The All Blacks could face the prospect of losing one of their greatest talents in the future after New Zealander Jordie Barrett confesses his desire to try his hand at rugby league

Rugby league fans around the world will drool at the prospect of Jordie Barrett joining their ranks after the New Zealand full-back admitted he would be open to a code change.

The youngest of five Barrett brothers is an integral part of Ian Foster’s All Blacks squad and plays at the elite union level, having recently completed a busy international schedule.

Nationally, the 24-year-old has represented the Hurricanes in Super Rugby since 2017, when he plays his provincial rugby for Taranaki.

He made his senior debut in New Zealand the same year and became just a more full-fledged figure for the three-time world champions.

Although he reached the top of his field so early in his career, Barrett admitted his admiration for the rugby league and his desire to test the waters himself in the future.

Speaking to former Hurricanes teammate James Marshall on his “What a Lad” podcast, Barrett admitted to itchy feet every time he watched the league between campaigns.

“To be honest, every offseason or every time I’m sitting there watching a Rugby League game, I think I would love to go out there and play in a league just for a season,” he said. -he declares. .

“And who knows, I might. It crosses my mind a lot.

“I don’t know what position I would play in, but I would love to go out there and give it a try, who knows.”

Barrett followed his siblings Beauden and Scott to become a hit on the test scene, but he could set himself apart from the family by putting his talents to use.

There are certain traits in his game that would surely lend themselves to 13-a-side play, including a thunderous boot and considerable stature.

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Marshall, 33, mentioned Manly Warringah Sea Eagles full-back Tom Trbojevic as a potential asset for Barrett to model his game, but the latter hinted at a trade-off if he moved.

“I wouldn’t be able to tie her [Trbojevic’s] laces, but maybe five eighths. I wouldn’t mind kicking the skin a few times on the fourth and fifth tackles, or setting up floating bombs, ”added Barrett.

“Defending on the front lines too, you have every right to be a larva in this game, so I would love that.”

New Zealand rugby is notorious for making sabbatical exceptions for some star players who wish to move away from Super Rugby in the past.

Even as recently as 2021, Beauden Barrett spent a season away for a lucrative five-month stint with Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan.

However, Jordie’s hopes for a temporary change outside of the union would likely come with a lot more red tape.

All Blacks greats, Sonny Bill Williams, set an example for New Zealand players testing their skills in both codes, winning some of the top honors in both trades during his career.

Love for the league also seems to be common in Wellington. Scrum-half TJ Perenara said last year he was considering a potential code jump, while All Blacks back rower Ardie Savea recently expressed interest.

Barrett’s current contract with New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes is set to expire in 2022, although the All Blacks will surely bank on their star playing at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.