Queensland scrumhalf Tate McDermott, snubbed by Eddie Jones for the coach’s first Wallabies squad of the World Cup year, has re-signed a long term deal to stay in Australia.
McDermott, who made his debut for the Reds in 2018 and is the team’s co-captain, has signed a four-year deal through to the end of the home World Cup in 2027.
McDermott said in a statement: “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to live and play rugby in Queensland. That is a dream I’ve had since I was a young boy.
“I love representing the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies, and staying here in Australia gives me the chance to continue to do that.
“There is plenty left to achieve in this country. With a Lions Tour and a home World Cup on the horizon, that is a future I want to be part of.”
Reds General Manager of Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley added: “Tate is a very proud Queenslander. He entered into his contract negotiations stating that he only wants to play for Queensland and the Wallabies.
“He is one of our leaders and we are really proud to have him at the Reds for the next four years.”
Jones picked just two scrum halves for this month’s camp on the Gold Coast – leaving out Dave Rennie regulars McDermott and Jake Gordon and going with Brumbies pair Nic White and Ryan Lonergan.
“Tate is a young player who has much to achieve in the game and to have him re-sign long-term shows his commitment to Australian Rugby which is really positive,”said Jones.
Tate McDermott. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“He’s a leader at the Queensland Reds and we’ll be watching him closely for the remainder of the Super Rugby season.”
McDermott debuted for the Wallabies in 2020 at the age of 22, and has played 21 games for his country.
McDermott joins Tom Lynagh, backrower Fraser McReight, winger Suliasi Vunivalu and lock pairing Seru Uru and Angus Blyth in re-committing to Queensland Rugby in recent weeks.
‘Really tough for him’
Wallabies great Stephen Larkham hopes another national team axing for Noah Lolesio won’t shatter the young five-eighth’s confidence and will instead spur him to new heights.
Larkham, who is Lolesio’s club coach at the ACT Brumbies, was shocked the 23-year-old did not feature in Wallabies coach Eddie Jones’ training camp squad after an impressive start to the Super Rugby campaign.
Jones instead opted to take Melbourne’s Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson of the NSW Waratahs.
Queensland’s Tom Lynagh was not considered due to injury, while overseas-based talents Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper will link with the group via Zoom.
Lolesio did not enjoy the easiest 2022 international season. He was in and out of the Wallabies side and later said he had “gone into his shell” over the last two years as he struggled with his confidence.
Larkham, who won more than 100 caps with the Wallabies, said Jones had discussed with Lolesio how to play himself back into the selection frame, but suggested the five-eighth remained confused about his status within the national team.
“Some of the selections over the last couple of years with the Wallabies have been really tough for him to understand where he sits within the framework of Rugby Australia,” Larkham said.
“It’s just another one of those. He’s had quite a few of those disappointing moments where he’s a little bit confused as to what he should be doing.
“Confidence is certainly a key part of his game. He’s not going to change his game, there’s no reason to change his game.
“He’s still looking for the opportunities to inject himself in the game. He’s got a senior role (with the Brumbies) where he’s got to steer the guys around the paddock, so he’s going to be firstly focused on that.”
With their Brumbies flying at 5-1, Larkham backed Lolesio to show Jones he belongs in Australia’s World Cup squad.
“He’s been doing a really good job for us, he’s been playing the game we want him to play and his combination with (halfback Nic White) has been going exceptionally well for us,” Larkham said.
“It was tough news for Noah, and a little bit surprising for the coaches, to see that name not on the list.
“But it’s a challenge now for Noah to step up and see what he can deliver when things haven’t gone his way.”
Hodge backs Gordon for higher honours
Wallabies back Reece Hodge says form flyhalf and Rebels teammate Carter Gordon has won a spot in Jones’ Wallabies squad through intent and hard work.
“I’m really proud of Carter,” Hodge told reporters. “He’s been at the club for a couple years now and to see the strides that he’s made his own game, he’s one of the hardest workers.
“He’s a student of the game and has a really good understanding of the game of where to attack whilst putting his body on the line in defence.
“I think just the intent he has played with both sides of the ball has meant he’s deserved his spot in the squad.
“It’s up to him to continue those performances, keep the consistency up and give them no excuse come Rugby Championship and World Cup time.”
Gordon has been outstanding this season at a time when three of the other young emerging No.10s – Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed – have been struggling.
“His performances this year have been awesome,” Hodge said.
“He controls the game really well and his option-taking and overall game has been up there with the best playmakers in the competition.
“If he keeps up that standard of play, the guys around him at the Rebels have massive confidence in the way he’s playing at the moment and there’s no reason why he can’t step to the next level and do the same thing.
“I know he’ll be narrowing his focus to Super Rugby at the moment and will go from there once the next squad is picked.”
Brumbies face Brisbane hoodoo
The Brumbies have not won at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium since 2015 and are riding a six-game losing streak at the venue, a run that includes heartbreaking memories of their 2021 Super Rugby AU grand-final defeat.
But the Brumbies have become a winning machine since that devastating night, victors in nine of their last 10 outings against Australian teams as they have established themselves as the nation’s best club side.
ACT coach Stephen Larkham is not expecting an easy ride in the tough Brisbane conditions on Good Friday, as his side look to end their Queensland disappointment against a Reds outfit coming off back-to-back losses.
“It’s the rivalry we’ve got with the Reds that’s been steadily building over the last couple of years,” he said.
“They’re a quality team. They’ve got a lot of Wallaby players in their 23.
“The humidity, the temperature, the crowd, the travel, it all comes into it.
“We’ve certainly addressed that at the start of this week but it’s not something that makes it any easier for the boys when they get out there. They’re going to have to deal with lots of distractions.”
The Brumbies’ hot form was rewarded with 13 players named in Eddie Jones’ recent Wallabies training squad, while the Reds had four.
Both sides have troops who will be determined to play their way into Jones’ future plans.
Queensland five-eighth James O’Connor – who has been dropped to the bench for the Brumbies clash – missed out on a first call-up under the new national coach, as did ACT playmaker Noah Lolesio.
Reds’ No.15 Jock Campbell, meanwhile, will be out to make a statement against Brumby Tom Wright, one of three fullbacks in Jones’ squad as preparations begin in earnest for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in France in September.
Larkham said players should not give up on their World Cup dream, adding the squad could easily look very different by the end of the season.
“The best (squad) announcement for a player is really the one at the end of the Super Rugby season,” he said.
“It’s an honour and a privilege for the guys who got announced this time around, but there is a long way to go.”
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/kZK0SjT News: Tate’s non negotiable revealed in long-term deal, Larkham riled by treatment of ‘confused’ Noah
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