Cherishing his time flying under the radar, Max Jorgensen can't wait for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's return after bursting back into the spotlight for the NSW Waratahs.
Jorgensen's first-half try-scoring double in Saturday night's 34-10 Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Western Force helped the Waratahs to a hat-trick of wins to open a season for the first time since 2009.
"Obviously going three from three at home is pretty amazing," the electric outside back said.
"We haven't done that in my time here. Makes this place seem like a fortress, which is unreal, so we're growing every week."
And Dan McKellar's new-era outfit have achieved the rare hat-trick without Suaalii since round one.
Jorgensen readily admits he is looking forward to the cross-code superstar's comeback from a toe injury after enjoying some rare time out of the limelight since Suaalii's signing.
Thrust into the 2023 World Cup as a teenager under Eddie Jones, Jorgensen had been the Waratahs' golden boy before Suaalii arrived at Daceyville this season.
"Joey's been amazing for our group and I guess it's got its upside. I never thought it got to me in that way, but obviously it helps not being in the spotlight," Jorgensen said.
"Definitely when you go through some rough patches, it definitely helps when the spotlight's not on you so much."
Still just turned 21, Jorgensen believes he a vastly improved player since debuting for the Tahs in 2023.
"I definitely feel like I've come a long way in two years," he said.
"I've learned so much along the way from obviously all the older boys, coaches.
"I look back at some of those games I played and I just look so inexperienced, and I feel so much more confident, just learning off those older players and coaches."
Jorgensen's swan-diving, match-winning try in a famous win over England at Twickenham was one of the images of the Wallabies' spring tour of the UK and Ireland.
"I learned so much obviously over there playing the best of the best in the northern hemisphere," he said.
"Footy doesn't get too much bigger than that."
Equally at home at fullback, wing or centre, Jorgensen insists he's happy to play anywhere for the Waratahs, where coach McKellar has given the back three free licence to roam.
That was very much evident when Jorgensen drifted from the right wing to set up left winger Darby Lancaster for a lovely try against the Force.
"As long as I'm in the team and playing, I'm happy," Jorgensen said.
"We look at it as a sort of three fullbacks, two wingers and the fullback is the way we play, so there's a lot of moving, swinging around.
"The wing is always in the back field as well, so it's not too different of a position and that's how we play our games.
"It doesn't really matter who's where. It's just as long as we're working together."
After wins over the Highlanders, Fijian Drua and the Force, the Waratahs face their biggest test yet in round five on Saturday against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
