In normal circumstances, it would have been enough for Jorgensen to be a star attraction for the Waratahs’ new season, but all the cameras and column inches were trained on the new kid Suaalii – and that suited Jorgensen just fine.
“It helps not being in that spotlight,” Jorgensen said.
Wallaby Max Jorgensen scores the match-winner against England.Credit: Getty Images
“When you go through some rough patches, it definitely helps when the spotlight’s not on you so much. It was always at the back of my head, so I didn’t think it [media pressure] affected me too much. Obviously Joey’s been amazing for our group – he’s got a toe injury at the moment. Hopefully, he’s back in the next couple of weeks.”
Now 20, Jorgensen has noticeably filled out physically, but he has also got faster. And the experiences of touring with the Wallabies, and playing in high-stakes Test matches like at Twickenham, has added a bit of maturity and self-confidence, too.
“Footy doesn’t get too much harder than that. So being able to learn off those players and bring that knowledge back down to the Tahs is huge,” Jorgensen said.
“I feel like I’ve come a long way in two years. I’ve learned so much along the way from all the older boys and coaches. I look back at some of those games I played [in 2023], I just look so inexperienced. I feel so much more confident now and know the game better and just learning off those older players and coaches.”
Jorgensen began his professional career as a fullback but has been moved to wing recently, and the capacity to both roam in attack – and also keep his width when needed – appears to suit the youngster’s skill and speed. Even with Suaalii injured for the last two games, Jorgensen has stayed on the wing, with Andrew Kellaway preferred at No.15.
“We look at it as three fullbacks, two wingers and the fullback. The way we play, there’s a lot of moving, swinging around,” Jorgensen said.
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“Wingers are always in the backfield as well, so it’s not too different of a position. Might score more tries on the wing but we look at it as three fullbacks, that’s how we play our game. It doesn’t really matter who’s where, just as long as we’re working together.”
The Wallabies back three spots are one of more tightly contested positional brackets, with Tom Wright, Jorgensen, Dylan Pietsch, Kellaway, Filipo Daugunu, Corey Toole, Jock Campbell, Darby Lancaster and even Suaalli jockeying for selection.
Jorgensen outpointed Pietsch in Sydney and will take on Daugunu when NSW meet the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
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