It was no surprise to see the online debate erupt following my ‘way too early’ Wallaby Rugby World Cup squad last week.
The selection of Nathan Cleary at fly-half was especially contentious. And that’s OK, debate is healthy.
But it is worth addressing some of the more common complaints and observations here.
The first major criticism was that we need more money in grass roots rugby- why spend millions more on a ‘Mungo’?
Well, there’s already not much in the bank. That’s for sure. The next Lions Tour is 11.5 years away and that’s if they don’t jam in a tour date with the Pumas between now and then.
Bombing out of a home Rugby World Cup before the knock out stages would be absolutely disastrous for grass roots participation levels as well as future finances and broadcasting revenue. Even exiting at the quarter-final stage will be treated as a failure.
There’s also no need to spend millions on Cleary or even Isaiya Katoa, who I acknowledge may be an even better option given his age and Barker College pedigree.
If Rugby Australia got creative, joint contracts with Japanese or French clubs are not impossible to imagine. Look at Angus Bell’s stint in Ulster or Len Ikitau’s short contract at Exeter. With Mary Fowler, Cleary’s partner playing soccer in England, there would be at least some attraction for him.
And Cleary isn’t ‘any old Mungo’. He’s a great, possibly a future immortal in a position of need. There is no comparison with Mat Rogers who was signed over 20 years ago or even the outside back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Which brings me to the next major talking point, the extent of Cleary’s rugby pedigree. OK, I over-egged it. Mea Culpa. What I don’t back away from is the fact that Cleary is a footballer, an organiser and an on-field general in League, the likes of which the Wallabies haven’t had since Stephen Larkham.
Isaiya Katoa passes. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It’s worth repeating here exactly what Joe Schmidt said when asked about Nathan Cleary back in late May: “I watched State of Origin … he obviously went to Sacred Heart College in New Zealand when Ivan was coaching the Warriors. That’s Sean Fitzpatrick country, that’s Taniela Tupou country. It’s certainly a rugby school. He played soccer as a young man, he’s played league. He might want to spread his wings.”
Schmidt didn’t sound like a bloke who thought Cleary would have no hope of grasping the game. Nor did Tim Horan this year or Jesse Kriel last month when he said “Cleary would be unbelievable. He has a crazy skill set, his timing of the ball and his passes. How he takes the ball to the line.”
Taking the ball to the line. Isn’t that the Australian way or at least a big part of it? Just look what happened this season when someone in gold dared to do it.
Queensland Origin veteran Corey Parker was another who endorsed a move by Cleary to union emphatically saying this year that “If he wanted to cross-code I could see him excelling. Fly-half for Australia at a World Cup. Yes, I can see him doing it. All eyeballs would be on him.”
The fact is that rugby has increasingly followed league in that it’s become more structured in its attacking patterns.
Attacking shapes, decoy runners and offloading in contact have all evolved rapidly to incorporate league approaches. Why do you think Andy Farrell has done so well in coaching? Didn’t Les Kiss play Origin?
Back to Rogers. Listening to him speak on his podcast ‘Sportsday with Satts and Rat’ he noted that the Wallabies did not kick a penalty goal across the five-Test tour just gone.
It was an astonishing, hard to believe observation which I believe is accurate. They turned down the chance to go in 10 all at half-time against England. Not having a reliable place kicker must feed into that approach.
Cleary can place kick – his success rate was above 87% in 2025 and has been 82% or better for the last three seasons in the NRL. Who is going to do that for the Wallabies at the World Cup?
There was also significant criticism of my comments regarding the long-term health and durability of Tom Lynagh and Carter Gordon.
Carter Gordon (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
I’m on record back in March as saying that rugby hasn’t looked after Tom Lynagh. Some of the atrocious high shots on him in Super Rugby and during the Lions tour made a mockery of World Rugby’s push to deal with high contact.
In an age where red cards are thrown around like confetti, where the Ireland v South Africa match lasted 130 minutes, Tom Lynagh has been battered without any protection from officials.
By my count, Noddy Junior has suffered no fewer than four concussions in the last 12-18 months. The issue appears to be serious enough to have ruled him out of numerous matches at all levels as well as the end of year Wallaby tour.
Of course none of us know what medical advice Gordon has received following his Cerebrospinal Leak or whether Rugby Australia had independent medicos paw over him. However, Gordon is a rugby player, he obviously does not intend to spend the next five years gently jogging, doing Pilates in Bulimba or completing moderate gym sessions.
Aaron Cohen-Gadol is one of the preeminent brain and spinal specialists in the world and is a professor at the University of Southern California. In a 2024 article titled ‘Recovery Outlook for CSF Leak’ he notes that “studies have shown recurrence rates of around 30% across various types of CSF leak.”
It’s gotta be said, quality of life and health is far more important than rugby. You wouldn’t trade it for the William Webb Ellis Cup.
But the stakes for rugby in this country are sky high and difficult questions have to be asked.
How does Kiss intend to play Gordon and Lynagh in the same team?
Tom Lynagh. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
What are the odds that one or both of them are fit, healthy and have miles in the legs when the Rugby World Cup knockout stages begin?
If neither of them are available, will James O’Connor still be around, will Stephen Larkham succeed with developing Tane Edmed, will Noah Lolesio answer an SOS? Is Ben Donaldson suddenly going to find his feet? Does anyone pick up the phone to someone with the last name of Lucas?
Hmmm. Those are a pretty unlikely and or unpalatable set of options for a back up let alone starting 10 at a Rugby World Cup taking place in under two years.
There has obviously been a failure to identify, develop and retain fly-halves in Australian Rugby.
My view is that it started around the time the coaching musical chairs was ignited in what was the pretty distasteful period surrounding Ewen McKenzie’s resignation. Succession planning was thrown out the door, people didn’t wait their turn.
In any case, Cleary or Katoa for that matter could provide a bridge, a lifeline that might just get Australian Rugby through arguably the most important two years in its history.
It’s a risk with a high ceiling that must be seriously considered. Do not go gently into the night.
Will Evanshttps://https://ift.tt/tMJuieT spend millions on a mungo: The case for rugby splashing the cash on Cleary or Katoa
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