What code convert’s Wallabies return means for one of Australia’s leading talents

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Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss ensured Harry McLaughlin-Phillips still had a future in Australian rugby and at the Queensland Reds, despite the recruitment of former Test five-eighth Carter Gordon.

Gordon, who claimed the No.10 jumper for Australia’s ill-fated 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign, has returned to rugby union on a three-year deal after a short NRL stint derailed by a serious neck issue.

The Sunshine Coast product, who was parachuted into the Wallabies’ spring tour squad, will now vie with fellow national maestro Tom Lynagh for the Reds’ chief playmaker duties, leaving McLaughlin-Phillips in limbo.

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips of the Reds is tackled

The 21-year-old, and junior Wallabies representative, enjoyed a breakout 2024 season, before his minutes were cut owing to Lynagh’s rise this year – starting just four games and averaging 33.58 minutes a game.

While Kiss, currently coaching the Reds, stressed Gordon’s versatility could shift him to inside centre and fullback, he believed the high-profile recruit would not impact the career trajectory of McLaughlin-Phillips.

When asked if the logjam of five-eighth contenders could force one to move – with McLaughlin-Phillips off contract at the end of 2026 – he was adamant that did not need to be the case.

“I think those decisions are always measured with the player first, then you talk about it from that position. This is a good club, the Reds is a great place to earn your stripes in the game, so I think he’d be pretty happy to stay,” Kiss said.

“One thing about Harry is he’s a competitor, and he’s young and learning at a rate of knots as well. He’ll take this on in a positive way, and we’ve already spoken.

“He knows the challenge is there, he didn’t feel entitled to anything beforehand, he just wants to fight hard and earn his position.

“One of the real strong things for us is the quality of options it gives us at 10, 15 and 12 to have extra depth and options in those areas.

“We’ve got two big travel schedules in the season, we’ve got byes that don’t work in ideal spaces, so we’re going to have to manage our resources and have those options available.

Gordon leaves the NRL after managing just one game for the Gold Coast Titans, having suffered a cerebrospinal fluid leak which ruled him out for the majority of the campaign.

His immediate call-up into the Wallabies squad has thrust him into the frame for the five-eighth duties come the 2027 World Cup, with his selection coming at the expense of Lynagh, who has been sidelined in a bid to overcome a host of niggling injury concerns.

“He’s going well, he’s actually got a hamstring issue that’s just hanging on, and that’s the main reason – he hasn’t been able to get out there and train and play, so he hasn’t had a lot of volume in his running, getting over the ball and kicking,” Kiss said of Lynagh.

“We’ve got an opportunity in the next two weeks just to work on that, we’ve got a plan with RA [Rugby Australia] to make sure we get that right. He’ll have a leave period, and then a full preseason with us.”

Gordon first landed on the Reds’ radar as a seven-year-old, blossoming through their academy before taking his opportunity with the now fallen Melbourne Rebels.

Kiss did not believe it was premature to be bringing the 24-year-old into the Wallabies fold so soon after his rugby league defection, adamant he would pick up the 15-man code again as if he had never left.

“To tell you the truth, it’s been an absolute rapid four or five days. I think there was always something in Carter’s mind he would like to come back one day, but from my perspective this has just accelerated in the last four or five days,” Kiss said.

“I had a brief chat with Carter – he’s excited as you would imagine, and really looking forward to getting back and working hard. There’s no entitlement there.

“There’s obviously an opportunity to get rugby straight away, so that’s important getting him into the mix straight away. I think the environment he’s going to be moving into straight away is pretty ideal.”