Jordie Barrett interested in short-term NRL switch

All Blacks and Hurricanes full-back Jordie Barrett has revealed that he is keen to try his hand at rugby league and that he is interested in making a short-term code switch to play in the NRL.

The 24-year-old, who has cemented his position as New Zealand’s first choice number 15 in 2021, revealed that he is constantly thinking about the possibility of playing in the 13-a-side code.

Keen on move

“To be honest, every off-season or every time I’m sitting there watching a rugby league game, I think, s..t I’d love to go over there and play some league just for a season,” Barrett told the What A Lad podcast.

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

“I’m not sure what position I’d play, but I’d love to go over there and give it a crack, who knows.”

He has played on the wing at Test level and has also featured in midfield for the Hurricanes.

But Barrett revealed that he would like to play in the halves rather than full-back if he did make the code switch.

“I wouldn’t be able to tie his [Manly full-back Tom Trbojevic’s] shoelaces, but maybe five-eighth,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind kicking the skin a few times on fourth and fifth tackle, or putting up some floater bombs.

“Defending in the front line too, you’re allowed to be a grub in that game so I’d love it.”

Barrett is not the first All Blacks and Hurricanes player who has expressed a desire to switch to rugby league.

Ardie Savea said in 2020 he was keen to swap codes but then signed a new four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) last month. Earlier this year, TJ Perenara was also linked with a move to the Sydney Roosters in the NRL before he signed a new deal with NZR.