By Jon Geddes

COMING off a very tough Super Rugby season, Waratahs No.12 Joey Walton had a smile back on his face after playing for Gordon in their 11-5 win over Northern Suburbs in their Shute Shield local derby at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.

While many Super Rugby players are on leave, Walton jumped at his first opportunity to turn out for his club side – even in Saturday’s torrential rain.

“I just wanted to play … I do love coming back,” a drenched Walton told Rugby News after the game.

Walton joined Gordon from the Central Coast straight out of school and appreciates the club’s role is his path to Super Rugby.

“They gave me a good crack in senior footy and helped me leapfrog to where I wanted to go,” he said.

“It was good fun and it was nice to get a win.”

RUGBY THERAPY 

PULLING on the Highlanders jersey again gave Walton the chance to start moving on from the disappointments of the Waratahs’ 2024 campaign.

“It was tough for a period there, we were stuck in a bit of a hole when things weren’t going our way with a lot of injuries,” he said.

“So, it was nice to have a bit of a refresh around a new group and just get in and play.”     

Walton is a huge addition for Gordon coach Harry Fehily in the second half of the season as the team continues to press their credentials as a real premiership threat.

“Joey adds a lot in terms of the leadership side of things,” Fehily said.

“It just takes a bit of time to imbed these guys back into the team when they haven’t been around it for a long period of time – and I know other teams are probably going through the same thing.”

On his return, Walton’s Gordon teammates have reminded the Waratahs’ centre about what is special about club rugby.

“They go to work and they are still excited to train and be around the group,” he said. “I respect what they are doing because they are still putting in even though they to go to work, which is pretty cool.”

SEND A MESSAGE  

AFTER establishing himself as a starting player in the Waratahs’ backline, Walton took part in the Wallabies’ training camp at Daceyville last week but missed a spot in the first 38-man national  squad.

“I just fell short, so I have to work on my game here and keep trying,” he said.

Good performances with Gordon could help him earn a call-up down the track, but Walton displayed a smart sidestep when that was put to him.

“I’m just going to do my best here at Gordon and hopefully win some games of footy,” he said.                           

 TRUE GRIT 

IT was a gusty display from Gordon on a water-soaked Bear Park and Fehily was happy – for most of the game – with the way his side ground out their win.

“I think we nearly did our best not to win the game in the end,” he said.

He said the ill-discipline at times was an area the team will have to work on.

“To be fair to them, they (Norths) nearly stole it at the end,”  Fehily said. 

But the coach liked the grit his players showed when things weren’t going their way.

“We were able to gather ourselves, hang on in defence and push down field again,” he said.

The platform for the win was laid by the Gordon pack –  with the frontrow of Liam Usher, Jay Fonokalafi and Tristan Fuli doing plenty of the grunt work .

“There are some big boys in there and they know what they are supposed to be doing when they are carrying the ball forward,” he said. 

Another player to impress the coach was No.13 James Armstrong, who made a big impact with some of his punishing defence.

But Fehily kept the victory in perspective and said that Saturday’s conditions were the great leveller.

“On a dry day Norths have lot more footy in them and will still be a dangerous team at the end of the year,” he said.