Les Kiss says Jordan Petaia will always be welcome to return to the Queensland Reds despite the 25-year-old signing with French rugby club Perpignan.
Versatile and mercurial outside back Petaia, just 25 and with 31 Tests to his credit, has inked a one-year deal with USA Perpignan in the Top 14 competition after chasing his NFL dream.
Petaia had signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this year but was waived and placed on the injured reserves list after a hamstring injury curtailed his progress.
The Top 14 competition does not finish until May, so the terms of his deal would determine whether a Reds return next year is a realistic option.
"That's always on the cards. I only just found out he'd signed for a French club. I wish him well," Kiss said.
"When he left (for the NFL) we said 'go and find out' because he was ripe for it. He's gone away and tried out and now signed (for Perpignan). All those things are open but I will leave that for when it matters."
Kiss takes over as Wallabies coach at the end of the 2026 Super Rugby season and said Petaia still had a lot to offer Australian rugby.
"With the type of talent we have there and his age profile, certainly," he said.
"That's down the track. At this stage he'd have to come back through a province, the Reds hopefully if he does come back."
Kiss wants to have a red-hot crack at winning the title next year but to do so the Reds must improve their fifth-placed finishes in the past two seasons where they have been bundled out in the quarter-finals.
"We do believe there's more in us," Kiss said.
"To really nail an end game where you control the narrative you need your home games, so hopefully if we can get in the top three that there can determine a lot of things."
It is the 30th year of Super Rugby in 2026 and the Reds are away to arch-enemies the Waratahs in round one.
They'll also host defending champions the Crusaders for the first time since 2023.
"The rivalry there is great, I've been on both sides and I'm really looking forward to the fact that's how we're going to open up the season," Kiss, the former Queensland rugby league winger and NSW Waratahs assistant coach, said.
"The rest of the draw is quite cool as well ... overall, I'm pretty happy."
Joe Gould - AAP
