'It's definitely time': Underperforming Waratahs ready to start winning

The lure of an elusive premiership could catapult record-setting Jake Gordon into uncharted territory as the NSW Waratahs’ most-capped player.

Gordon will on Friday night eclipse former Waratahs captain and coach Chris Whitaker as the club’s most-capped halfback, with 119 appearances for his state.

Honoured to be surpassing one of his childhood idols, Gordon could be in line for further milestones if the 32-year-old finishes as a one-club servant.

Are losers getting ripped off in Golden Point? | RP

After the Blues’ nail biting Golden Point extra time win over the Reds, should the Reds have received the same competition points as a team that loses in regulation time? The Aotearoa Rugby Pod Crew can’t see eye to eye on this.

Watch now

Are losers getting ripped off in Golden Point? | RP

After the Blues’ nail biting Golden Point extra time win over the Reds, should the Reds have received the same competition points as a team that loses in regulation time? The Aotearoa Rugby Pod Crew can’t see eye to eye on this.

Watch now

He is contracted until the end of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season and, if he opts to re-sign, the long-time Wallabies No.9 would almost certainly move past retired prop Benn Robinson as the Tahs’ most-capped player in history with an injury-free run.

Robinson made 155 appearances for the Waratahs between 2006 and 2016.

Gordon, who considered an overseas move before recommitting to the Waratahs last year, admits the chance to finish as a one-club player is definitely appealing.

“I still think the quality of Super Rugby is extremely high,” Gordon said ahead of Friday night’s hosting of the Western Force.

“There’s always that little bit of ‘What if? To possibly go play over (to Europe) at some point but with my partner here, we’re pretty settled.

“It’s probably still 18 months away, probably a year away, from making that decision.

“But also it’s attractive to possibly be a one-club player too. Both have real positives to it for sure.”

After debuting in 2017, three years after the Waratahs snared their one and only title, Gordon still yearns to play in a championship-winning Super team.

With a Wallabies-laden outfit featuring the likes of superstar backs Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen, not to mention NRL convert Angus Crichton arriving next season, Gordon knows the Waratahs are capable.

“We’ve definitely got the potential,” Gordon said.

“I see genuine potential. It’s more about us – I wouldn’t say delivering on it – but just starting to play a little bit better.

“You’re not going to play 80 minutes of good rugby, but you’ve got to get more towards the end at later minutes to play some really good rugby, and I believe that we have the group that can do that.”

But if 2026 is to be the year, Gordon knows the eighth-placed Waratahs need to start stringing together some wins.

“It’s definitely time,” he said, lamenting matches that got away against the Blues, Queensland Reds, Brumbies and even against the Crusaders last Friday night.

“Again, probably discipline hurt us.

“We need to probably just get a little bit more consistent around our game. We’re not going to control games for 80 minutes – I don’t think any team really does.

“We’ve got to find ways to balance out the game and find ways to get our guys into the game, your Jorgensens, your Sids (Sydney Harvey), (Andrew) Kellaway, Suaalii.

“Guys like that to start having an impact.”