Advance Australia Fair

[Puja]

More good news for Australia - Mark Nawaqanitawase is apparently turning down a big contract extension in the NRL to return to union at the end of the 2026 league season. He's not going to Super Rugby, but he will at least be available to the Wallabies. You'd have to expect that a decent part of that is the improved results under Schmidt - if Australia were still getting spanked by all and sundry, I don't see him turning down the easy money in league.

Add to that Petaia coming back from NFL, Fainga'a and Samu returning to Aus from the Top 14, Schmidt blooding and developing some decent youngsters and the future's looking a bit brighter again. Big fortnight though - Australia need to win one of the Bledisloe tests to keep the momentum and good feeling in the sport going. It's all on an upward curve, but it's fragile right now and, if they get dicked twice in a row, then the general sporting public will turn back off again.

Puja

[Puja]

And now Carter Gordon apparently "granted permission to discuss union return": https://www.planetrugby.com/news/ex-wal ... ndorsement. He would've made a difference in the Rugby Championship, given that I think we've now conclusively proven that Edmed's not a Test-quality player.

Puja