Michael Gordon is weighing up whether to re-sign with the Sydney Roosters for the 2018 NRL season or accept an offer from the Raiders.
The Tweed Coast Raiders that is.
The veteran fullback’s future is up in the air with the Tri-colours landing incumbent NSW No.1 James Tedesco on a marquee four-year contract.
He says he has held preliminary talks with coach Trent Robinson, who has expressed a desire for him to play on into a 13th season, despite Tedesco’s imminent arrival at Bondi Junction.
Even if he is offered another deal, the 33-year-old hasn’t decided whether he will accept it and is mulling over retirement.
He has already begun preparations to move back home to the Tweed Coast in northern NSW and has made a pledge to his childhood mates that he will come back and play one year of park footy with them after hanging up his boots.
“I came into this season with no expectations and no guarantees. I just wanted to come and have fun and, if I got a contract, I wasn’t even guaranteed that I wanted to take it,” Gordon said.
“I’ve just finished building a house back home and I always wanted to move back home.
“I’m going to have a year with the Tweed Coast Raiders when I’m finished, whether it’s next year or the year after. I’ve promised all the boys I grew up with that I’m going to have a year with them.”
The deciding factor will be his family, in particular his two young children.
He wants them to settle down in the one place, having shipped around from Penrith to Cronulla to Parramatta to the Roosters in the past six years.
If he does go around again, he says he will not consider playing for any NRL club other than the Roosters.
While Tedesco’s signature was seen as the death knell for Gordon’s time at the Roosters, and possibly his career, he was full of support for Robinson and chairman Nick Politis’ decision to chase the Wests Tigers’ champion.
“I reckon it’s a great signing, he’s a class player and, if I were the Roosters, I’d be chasing him too,” Gordon said.
“Good on them for getting him, too. Once he gets to play outside Pearcey (Mitchell Pearce) and (Luke) Keary, his game will go to another level.”
Gordon has played nearly half his career on the wing, and said he could possibly play in the same team as Tedesco.
“I had a chat with Robbo a couple of weeks ago and they said they were keen for me to stick around,” Gordon said.
“While I haven’t had any offers yet, it’s something that I’d weigh up.”
