Insane NRL backline Wallabies could field at World Cup

Picture this as a Wallabies backline at next year's Rugby World Cup.

Tate McDermott firing passes to Carter Gordon, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Angus Crichton, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright.

Five of those men have played in the NRL while Jorgensen's father, Peter, was a dual rugby international in union and league.

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History is repeating more than two decades on from the last World Cup in Australia.

In 2003, Eddie Jones fielded a backline studded with league star-power in Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor.

It almost resulted in a third World Cup trophy for Australia, as Tuqiri scored the only try in a devasting 20-17 loss to Jonny Wilkinson's England in the final.

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Tuqiri, a brilliant winger in both codes, was Crichton's favourite player growing up.

"I've known Angus for a while. I've known him since he was a school footballer, like, really, really talented.," Wright, the Manly Sea Eagles turned Wallabies star, told Wide World of Sports.

"He's really honest with himself, he knows what he brings, and he sticks to that. He doubles down on what he's good at and obviously works really hard on areas of his game that have growth in it too. So we see his gain line carry, his ball skills, and his collision-winning in defence.

Angus Crichton of the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

"They are the big three for him and I think he's going to translate that across to our game, and bring that in spades. I think it's going to be an awesome addition into our squad, and hopefully he's going to bring something to the World Cup."

The problem is that Crichton will have just one season of Super Rugby Pacific for the NSW Waratahs in 2027 to stake a claim for the World Cup.

The 30-year-old will complete his NRL contract for the Sydney Roosters in 2026 before joining ex-Chooks teammates Nawaqanitawase and Suaalii in rugby.

Tom Wright in action for the Manly Sea Eagles.

"He would probably consider it a short runway, before the World Cup kicks off," Wright admitted.

"But he's pretty handy at football, I think we can all probably agree on that. So would I have any concerns that he would be a slow learner? Probably not, no."

Wright, 28, played five NRL games for Manly in 2018 before signing with the ACT Brumbies and forging an excellent 43-Test career with the Wallabies.

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World Cup playmaker Gordon, 25, played one NRL game for the Gold Coast Titans last year before returning to rugby.

Nawaqanitawase, 25, lit up the NRL with the Roosters in 2025 and will try to do the same this year before joining Robbie Deans' Saitama Wild Knights in Japan.

And ex-NRL gun Suaalii, 22, will start at outside centre for the NSW Waratahs against the Queensland Reds at Sydney's Allianz Stadium in Friday's Super Rugby season opener.

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Crichton is a close friend of former Wallabies outside back Jack Maddocks and is regularly spotted at Shute Shield club rugby games in Sydney.

He will be coached by former Wallabies supremo Michael Cheika at the Roosters this season.

"Plenty is always spoken about how much interest there is," Wright said of the so-called code wars.

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"Whether it's guys re-signing for Rugby Australia because of the interest of wanting to play in front of a home World Cup, or it's guys coming across, or guys signing back from overseas. I've seen a number of guys sign from overseas competitions to come back.

"Notably Angus from rugby league. I think the interest in seeing the 2023 World Cup, and how much interest that generates, even though it was all the way over in France.

"That feeling of being able to play in front of the Lions series this year, will probably give the closest indication of how much interest there'll be, when things ramp up for the 2027 World Cup.

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"I think Angus could feel that. I saw his interview where he was speaking about where he's at in his career and what he wants to achieve. His favourite player, (Tuqiri) and I think he gave a really good assessment of what he wants to achieve, by coming across and playing."

Wright said he tried to recruit Crichton to Canberra.

"He didn't want to move out of Woollahra. That's how it goes."

Tom Wright of the Brumbies in action.

The Roosters list Crichton at 187cm and 102kg.

The incumbent Wallabies No.12, Len Ikitau, is listed by the Exeter Chiefs at 180cm and 90kg.

Wright agreed inside centre was Crichton's best bet in rugby.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Angus Crichton walk to the team hotel at Sydney Olympic Park.

"That would make the most sense," he said.

"It'd probably be more to learn if you were to think maybe six (blindside flanker) or eight, back row. But we're also blessed that we're talking about a guy that can play a number of these positions, brings so much to our game."

Wright will miss the start of the Brumbies season as he continues to recover from an ACL rupture suffered against the Springboks in Cape Town last year.

Tom Wright of Australia is injured.

"I feel really good – it's all gone smoothly, there's been no setbacks or anything," he said, while backing the Brumbies to get off to a strong start against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

"We always fly under the radar, don't we? It's always 'this is the year that the Brumbies won't do well.' That's what the Brumbies have been built on since their inception."

Wright's Wallabies teammate Tane Edmed is set to make his Brumbies debut at HBF Park after falling out of favour with the Waratahs and driving down the Hume Highway.

Josh Flook of Australia celebrates scoring with teammate Tane Edmed.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has opted to ease Edmed in from the bench, with Declan Meredith getting first crack in the No.10 jersey.

"To see him (Edmed) thrive under Bernie (Larkham) – arguably Australia's best ever 10 – he's going to learn heaps. He already has been soaking some of Bernie's calm demeanour, I can see that rubbing off on Tane already.

"It's been cool to watch."

WESTERN FORCE vs ACT BRUMBIES in Perth, Saturday 7.35pm kickoff AEDT

FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jeremy Williams (c), Franco Molina, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Divad Palu, Mac Grealy

Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Sef Fa'agase, Misinale Epenisa, Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Kurtley Beale

BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Kadin Pritchard, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead

Reserves: Liam Bowron, Blake Schoupp, Tevita Alatini, Toby Macpherson, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Hudson Creighton

Referee: Jordan Way (AUS)

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