Carter Gordon’s Surprising Position Change Could Accelerate NRL Ambitions

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Carter Gordon is turning heads at Gold Coast pre-season training with the former Wallabies star doing everything he can to break into the Titans’ 17.

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After being granted an early release from his Rugby Australia contract, the 23-year-old joined the Titans midway through last season, featuring for Queensland Cup feeder club Tweed Heads.

Heading into the pre-season, it appeared Gordon’s path to first grade was going to be in the halves, however teammate AJ Brimson has revealed to foxsports.com.au that the versatile code hopper has been training “anywhere in the backline”.

Early reports from Titans camp indicate that Brimson and Jayden Campbell will start the season as the team’s halves pairing, with veteran Kieran Foran slated for a potential super sub role.

With a logjam in the halves, Gordon’s best chance of becoming the first ex-Wallabies playmaker to play in the NRL in 34 years may be in the outside backs.

With Alofiana Khan-Pereira (wing) and Brian Kelly (centre) likely locks for the Titans’ season opener against the Bulldogs in Round 2, coach Des Hasler will have a choice between Gordon, Phil Sami, Jojo Fifita, Harley Smith-Shields and Tony Francis for the remaining two outside back spots.

“He’s been training in the halves and the centres… He’s training anywhere in the backs really just because he is that bigger body,” Brimson said.

Gordon did play in the centres for Tweed Heads last season before ending the year in the halves.

Brimson says Gordon has been a positive influence on the Titans’ playing group, and is eager to learn given his inexperience in the sport.

“He brings a really good kicking game and he’s a big body,” Brimson told foxsports.com.au.

“He’s really eager to learn. He’s already done some pretty cool things representing the Wallabies so he’s now just coming back to square one really just trying to understand rugby league.

“I’m excited for him as he’s a good person off the field as well.”

The Titans superstar also revealed that Gordon isn’t just a gun on the footy field though.

“He brings a really good golf game to be fair. It’s amazing, he went around in -4 the other day,” Brimson said.

“I told him I thought he must have been cheating but it was a comp so someone else scored him. So he’s a very, very good golfer.”

Brimson isn’t the first Titans teammate to speak glowingly of Gordon.

Early last month, Foran also sung the praises of the ex-Wallaby, believing he has a bright future in rugby league.

“He’s going really good Carter,” Foran said.

“He’s a lovely young guy. He’s extremely dedicated. He works really hard on his game.

Carter Gordon representing the Wallabies in 2023. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“You can just see how much he wants it. How much he wants to carve out a career in rugby league and I’ve got no doubt he certainly will.

“He’s got all the attributes that it takes to make it in this game and have a long career and I think he’s going to be a huge plus for us heading into next season.”

NRL fans are set to get their first glimpse of Gordon in the top grade when the Titans play the Broncos in their first Pre-season Challenge game on February 16.