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The ‘unbelievable connection’ between two emerging Aussie stars
By Finn Morton
Brothers Mason and Carter Gordon share a unique connection off the field, and their relationship is also incredibly exciting for the future of the Melbourne Rebels and potentially the Wallabies.
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There might not be anyone in the world who knows Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon better than his younger brother Mason.
The pair have both inked deals with the Rebels, live together in Melbourne after moving south from Queensland, and are “pretty much best friends.”
While Mason is yet to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut, Carter has taken the competition by storm this season. In fact, the flyhalf has surged into Wallabies contention ahead of this year’s World Cup in France.
Carter was included in Eddie Jones’ star-studded Wallabies squad for a training camp on the Gold Coast last month, and has continued to impress in the No. 10 jersey for the Rebels.
But after every training or match, Carter comes home and resumes his role as an older brother.
Living with one of the brightest rising stars in Australian rugby, as he has done his whole life, Mason gets to see the “personal side” of Carter – but is also learning whatever he can from the player the Junior Wallaby considers a “role model.”
“I live with him down in Melbourne and it’s really good for us because we have an unbelievable connection as brothers, pretty much best friends,” Gordon told RugbyPass after Junior Wallabies training this week.
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“We learn off each other very well with different people but we do learn off each other well.
“He’s someone I look up to and know that I’ll have him by my side and I’ll be by his side whenever we need each other.
“Definitely a role model for me. I watch his games every day, I know exactly what he’s supposed to be on the field and he does leaps and bounds above what he’s supposed to.
“Coming home and getting to see the personal side of him like I have my whole life obviously, he’s my brother, he’s a very professional athlete and I take a lot of things from him.”
Mason, who much like his brother is sporting a simply magnificent mullet, is an emerging star in his own right.
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Gordon plays either fullback or flyhalf, and is currently plying his trade with Wests Bulldogs in Brisbane as he continues to wait for an opportunity to debut for the Rebels.
Without putting the mocker on the young utility back, there was some chatter years ago at his old high school Brisbane Boys’ College – the school this journalist graduated from, so I remember hearing it first-hand – that Mason was better than his brother.
But, when asked about that opinion, Gordon practically laughed it off.
“We are very competitive but at the same time we want the best for each other,” he added.
“I enjoy a lot of my time at fullback on the field… I think we really complement each other’s games.
“We haven’t been on the field (together) that often but when we do, we love playing with each other and the competitive nature is there but at the end of the day we want the best for each other.
“It’s definitely a goal of mine (to play Super Rugby) but at the moment I just really want to focus on my Junior Wallabies tournament.
“If it comes, it’s a lifelong goal of mine to play Super Rugby so if it comes it comes, but my focus right now it on what I’m playing and that’s Junior Wallabies.”
Running around at Junior Wallabies training on the Gold Coast earlier this week, Gordon slotted in at fullback as the squad ran a simulated 15 on 15 clash.
Gordon was included in the esteemed 31-player squad ahead of a two-game series against rivals New Zealand, with preparations well underway ahead of the World Rugby Under-20s Championship in South Africa next month.
“We’ve got an unbelievable group here from all around Australia and obviously the best 30-odd players in Australia.
“It’s a good standard here and we’re going to look to go well in the up and coming series against New Zealand, and blood some players in to get ready for the World Cup over in South Africa.
“They’re going to throw the ball around and they’re gonna be a pretty ruthless team, and we’re expecting that.
“It’s what we’ve been preparing for from camp one, two and three, so everyone’s excited to get over there and rip in.”
Australia will take on the New Zealand Under 20s in Wellington early next week, before going head-to-head for a second time on Saturday.
The second clash between the best young rugby talents from both nations is the curtain raiser to the Hurricanes’ clash with the Crusaders at Sky Stadium.
