Wallabies young gun not going anywhere

TEENAGE sensation Jordan Petaia will sign a four- year extension with the Wallabies, staving off suitors from the NRL and overseas rugby clubs.

Having finished school just last year, 18- year- old Petaia is the hottest rugby prospect to have emerged in Australia in the past decade, and like his idol Israel Folau, is set to ink a deal to take him through to the end of 2022.

While the deal has not been finalised, it is understood it is all but agreed, keeping Petaia in Australia and at the Queensland Reds.

It will be the fourth longterm deal secured by Rugby Australia this year after Folau and prop Allan Alaalatoa resigned for four years each, and captain Michael Hooper extended for five years.

Petaia could make his Wallabies debut this weekend against Italy in Padua and if so, he’d be the youngest since James O’Connor at the same venue in 2008 to play for Australia. Having grown up playing rugby league in Brisbane, Petaia would have had significant interest from NRL clubs, with his pace and power running creating havoc in Super Rugby and the NRC this year.

But the 190cm, 98kg outside back says while the Wallabies are struggling, he believes they can turn their fortunes around.

“Obviously they haven’t had the best run of games so far this year but I think we’re really coming to turn that around and the boys are really focused on moving on and making a difference for the next games coming and obviously leading up to World Cup,” Petaia said.

“They want to really turn around what’s been happening and just fix a lot of things.”

Petaia grew up watching Folau, and last week had to pinch himself when he roomed with the dual- international in Cardiff.

“Playing league as a kid, probably actually funny that Israel Folau ( was my idol),” Petaia said.