As Springbok’s son signs, Kiss plots to unleash the Wallabies’ next generation

Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss has revealed his current five-eighth conundrum remains an open race, as a rising star plots to overthrow two Test contenders at clubland.

Kiss, beginning his final season in charge of the Queensland Reds, confirmed Harry McLaughlin-Phillips would don the No.10 jumper for their first trial against the Western Force, with the incoming Carter Gordon joining the bench and Tom Lynagh rested.

McLaughlin-Phillips was on restricted minutes in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, with Lynagh’s game management preferred to his own ball-running brand of attack.

But Kiss believed the 20-year-old had set the standard throughout the preseason while his fellow five-eighths recovered from injuries (Lynagh) and toured with the Wallabies (Gordon).

It has ensured Queensland remains undecided on their first-choice playmaker, at a time when the Wallabies have churned through four options in the past six months since Noah Lolesio’s defection to Japanese rugby.

“There’s a lot of graft Harry has put into that off-season to try and build different components of our game in different ways, and he just keeps stepping up. I think it’s important that’s recognised.

“It is competitive – there’s no doubt that position is going to be competitive – and we will be guided by form and what combinations are important, and who the opposition are at any given time.

“I’ve been really impressed with Carter in terms of the teamship he’s shown. He’s very collaborative, he’s very intelligent in the game, and he’s shared that intelligence to complete our smarts across the board.

“He knows he’s trying to fit and work out how we do play, and he’s already added value in many ways.”

McLaughlin-Phillips will feature alongside halfback James Martens in Perth, with the son of former Springboks No.9 Hentie Martens fresh off inking a one-year contract extension through to the end of 2027.

“It got sprung onto me; one day I walked in and chatted with Les, and he walked me through that the club wants me to stay for another couple of years. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else in Australia,” Martens said.

“[Having dad] has definitely helped, just with a couple of key areas looking for space, thinking at different times of the game – it just helps having him in my corner.”

Martens’ retention will fill the void left by Louis Werchon, who has signed a two-year deal with Benetton to begin at the end of the Super Rugby campaign, having been stuck behind Wallabies’ halfbacks Tate McDermott and Kalani Thomas in Queensland.

Werchon partook in a seven-game secondment with the Italian outfit through their partnership with the Reds, impressing with his vision and speed while there, but refusing to rule out a return to Australian rugby.

“I’m a Queenslander and I want to be a Wallaby. There are two Wallabies [at the Reds] and I hope to be a third Wallaby down the track,” Werchon said.

“I really did love it over there, it’s a completely different game I find, especially as a nine – two phases, and you’re box kicking, and then another two phases, and you’re box kicking again.

“It improved my box kicking game and improved my game in general really.”

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