Emerging NSW Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon has earned a new two-year deal and a big compliment from head coach Daryl Gibson.
Making his Super Rugby debut in round two this season, Gordon has vied with Wallabies' stalwart Nick Phipps for the Waratahs No.9 jersey, each making six starts.
Gordon, who turns 24 on Thursday, was last month called into the Wallabies squad after Phipps was forced out with an ankle injury.
He didn't play in the June Tests, but is widely considered a Wallaby in waiting.
Gordon's nose for an opportunity has earned him five tries and the Waratahs clearly view him as an important piece of their squad moving forward.
"He's the type of player that you can really build a team around in the future," Gibson said.
Gordon never contemplated going elsewhere.
"Growing up in NSW, it was a dream to play for NSW, so it was a very easy decision for me," Gordon said.
He is set to start in Saturday's penultimate round home clash with the Jaguares, as Gibson said Phipps won't resume full training until next week.
Departing lock and out of favour Wallaby Will Skelton will miss the Tahs' last two games after fracturing an arm in a Sydney club game last weekend.
"That will put him out for eight weeks, so it's a real blow both to the team and to him personally," said Gibson referring to Skelton's imminent move to England's European champions Saracens.
With Skelton unavailable and blindside flanker Jack Dempsey back from injury, Gibson has the option of restoring Ned Hanigan to his more familiar position of lock.
"We'd really like to get both those guys (Hanigan and Dempsey) on the field at the same time," Gibson said.
The Tahs can't make the finals but Gibson was mindful of finishing their campaign well, even if he couldn't guarantee the players would all be fully motivated for the last two games.
"That is the risk we talked about this morning, calling that behaviour out and making sure that we do finish strongly," Gibson said.
