Recent content by Wilson

Yes, Schmidt specifically called it out too:

It means plenty - if he was to leave for a contract elsewhere than RA/the Reds would be looking for a release fee to let him go, as the Titans just received. The guy is clearly committed to the game and playing it for Queensland and Australia longer term. I don't really think anyone will be...

Nasser is a good scrummager, but I'd be surprised if they saw him as better than BPA, who is maybe the best scrummaging hooker we've ever had (and has a very solid partnership with Tupou. I'm not so surprised they've preferred Nasser over him given recent teams named, but the surprising part...

It's been a bit lost in the flyhalf chat, but Brandon Paenga-Amosa has been left out of both the wallabies and Australia A squads, but not listed as unavailable due to injury. A bit of a surprise drop off there as easily our most experienced hooker

Not sure the Aus A guys will back up straight away having not been with the squad, at least in starting roles. The Italy test might be where a few more of those 1st picks get a break as a result, particularly with at least a few of Ikitau, O'Connor, Skelton and Hooper to be available.

Bell is a proper sabbatical (as opposed to Ikitau who has signed a quick season away between deals), so I imagine he was never going to be released until after the EOYT was done. Tupou is a bit more interesting, but it's probably just the Racing didn't want to buy out the last ~month or so of...

Seems unlikely that Stewart will be the preferred/conservative option as 10 coverage there, if Schmidt was that worried about playing Gordon straight up against Japan he would've called Donaldson in like a bunch of the other Australia A players.

That probably helps explain the 2 10s as well, O'Connor likely gets the call up as soon as they arrive in Europe, whether or not they use him too much.

I think this means we're pretty much guaranteed to see Carter in the 23, at least for that first game against Japan. I imagine Paisami and Stewart will then be looked at as the squad coverage 10s, while everyone is otherwise fit.

Full injury listing actually fairly short at this point:

I do think this will allow Lynagh's minutes to be managed, which should be very good for him in the long run. He is still quite young for pro-rugby.

Unclear at this stage, but Donaldson wasn't named amongst the other Aus A players called up (Matt Faessler, Josh Canham, Pete Samu, and Hamish Stewart). From the article...

I imagine the fact that a lot of those guys played Super Aus (if fit) is a pretty good indication they're hanging around, possibly with deals signed but not announced. There has been some reporting that HMP had already signed on for 2026 for example, though there maybe a release there after...

It will be down the line, but he's signed on for 2026, and stands to get good game time this year with Tate's injury. We probably will lose him after that with Kalani signed to 2027, but that's far from the end of the world with Martens coming through. There's also the possibility he pushes...

3 year deal for Carter Gordon: https://www.rugby.com.au/news/carter-gordon-signs-with-reds-wallabies-on-three-year-deal-rugby-world-cup-gold-coast-titans-nrl-20251010 Now that it's official we can expect to see him in this afternoon's squad