstar, and he just keeps on getting better and better.”

While Jorgensen is not switching to league, Suaalii believes the flow of talent coming to union from the NRL may increase following Crichton’s move.

The Wallabies celebrate Max Jorgensen’s stunning try in the third Lions Test.

Suaalii said he had not spoken to Crichton about his decision before the deal was done, but as former schoolboy rugby stars, the pair had often spoken while at the Roosters about a shared desire to play union again.

“Every time I’ve spoken to Angus, he’s always said he’s loved rugby. It’s a pleasure for him to come across. I think everyone’s very, very excited,” Suaalii said.

“He has a presence about him. He trains hard, he makes your teammates better around him. That’s his special ability to make everyone better around him. He has that presence that you can’t get from anywhere else.

“You can feel the buzz around the group, from the boys.”

Crichton will exit the Roosters following the 2026 season after signing with Rugby Australia in a bid to play for the Wallabies.

It’s more trickle than flood at the moment, but the stream of NRL players moving to union has been enough to fuel online and talkback debate. Along with Suaalii and Crichton, Mark Nawaqanitawase is also set to return to rugby at the end of 2026, and Carter Gordon went back last year. Zac Lomax is also still contemplating a move to Super Rugby.

Those movements have been mostly driven by Australia hosting the Rugby World Cup next year, and the fact all – bar Lomax – were previously rugby players. But that’s also the case with many young players in the NRL, who grew up playing both codes.

Asked if his and Crichton’s switch to rugby could prompt other league players to move, Suaalii said: “Yes, you could say that. I feel like you see one person do it, the possibility comes.

“When I was at league, I watched Israel Folau go across. I watched even Wendell Sailor going across. Even Karmichael Hunt. You see boys go across, and you’re like, why not, I can do that as well.

“I feel like that’s been a key factor for a lot of young kids coming through, and even older players as well, saying, why not, I can do it as well.”

Suaalii lauded Crichton as a great leader and person, and “one of the toughest players I have played with”. He said he believed one season would be enough for the forward to find his feet in rugby and make the Wallabies’ World Cup squad, but also recommended Crichton follow the same path he took and go on the spring tour at the end of the year.

“For myself, I feel like you want to get thrown into the deep water straight away; I feel like that’s where you either sink or swim,” Suaalii said. “For myself, I feel like it was a great thing for me to learn the game straight away.”

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar named his side for their opening trial against Queensland on Saturday in Brisbane, with Suaalii among five Wallabies players not considered. Recruit Harry Potter is the only Wallaby who will suit up, with a 30-man squad dominated by players who have done the entire pre-season.