‘He’s a big lump of a thing’: Des could spring surprise positional switch with Gordon at Titans
Carter Gordon is one of Australian rugby’s finest halves but the young playmaker could find himself in an unfamiliar role after completing his blockbuster switch to the NRL’s Gold Coast.
Titans coach Des Hasler said the rangy Wallabies No.10 could play anywhere as he finds his feet in the new code.
“He’s a big lump of a thing so he can play a number of positions,” Hasler said.
“So we’ve got that versatility better as well.”
The 23-year-old played eight Tests for Australia under former coach Eddie Jones and was a stand-out for the Melbourne Rebels in their final Super Rugby Pacific season this year.
As one of the most exciting young halves in the country in either code, Gordon will add some much-needed attacking flair to the 15th-placed Titans in 2025. Gold Coast boast the league’s second-lowest points tally this season (229), only out-scoring the toothless Wests Tigers (187).
AAP understands salary cap and rostering issues preclude Gold Coast from looking to bring Gordon into the squad early, now that his time with the Rebels has run out.
“It will be fascinating to watch his transition into rugby league,” Hasler said.
“He’s got a pretty good IQ when it comes to football, whether it be the rugby type or the league type. He’s quite focused and quite driven, so it’s just a matter of then seeing where he best fits.”
Gordon could do worse than emulate another code-hopping former Titan after his switch to league.
“You’ve only got to probably look back in the game’s history. There was a bloke called Mat Rogers, he did a pretty good job,” Hasler said.
Carter Gordon. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Rogers, the schoolboy union star, played 45 Tests with the Wallabies before switching to Gold Coast, where he played 77 games at five-eighth, fullback, centre and wing.
Hasler insisted Gordon’s signing had no implications for the future of promising halfback Tom Weaver, who is off contract at the end of this season.
At 172cm, the 21-year-old Weaver is a footy player very much of a different mould to the 189cm Gordon.
“Well Carter Gordon is this tall and Tommy is that tall,” he said, gesticulating with his hands to demonstrate the height disparity between the two.
“No, we’re not making any calls, whatsoever. It’s just endeavouring to boost depth.”