Updated ,first published
Queensland Reds boss Sam Cordingley has declared Australian rugby was well positioned to retain boom teenager Treyvon Pritchard, despite the wounded phenom courting interest from rival codes.
Speaking from the club’s headquarters at Ballymore to announce the signing of Wallabies centre Izaia Perese, Cordingley was quietly confident Pritchard would not be swayed by an NRL defection, having held talks with the incoming Papua New Guinea Chiefs for their 2028 launch.
The 19-year-old would have been a chance of earning a Wallabies or Australia A call-up as former Reds coach Les Kiss takes the national reins this week, having shown impressive signs in his maiden Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
His highlights reel included his dazzling footwork to bamboozle Chiefs and All Blacks superstar Damian McKenzie, while he had dominated the World Rugby Under-20s Championships in Georgia before suffering a broken leg and syndesmosis injury after being subjected to a ‘hip-drop’ tackle.
Cordingley – the Reds’ general manager of high performance – confirmed Pritchard would undergo surgery on Monday, and stressed there was no rush on his return to play.
“I think he’s had a really good progression, he’s played a lot of Super Rugby this year and the 20s was an important rite of passage for him, and he was pretty keen to be a part of that,” Cordingley said.
“I’m sure he would’ve been part of discussions. I daresay once he’s back on deck, those discussions will happen pretty quickly around where he sits in the Wallabies framework.”
Cordingley said Pritchard’s setback would not have any influence on the Reds’ desire to extend his contract beyond the end of his 2027 deal, while suggesting the club may be forced to contend with global interest after his Junior Wallabies exploits.
While the interest from the Chiefs, equipped with tax-free salary incentives, looms as an enticing carrot for the youngster who grew up in rugby league, Cordingley believed Rugby Australia held the upper hand.
“He’s an elite talent, so I’m not surprised with the interest. He’s played over in the Junior World Cup against countries like France, and we know they have very strong recruitment processes as well – clubs certainly would have been watching his games over there,” Cordingley said.
“In terms of the injury, I don’t see it as detracting from our capacity to retain him, I think where that sits, it’s pretty well-placed for rugby to retain Trey.
“I’m confident we’re going to put our best foot forward to retain him.”
Cordingley’s revelations came as Perese became the first Rugby Australia signing of Kiss’ Wallabies tenure, with the powerful centre returning to his debut club after a two-year stint in England with Leicester.
The six-time Test centre will rejoin the Reds through to the end of 2028, and will seek to fill the void left by departing No.13 Josh Flook (Benetton).
Fellow Wallabies Hunter Paisami and Jock Campbell have also been heavily linked to Japanese rugby defections.
“Decisions around Hunter and Jock, they’re sort of future [decisions], the focus of today is to really celebrate Izzy’s signing,” Cordingley said.
“He’s a great signing for the club, obviously we’ve lost Josh Flook to Benetton – hopefully that’s in the short-term, and hopefully, we can plan around the future and get Flooky back – but we’re trading a Wallaby for a Wallaby.”
Perese confirmed the allure of the home World Cup in 2027 drew him and his family – including four young children – back to Australian shores, admitting he felt he would finish his career abroad.
The 29-year-old, who briefly switched to rugby league and managed two games for the Brisbane Broncos, laughed when asked if the Chiefs ever appealed to him as an option, before expressing he was never going to be swayed from the 15-man code.
“There was no temptation there, I don’t know too much about that, but I wouldn’t have my family locked in a compound for nine months – it’d drive my missus and kids crazy,” Perese quipped.
“The World Cup’s always in the back of my mind, but the main reason to sign was I wanted to come back to the Reds for my family, wife and kids … but to also propel myself into Wallabies contention.
“The longer season [in England], you definitely tend to learn more about yourself with the highs and lows, good times and bad. It’s time to come back and apply diligently.”
Perese threw his hand up to come back into the Wallabies fold ahead of Kiss’s first Test in charge against Japan on August 8, provided he got himself back to peak fitness and overcame a minor knee issue.
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