Mason Gordon admits he toyed with trying to switch to the NRL like his older brother Carter, but the Junior Wallabies back says a deep desire to follow in the footsteps of Quade Cooper and don the Queensland Reds jersey ultimately proved too compelling.
For the first half of last year, the Gordon name reverberated around Australian rugby after Carter’s turbulent 2023.
After struggling under the furnace of playing on the world’s biggest stage in France, consistency proved to be the exciting flyhalf’s Achilles heel in Super Rugby in 2024.
The Rebels playmaker showcased many of the weapons that led to Eddie Jones sensationally backing him a season earlier, but the blonde-haired back struggled under the weight of having to be his side’s first-choice goal-kicker.
Off contract and watching the Rebels go to war with Rugby Australia after their sorry financial collapse, Gordon said enough was enough as he turned down the governing body’s modest contract offer to sign with the Gold Coast Titans.
For those close to Gordon, the decision came as no surprise.
Carter Gordon experienced a roller-coaster 2023 campaign, before jumping ship to the NRL in mid-2024. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)
Elsewhere, jaws dropped across the country and, in the blink of an eye, one of the Wallabies’ great young hopes, who scored a stunning try on Test debut against the Springboks in Pretoria in July 2023 and then was thrown into the deepest of ends by Jones over the coming months, was off.
Unsurprisingly, new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, moved away from Gordon and opted to back the next generation of playmakers who would still be playing Australian rugby in 2025.
All the while, Mason Gordon watched it all unfold from the same house after moving in with Carter when the duo moved to the Rebels in 2020.
“It was a pretty disrupted year, but it was a bit of a learning curve for me,” Gordon told The Roar.
“I haven’t really felt that stress before, not sort of knowing what the following year would look like.
“But, I mean, all you can do really is just play good footy and hope the best comes out of it, and I was fortunate enough to get in touch with Les [Kiss] and lock something down here.”
While the full impact of Gordon’s defection to the NRL could be felt in the years to come, Mason Gordon, 21, could prove to be another talent who rises to the top after deciding against following his older brother to the 13-person game.
“It (trying to make it in the NRL) was definitely a thought of mine,” said Gordon, who revealed he never got the chance to watch his brother play for the Wallabies because of his own playing schedule, which included playing for the Junior Wallabies in South Africa.
“I tossed it up but then the Reds came to the table, and I was really excited just to get back to Brissy and see my mates and all my family. It was pretty much a no-brainer.
“As soon as I got in touch with Les, I was just trying to lock something in there. But, yeah, I mean, it wasn’t off the cards, but I’m really happy with the decision I made.”
Mason Gordon hopes to step out of his brother’s shadow in 2025 after joining the Queensland Reds. Photo: Queensland Reds
A debut for the Reds came quicker than expected too, with Kiss calling up the Junior Wallaby to take on Wales last July.
Making the occasion all the more special was the fact Gordon got presented his debut cap by his brother, who never got to wear the Reds jersey in a Super Rugby match despite coming through the state’s pathways.
“It was always a childhood dream to play for the Reds at Suncorp,” Gordon said.
“Growing up on the Sunshine Coast and then seeing guys like Quade when they were playing was always just so inspiring, so getting my cap in front of Carter and my family was a dream.
“And the fact it happened against Wales … I sort of got called in the week before and I was like, ‘wow, it’s going to happen.’
“Wearing those home colours always means something a bit different, but that doesn’t take away from wearing the Rebels colours when I did.”
While Carter Gordon moved to the Gold Coast, Mason Gordon’s decision to sign with the Reds saw the siblings call it a day by living with each other – not that he might have had a choice in it though after Carter got engaged to his long-time girlfriend.
“He’s got that lifestyle going for him,” Gordon said.
“I lived with him for four years and we’re obviously really close. So, I’m having to find my feet a little bit just by myself. It takes a little bit to get used to, but I’m excited for him and what going on in his life.”
After operating in the shadows of Carter, Mason Gordon admits he’s itching to carve out his own journey.
“That was a big reason of getting out from behind him to try to show what I’m made of,” Gordon said.
“I just want to continue on from last year and get the opportunity to play a bit more Super Rugby this year. If that comes, I’ll show what I can offer being that playmaker that can really help out whoever else is on the field.
“I’m really excited to see how we go this year with the shape that we’ve got. It’s going to be really exciting.”
A sensational finish on debut against the Hurricanes across the ditch last year, where he burst onto a cut-out pass from his brother and showed enough pace and strength to find his way to the tryline, gave Reds fans a glimpse of what’s to come in 2025.
Although Gordon is capable of playing at flyhalf, the utility back looms as a genuine bench option given his ability to play in the back three.
“I’ve played a lot more 15 lately and I’ve been really enjoying it,” Gordon said on the eve of the Reds’ pre-season opener against Bristol in England.
“Obviously I don’t want to limit myself to one, but I’ve been at 15 a lot lately so I’ll probably just ride with that for the time being.”
Reds captain Tate McDermott, who combined with Carter Gordon for much of the 2023 World Cup campaign, said he expected the youngster to thrive at his new Super Rugby franchise.
“I think he’ll make an impact,” McDermott said.
“There’s handy competition at the moment, especially with Jock [Campbell], but it’ll be interesting to see how we use Mason.
“I obviously know Mason pretty well through Carter and the Sunshine Coast connection, and his best mate Louis Werchon is here as well. It’s great to see those two roomies knock-and-running and stuff like that.
“He’s a character Mase and a really skillful player. He’s a great addition to the side because he can play in a number of positions; he can cover 10, 15 and wing if he needs to.
He’s grown every day in this environment under guys like Les and Brad Davis, he’ll flourish under those guys.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes once he gets his opportunity.”
Gordon, too, says he’s enjoyed the environment under Kiss and Davis, which has been made easier because of his connection with Werchon and several Junior Wallabies stars, including playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and rising prop Massimo de Lutiis.
“The coaches here really complement each other well,” Gordon said.
“Les is running a lot of the attack, Brad the defence, but we have guys like Jonathan Fisher who really likes breaking up the backs game with our attacking breakdown and where we can see opportunities from that. It’s going to be really exciting.
“Les brings his focus of no numbers on the back and being able to have the IQ to read the play and know what you need to do. So, it’s not about always your No.10 just sitting behind pods. There’s times when 10s might even be running a short line just because that’s what needs to happen in that play.”
