Max Jorgensen: Kiss on the ‘dangerous’ flyer lighting up Super Rugby

NSW Waratahs winger Max Jorgensen couldn’t have started the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season much better against the Queensland Reds, scoring twice in a Player of the Match-calibre performance in Sydney.

Jorgensen was fresh off signing a historic five-year contract with Rugby Australia and the Tahs, setting the tone for a strong start to the season in Camrbdige Blue. The Tahs defeated the Reds 36-12, which included an early try of the season contender from their star winger.

‘Jorgo’ made a break towards the try line before half-time, with Reds fullback Jock Campbell waiting as the last line of defence. But the 21-year-old beat Campbell with sheer pace, producing a highlight that went viral on social media.

It’s been one month since that match at Allianz Stadium, and Jorgensen has continued to capture headlines in another two Super Rugby Pacific appearances. Jorgensen has scored doubles in all three matches, and currently tops the Player of the Year charts with 22 votes.

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar has named Jorgensen and Sid Harvey on the wings this week, while Triston Reilly shifts to the midfield in the absence of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Reds coach Les Kiss has outlined what the Queenslanders need to do to shut Jorgensen down.

“He’s going very well. We’re going to have to make sure we keep space at a minimum for him. You give him space… and he’s dangerous,” Kiss told reporters.

“We’re going to have to be strong in terms of our defence around the edges. If our kicking game is loose, he’ll use that space very well. He’s a dangerous proposition for sure.

“We just need to be very accurate with what we do. Our kicking game has to be strong, our chase has to be strong, our one-on-one tackles in the middle of the field need to be strong so we can load our defensive line and not offer him the space that he does revel in.

“It’s a challenge but that’s what we’ve got to do.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

26

23

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

60%

Kiss admits the Reds “weren’t our best” last time out against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, but the visitors still came away with a rare win in the capital. The Reds trailed by two scores deep in the piece, but two tries in four minutes saw them snatch the win after the bell.

Daugunu crossed for a try in the 78^th minute before fly-half Carter Gordon crossed for the match-winner in the final play. With that result, the Queenslanders have extended their season record to 2-1, now with a chance to claim some revenge for that sole defeat to the Tahs.

“Each week is important. I think this is going to be a very competitive competition this year,” Kiss explained.

“We haven’t done Fiji, we’ve got that in a couple of weeks so there’s a few hurdles to get over in that space.

“The thing I’ve loved about the team is all they’ve done is zeroed into the next training and obviously the Waratahs this week, which becomes a fairly important game for both teams really.

“They’ve had the better of us to date. We’ve got to be better than we have been to get the money, that’s for sure.”