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Ex-Wallaby Carter Gordon lights it up again after rugby league switch

Carter Gordon of the Titans looks on during the round 19 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Parramatta Eels at Cbus Super Stadium, on July 13, 2024, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Playmaker Carter Gordon really is the one that got away for Australian rugby with the former Wallaby continuing to light it up in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup after making the headline-grabbing switch to league.

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Gordon began training with NRL club the Gold Coast Titans in early July before lining up for one of their feeder clubs in the prestigious competition in the second tier of rugby league. The 23-year-old was initially used as a centre and he didn’t look out of place.

The ex-Melbourne Rebels flyhalf scored a try and kicked three goals in the Tweed Seagulls’ 34-20 win over the Western Clydesdales in round 19. Gordon backed up that debut performance with another try a week later against Norths Devils.

While the cross-code talent showed signs of promise during those first two matches in the 13-player game, Gordon switched to a more familiar position in round 21. Gordon started as Tweed’s first five-eighth against the PNG Hunters – a role similar to union’s No. 10.

PNG went bang-bang early on by scoring two quick tries as they raced out to a 10-nil lead. But the match was far from over with Gordon playing a starring role in the Seagulls’ fightback as they managed to take the lead.

With about 10 minutes gone, Gordon thew an outrageously-impressive cut-out pass to send winger Toby Marx over for the teams opening score down the left edge. The Seagull players flocked together with a celebratory but focused look on each of their faces.

Gordon was the next man to score a try with the Queenslander stepping off his left to beat one defender, before powering through another two tackle attempts by burrowing towards the try line. That was his third try in as many matches for the Seagulls.

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It was an exciting battle that followed but Gordon’s Tweed were unsuccessful in their bid to knock off the Hunters. PNG came away with a 42-30 win, but one of the big talking points was Gordon’s promising switch to the halves.

As Fox Sports’ Darcie McDonald initially reported, Gordon scored a try, had an assist, broke six tackles while running for a staggering 83 metres on the afternoon, and the No. 6 also kicked a 40/20 – a skill which is a major asset to any rugby league side.

Gordon has three try assists for the season, three four-pointers himself, four linebreaks, 96.55% tackle accuracy and 332 total running metres through three matches. The only real downside that jumps out is that Gordon is kicking at 60% when shooting for goal.

Some other code hoppers also impressed after making the switch to league from rugby sevens. Two-time Olympic gold medallists Stacey Waaka and Tyla King also shone brightly for their respective NRLW clubs over the weekend.

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Waaka debuted for the Brisbane Broncos and was quite impressive with seven tackle breaks, one line break, and 100% tackle efficiency. The ‘Bronx’ were dominant as a collective with one of the competition heavyweights putting 44 points on the Gold Coast Titans.

Defending World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Tyla King, was a standout in her return to rugby league. The dual-international came off the bench and played 49 minutes as the St. Georga Illawarra Dragons upset reigning champions the Newcastle Knights 18-10.

“That feels amazing. I don’t think it matters who we beat, at the end of the day, just to see the girls put in a performance like that,” King told Dragons media.

“We talked about staying together and working for each other and ‘what if’ we do win tonight? Everyone else didn’t have us winning that game at all, we’re the underdogs – there was nothing to lose and all to gain.

“We just stuck in it together, made sure we completed our sets and came hard on defence.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
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