Wallaby Jordan Petaia says he’s attracting interest from two other football codes as well as Japanese rugby as he heads into the final year of his contract with Queensland and Rugby Australia.
Petaia told Newscorp that he has “the whole year to figure out what to do”.
In an interview, it was revealed he had fielded interest from a Queensland based NRL club (unnamed), Japanese rugby and scouts from the NFL’s International Player Pathway system.
Petaia is close friends with Mark Nawaqanitawase, who recently opted to move to the NRL after this season.
“I don’t know about other players but there’s not too much pressure around that sort of stuff,” Petaia said.
“It doesn’t change anything with my mindset. I’m focused at the Reds this year and for however long that is, but I’m just focused on this environment and doing what’s best for this team.
“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 got the easy job, I’ve just got to play footy and keep healthy.”
Jordan Petaia of the Wallabies passes during the The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Petaia said he was “stoked” for Nawaqanitawase.
“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 still has another year [of Super Rugby] to go, so we’re going to battle it out this year and have a laugh.
“Whatever he tries to do, as a mate, we’re happy to see.”
Petaia meanwhile welcomed the arrival of the Wallabies new coach.
“I don’t know a lot about Joe Schmidt,” Petaia said. “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 leaf. 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. I’ll cross that bridge when it comes.”
Retallick confirms O’Mahony sledge
Brodie Retallick has confirmed his brutal post-match sledge of Ireland enforcer Peter O’Mahony following the All Blacks World Cup quarterfinal win.
After the All Blacks defeated Ireland 28-24, Retallick turned to O’Mahony and said: “Oi Peter, four more years, you f–kwit.”
Retallick told the What A Lad that: “I said what was reported. When they beat us in Wellington in that series [in 2022], he was just into us on the field, spraying us left, right, and centre. I enjoy it — when you’re having your day, you let them know it, but I’m definitely going to give it back when we’re having our day, and what better moment than that one right there, that’s for sure.”
During that series in New Zealand, O’Mahony was reported to have told All Black captain Sam Cane that he was a “shit Richie McCaw.”
‘Scared for the other teams’
Teagan Levi fears for rival teams when her big sister Maddison is finally unleashed in the Perth Sevens as Australia’s women gun for a hat-trick of world series titles.
Superstar Maddison Levi will miss the first three games of this weekend’s tournament after receiving a red card for a dangerous tackle in Australia’s thrilling win over France in the Cape Town final last month.
Her sending off came after the 21-year-old set up victory with two tries, in the process becoming the quickest player to reach 100 tries in women’s world series matches.
Australia are looking for a home win in the tournament, which gets underway on Friday, after finishing a disappointing fifth in last year’s series in Sydney.
A year younger than Maddison, Teagan expects her sister to come out firing when she gets into the action in the quarter-finals.
“I’m scared for the other teams for Maddi to be fresh,” Teagan said after the squad’s training run in Perth.
“She’s always a weapon out on the field whether she’s fresh or not, so it will be really exciting to see her come out in the quarter-final – hopefully we make it there – and she will show what she’s got and why she’s the leading try-scorer.”
Australia will have a new face in the line-up for Perth in 18-year-old Queenslander Heidi Dennis.
Dennis is a cross-code sensation, originally linked with the Brisbane Roar in soccer’s A-League Women before focusing on the seven-a-side oval-ball game.
The teenager has come in for Demi Hayes, who has suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Teagan said Dennis will be a player to watch if she gets a chance in Perth.
“She’s a big body, she’s really powerful and she’s also got some speed about her, so it will be exciting to hopefully see her debut on the weekend,” Teagan said.
“With Mads missing three games, Heidi has a big position to step into – so does everybody else.”
In the group stage, Australia’s women face Canada (world No.5), South Africa (No.11) and Great Britain (No.9).
England suffer injury setback
England are set to be without centre Ollie Lawrence and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie for their Six Nations opener against Italy.
Both picked up injuries in last weekend’s Champions Cup and withdrew from the training camp in Girona.
England have called up Newcastle’s Jamie Blamire and the Bath backs Max Ojomoh and Will Muir.
England have not specified the nature or severity of Cowan-Dickie or Lawrence’s injuries.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Fair enough… everything resonates in that case as it is part of history.. like Kevin Tamati giving Dowling a bit of a toweling… just doesn’t mean much in terms of angst or emotional baggage as I thought you were suggesting. Anyway, all good. On other news I am hoping Australia can dig themselves out of their current ditch and turn in a good SR season leading into the internationals. Good to see the 7’s tournament in WA being a success even if Australia didn’t get the chocolates.. at least both men and women made the finals and they had good turn outs.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Has to resonate otherwise Guzzler wouldn’t remember to use it. Nothing more. Don’t let it get under your skin bro.
Captain 15
Roar Rookie
Who is Jordan Petaia’s manager?? He is a genius! This guy is a very ordinary winger at best but even there he is a liability in defence. He touts himself as a 15 or 13 and has no skill for either and has huge offers from other codes??? This has to be just rubbish. Parese is the same. He is a winger at best and why DC is persisting with him defensively I understand but the Waratahs need to score tries and he is a terrible hog and can’t pass or kick. Why can’t Australian SRP outside backs kick with both feet? Kellaway had to go overseas. Wright, MN, Donaldson and Korobiete can’t kick with their left foot and still gets wallabies selection??Jorgensen is a winger who still should be playing for Randwick. Until we have the complete set of fast elusive knowledgeable back 3 like SA and NZ we will struggle.This hopefully is what Schmidt is talking about. The SRP players must all have the skills and understanding to step up for national selection.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Does it resonate with Brodie or is he just using it.. seems like you might be overthinkng it… I would agree it may resonate more with so.e here… for most though it is part of rugby history and as such is remembered and is a useful sledge in the right moment…nothing more to it, no matter how hard you try to suggest otherwise.
Cec
Roar Rookie
LoL it seems to still resonate with Guzzler and perhaps some here :laughing: Stay humble ‘bro’. :thumbup:
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
I think everyone has Cec. Perhaps it is in the heads of some that think people are somehow still hung up about it. But it is part of rugby history and folklore, regardless. Put it another way.. should Australian rugby fans just do away with the idea they can ever compete at a RWC or for the Bledisloe cup as the last time they did is ancient history…
Cec
Roar Rookie
Nah, move on that’s ancient history.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
A bit out of expertise but there is no doubt that we have made very hard work of getting the ball to the wings, for a very long time. As much as McKenzie is worshipped by some, Sailor and Tuquiri may as well have phoned it in at the Waratahs. Either they went looking for it or only got involved confronting three defenders on the short side. Cooper provided temporary relief sometimes. It got worse under Cheika with the determination to swing the ball from wing to wing whether or not the support players could get there. Rennie reined in the mindless wing to wing for the sake of it, but coached for every last metre post contact, well adrift of support. Different backlines seem to operate in quite different ways but get the result of stretching the defence. Hard to avoid the conclusion it is a skills problem.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
txs for clarification - memory is afeing
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
It’s called rugby folklore and history… same thing in every sport. Plenty of Australians keep it alive as it’s probably the last time they were in a position to throw out such a comment.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Ringrose isn't in SRP. Reason Oz teams do so rubbish is they can't dominate a breakdown, they can't play tactical kicking and they don't use the set piece as a platform to win things.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Hadn't seen those stats. Pretty compelling though you'd know Lens defence is top teir to watch but didn't appreciate it was that much higher! Yeah higher than my original assessment based on that.
FieldGoal
Roar Rookie
Ha, ha. Ok. Didn’t realise the Wallabies were relevant to this.
In From The Side
Roar Rookie
Absolutely not. Personally I don’t think he’s got the skills or ability to play Super rugby let alone international rugby. He’s a liability for the Reds and a huge reason they struggle. A complete waste of money
Cec
Roar Rookie
Jez N. Rehab from injury is generally a lonely path and is harder than most realise.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Tks for your opinion :thumbup:
Cec
Roar Rookie
Taking that the wrong way AA. I just found it interesting that it stuck with Guzzlers who would have been just a wee lad back then. I just didn’t expect his age group to recall that sledge. Nothing more. Interesting reaction though :thumbup:
Cec
Roar Rookie
Absolutely
Cec
Roar Rookie
Mike I just rate defence higher than any skill for 13. It’s the toughest position to defend at. Defending alone on an island at times. Len is just solid there with a tackle rate in the 80s and reads the play so well with very few mistakes relatively speaking. I feel Rieko is behind Len in this skill with some very bad reads even in SRP and tackles in the low 70s. I had to think about the ENG 13 and I think it’s Marchant, sorry he stinks on D with RWC stats having him at 59%. RWC has Ringrose at 54%. Those three do attack very well though. Perhaps their tackle rates are better outside of RWC? Here’s the source. https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/. EDIT- I just checked the Leinster stats to date and Ringrose made 24 tackles and missed 17 so that’s 58%, hmmm that’s very poor.
Cec
Roar Rookie
5yrs of tests and two RWC. Can’t say he hasn’t given a fair go