This week, one of Rugby Australia’s worst kept secrets finally broke: Jordan Petaia is pressing pause on his rugby journey to chase a career in the NFL.
The news is being considered as a blow to RA, with Petaia once earmarked as the brightest talent in Australian rugby. He was set to become the third-youngest Wallabies debutant before injury struck and when you look back at his six-year stint, missing out through injury was a common trend.
The timing of this move is what’s most curious.
With a Lions tour on the horizon next year and a home World Cup in 2027, Australia has the potential to be involved in some of the biggest games in the coming years.
With that in mind, did this new iteration of RA, post-Hamish McLennan, really want Petaia tied down long term? Were they willing to break the bank to keep him? I think they weren’t.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s arrival to rugby union has been covered umpteen times. So has his wage and I’m afraid to say that players like Petaia are exactly the ones an organisation can’t afford.
I’m not sure when the last time his biography on RA’s website was updated, but it almost feels as though they’re laying out a roundabout argument for his exit.
Jordan Petaia (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“He (Petaia) went on to win selection on the Wallaby Spring Tour and looked set to become the third-youngest Test- capped Wallaby of all time before hamstring soreness forced him to withdraw at the eleventh hour from the side to play Italy.
“Petaia started the 2019 Super Rugby season in red-hot form before he ruptured the Lisfranc ligament in his left foot against the Crusaders in round three.
“The injury saw him ruled out for the remainder of the tournament, however Petaia returned to earn a berth to his first Rugby World Cup and went on to make his Test debut, against Uruguay in Oita.
“Unfortunately, a frustrating run of injuries – a dislocated left shoulder, a thigh/quad strain, numerous hamstring strains and concussion protocols – have kept him sidelined for 12 of the 34 Tests played by the Wallabies over the past three years. In addition, Petaia has finished just three matches from his 14 run-on Test appearances.“
Whatever about listing out his injuries, the line “has finished just three matches from his 14 run-on Test appearances” just seems too on the nose to be a coincidence.
Jordan Petaia is the perfect example of a mismanaged player, a players with huge potential who wasn’t supported my a mature organisation. An organisation that was fixated on its short-term survival as opposed to long-term potential.
Australians constantly talk about the competitive landscape of sport in this country but it’s the years of short-term solutions that have hampered the game.
Petaia was not physically conditioned for international rugby and his early induction was the catalyst for the series of injures he’s suffered.
Just this year, Joe Schmidt cited Queensland Reds’ Rookie of the Year Tim Ryan as an example of developing players. Ryan had an electric Super Rugby season, scoring a hat-trick on debut and finishing the year with nine tries from nine appearances.
However, despite his try-scoring form and work rate, it was clear to see that Ryan needed time to develop physically. He’s since signed a two-year deal with Queensland and if he combines another pre-season of work with a good Super Rugby season, Ryan is exactly the under-scouted bolter Schmidt could unleash on the Lions in 2025.
But if Ryan injured himself in the lashing rain at Optus Stadium versus the Springboks or hurts a shoulder tackling Duhan van der Merwe, he could miss the chance altogether.
Unlike Ryan, Jordan Petaia was rushed onto the international stage and I’ve no doubt Michael Cheika believed he could make a difference for the Wallabies – his talent was unquestionable, but pound for pound he wasn’t prepared to play back-to-back games against veteran internationals.
His series of injuries meant he consistently was unable to string practices, never mind games together and robbed him of the opportunity to train and develop any one position. The ability to be versatile shouldn’t hold a player back and is a great string to a coach’s bow but it does little for a player and their chances of progressing from good to great.
Petaia’s potential has been squandered by RA and I don’t blame him for wanting a new experience.
At 24 years of age, he’ll be well-placed to make his return to rugby when he eventually calls time on his NFL dream.
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in October 2027, which means he has the 2025 and 2026 NFL seasons and mini camp period of 2027 to showcase himself to teams.
The odds are against him, but if the deal Ruby Australia were offering him came up short of what he thinks he’s worth, then he’s right to chase a dream.
He’s 24 years old. You only have to look at the images Louis Reese Zammit chooses to share on his social media to appreciate the opportunity. Full-time photographers capturing you head to toe in pads, sitting in meeting rooms with the likes of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.
At the very least it will be an incredible experience and one Petaia should take now before it’s too late.
