A slimmed-down Kurtley Beale has quickly shown how serious is he about playing in next year’s Rugby World Cup, while also being entrusted with mentoring Max Jorgensen, the NSW schoolboy rugby prodigy who is already being compared to Joseph Suaalii.
Beale was impossible to miss during a cross-code training session involving the Waratahs and St George Illawarra Dragons on Monday.
Fighting fit … Kurtley Beale at Monday’s cross-code trainbing session between the Waratahs and St George Illawarra Dragons.Credit:Edwina Pickles/SMH Sport
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman said Beale looked like a natural No.6 in league when the two teams spent 20 minutes playing a 13-on-13 game.
While Beale, who turns 34 next month, is enjoying being back in Sydney after three years in France, he is also helping Jorgensen adjust to the top grade.
Jorgensen, 18, was pursued hard by the Sydney Roosters – coach Trent Robinson personally rolled out the red, white and blue welcome mat – only to stay put in rugby.
After losing Suaalii to the NRL, Rugby Australia could not contain their excitement when St Joseph’s College graduate Jorgensen stayed put earlier this year.
Max Jorgensen (centre) cools his heels on Monday.Credit:Edwina Pickles/SMH
Coleman said Jorgensen had quickly added some bulk to his frame, and surprised him how easily he had coped with competing against men.
The son of former league and Wallaby Peter Jorgensen gave a snapshot of things to come when he stood up Dragons ace Zac Lomax.
“I watched him play a lot of school footy, there’s always a question mark about how they go against men in the early stages, but he’s taken to it like a duck to water,” Coleman said of Jorgensen.
“He’s a special talent. He’ll have a good season this year, but more importantly [he’ll] have a great career. He came in at 81kg, we’ve got him at 86kg now, he’s not overly tall, and will only play at 92kg or 93kg once he stops filling out.
“He’s more than just a runner, he’s got great game sense, skills with both hands, he kicks … he’ll play a bit of wing early while he learns, and the plan was for Kurtley to mentor him early. Looking at him, naturally he’s a fullback.”
As for Beale and his Cup aspirations, Coleman was straight to the point on whether the veteran could wear the green and gold in France next year.
“Bloody oath,” Coleman said. “That No.15 jersey is really open, and if he has a good Super Rugby season he’s right in the mix.
“It’s the fittest I’ve seen him in a while, and he wouldn’t have done a pre-season for eight or nine years [because] he’s either been with the Wallabies or ‘bludging’ in France.
“He’s down to his fighting weight, he’s down to 92kg or 93kg, he looks good with his shirt off, and with all the Wallabies away at the moment, he is a really good leader to have in the group. If Kurtley is in the right frame of minds and he’s fit, there aren’t many better.”
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