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Japanese rugby, NRL and NFL interested in Wallaby Jordan Petaia - report
More than one month on from Mark Nawaqanitawase’s shock decision to leave Australian rugby from 2025, another Wallaby could be on the way out as Jordan Petaia reportedly weighs up offers from three sports.
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Petaia, 23, is set to come off contract with Australian rugby at the end of 2024. Others are well aware of this, too, with representatives from a few codes reaching out to the Wallaby.
According to The Daily Telegraph in Australia, Petaia has been approached by the NFL International Player Pathway Program, a Queensland NRL side, and Japanese rugby clubs.
Jordan Petaia has been approached by a Queensland NRL club, Japanese rugby teams and scouts from the NFL’s International Player Pathway system. pic.twitter.com/8VX54b1RXH
— OBBY (@OBBY001) January 23, 2024
It’s a troubling development for Australian rugby in the wake of Nawaqanitawase’s decision to sign a two-year deal with the Sydney Roosters. Nawaqanitawase was one of the Wallabies’ best during Eddie Jones’ reign, but Petaia has long been touted as a superstar of tomorrow.
With the British and Irish Lions set to tour Australia in 2025, this report would have to concern the Wallabies – but for now, Petaia is focused on Super Rugby Pacific with the Reds.
“I don’t know about other players but there’s not too much pressure around that stuff,” Petaia said, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.
“It doesn’t change anything with my mindset. I’m focused on the Reds this year and for however long that is, but I’m just focused on this environment and doing what’s best for the team.
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“I’ve had a few questions about (the NRL) but it’s still so early in the year. I still have this whole year to figure out what I’m going to do.
“I’m just enjoying my time at the Reds and trying to build a winning culture here, and see what options I’ve got at the end of the year with my manager.
“He takes care of most that stuff and is fairly switched on there. I’ve just got to play footy and keep healthy.”
Nawaqanitawase, 23, met with Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis after returning to Australia after the Wallabies’ disastrous World Cup campaign in France.
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The 11-Test Wallaby ended up signing a multi-year with the Tricolours, which will see Nawaqanitawase practically swap places with rugby recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Nawaqanitawase told Nine News this week that he “had to do what was right for me” by securing the headline-grabbing move across codes.
Petaia spoke with the departing Wallaby on the day of the announcement – the pair are good friends, and even visited Switzerland together after the World Cup – and was clearly happy for his international teammate.
“I was stoked for Marky,” Petaia added. “I spoke to him the day of the (Roosters) announcement as well. He was happy about it all.
“I’m sure he’ll do great things in that code. He’s still got another year (of Super Rugby) to go, so we’re still going to battle it out this year and have a laugh. It was good to get away with him after the tournament as well.
“At the end of the day whatever he tries to do, as a mate, we’re happy to see.”
While the memories of last year’s World Cup campaign are still fresh in the minds of supporters all across Australia, fans were almost unanimously thrilled with Rugby Australia’s latest announcement.
Former World Rugby Coach of the Year Joe Schmidt was revealed to be the Wallabies’ third head coach in as many years at a press conference at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Friday.
Schmidt has penned a deal through until at least the end of the British and Irish Lions series next year, but beyond then, only time will tell as to whether the coach stays on.
“I don’t know a lot about Joe Schmidt. Obviously he’s coached a lot in the northern hemisphere, but I’m glad someone has filled that role and it’s exciting for Australian rugby.
“I’ve never said I was going to leave rugby, but the winning is always good.
“A part of last year was just moving on from that campaign and we’re starting a new lead. We always want to build a winning culture, that doesn’t really shape what I’m going to do, but you always want to be part of a winning culture.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
25 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
25 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
25 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
25 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
25 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
25 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
25 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to comments