Phil Waugh is wary of the Joe Schmidt saga distracting from the Super Rugby Pacific season as he continues his pitch to keep the gun coach beyond 2025.
Wallabies mentor Schmidt comes off contract at the end of the British and Irish Lions tour in August.
He has enjoyed his time with Rugby Australia but is weighing it up against his family considerations.
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Australia coach Joe Schmidt before the Autumn Nations Series match. Getty
Schmidt's home is in Taupo, New Zealand, where wife Kellie and son Luke – who has severe epilepsy – live.
RA chief executive Phil Waugh would love to have Schmidt sign on until the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The pair had initially hoped to reach a resolution by Christmas but talks rumble on.
Joe Schmidt of the Wallabies speaks to Phil Waugh. Getty
"We're very mindful and respectful of Joe," Waugh told Wide World of Sports at Wednesday's SRP season launch at Sydney's Prince Henry Centre.
"It's about ensuring we're working through with him what a sensible solution is.
"Clearly everyone wants to get to an outcome sooner rather than later. We're trying to accelerate and he's been very transparent with us and we're just trying to work out a sensible solution.
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"I don't want to get into trouble by anchoring on dates but we go through things in a very considered way and will get to a sensible outcome. We certainly don't want to distract from Super Rugby and I think it's going to be a cracking season."
The season kicks off on February 14.
One option is for Schmidt to carry on in a overarching consultant role and hand the coaching reins to a Super Rugby coach like Les Kiss (Reds).
The other domestic coaches are Dan McKellar (Waratahs), Stephen Larkham (Brumbies) and Simon Cron (Force).
Former Wallabies captain Waugh said that quartet was of a higher calibre than some previous seasons.
"You can't grow players and squads at a provincial level without world class coaches across the system," he said.
"And I think we've done a better job of getting world class coaches into the system. That certainly gives us depth so we'll have better players, better coaches coming through our Australian Super Rugby teams, and then it's a matter of ensuring that we get the right coaching team at Wallabies level too."
All Blacks great Beauden Barrett worked closely with Schmidt at both Test and Super Rugby level.
"I know how much of a value add he is to Rugby Australia and the Wallabies so as an All Black I hope that he doesn't sign on but I know how good it will be for the Wallabies if he does," Barrett said.
Joe Schmidt and Beauden Barrett during a New Zealand training session in Paris. Getty
"He's a great man and great coach so I don't know but I think he'll know fairly soon what he wants to do."
Meanwhile, Waugh said the Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii hype had some parallels to his own playing days when league converts Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor were packing out stadiums.
"A lot of interest came through the Spring Tour because of Joseph's performances at Test level," he said.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the Waratahs poses at Little Bay Beach. Getty
"Super Rugby in 2006, I think we averaged 37,000 at Allianz Stadium. There's real excitement around the Waratahs squad and if they can play an attractive style of rugby and get some success, then there'd be no better place to be in than that stadium, watching it live."
Waugh also hoped to soon be in a position to announce a new broadcast deal.
"We've got an excellent partnership with NEC (Nine Entertainment Company) and Stan and we're working very constructively together to see what '26 and beyond looks like. Super Rugby Pacific is really important and it feels like there's a good vibe again. You can promise a lot and you've got to put it out on the field but it certainly has the right energy around it."
