1
Teenage whiz Max Jorgensen clears up rugby future amid NRL interest
Teenage rugby prodigy Max Jorgensen appears intent on staying in the code as the Australian looks ahead to potentially donning Wallaby gold against the British and Irish Lions in 2025.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jorgensen was heralded as a generational talent during his high school career with the St Joseph’s College First XV in Sydney, and the rising star has lived up to the hype at the next level.
The 19-year-old scored a double on debut for the Waratahs against arch-rivals the ACT Brumbies in last year’s season opener at Allianz Stadium.
Jorgensen continued to impress during Super Rugby Pacific and was rewarded with a surprise inclusion in Eddie Jones’ new-look Wallabies squad for the Rugby World Cup – although injuries kept the rising star on the sidelines for the entirety of Australia’s tournament.
But for all the hype and expectation following Jorgensen, questions still remain about his future with the outside backs’ contract set to expire at the end of the season.
NRL clubs have reportedly been interested in securing Jorgensen’s services, but the Wallaby-in-waiting shut down any talk of a potential code switch at the Waratahs’ facilities on Monday.
“I love the game and want to make my mark here playing for the Wallabies,” Jorgensen told reporters.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s a dream to play in a World Cup and with the British and Irish Lions coming up next year, it comes around every 12 years so if you miss out, you don’t get another opportunity to do it again.
“Playing something like that would be awesome.”
But Jorgensen hasn’t ruled out all career changes completely. The teenager wants to be an Olympian and he can make that “dream” a reality in rugby union’s shorter format.
Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper officially switched to rugby sevens at the start of the year in a bid to make Australia’s squad for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jorgensen briefly spoke about how he would like to pursue that very same dream sometime down the track.
“I don’t think this year but that’s another dream, playing for Australia at the Olympics, winning a gold or any medal,” Jorgensen added.
“That’d be pretty cool but I’m focused on the Tahs and hopefully making my Wallabies debut.”
Jorgensen is yet to debut for Australia at international level. While he was included in the Wallabies’ World Cup squad, a broken leg ruled him out of pool stage matches.
While he didn’t take the field, Jorgensen still felt all the emotions of Australia’s disastrous pool stage exit at the sport’s showpiece event.
“I was so devastated for the boys. I was feeling all the pain… but for me personally, I think it was a good experience to sort of go through something like that, like somewhere where you don’t win anything and everyone’s, the fans are hating you, stuff like that.
“As hard as it is, I think I’ll grow as a player and be better for it.
“Having your own fans booing you, you’re sort of sitting there like, ‘What do I even think?’ They’re booing us – like they’re meant to be our fans.
“It’s obviously hard but as I said, I think it’s going to make you a better player in the long run, as s*** as it was in the moment, how s*** of a campaign it was, I think a lot of the boys are better for it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments