‘Definitely a big learning curve’: Isaac Kailea on ‘frustrating’ 2025

Isaac Kailea was in South Coogee when the Wallabies announced a 40-man squad for a January training camp in Sydney, with the front-rower selected despite playing some Shute Shield for Randwick in 2025.

“I’d say frustrating,” Kailea told RugbyPass, when asked to describe last season. Kailea had made eight appearances for the Wallabies in 2024, but would later feature in just six matches for the NSW Waratahs after making a high-profile move from the Melbourne Rebels.

2024 had been a breakthrough season for Kailea, who celebrated a maiden Test start with a try in the Wallabies’ 40-29 win over Georgia in Sydney. The prop was later named in the run-on side to face two-time defending world champions, the Springboks, in Brisbane.

More than 200 days later, Kailea was picked to play for Waratahs A against the Brumby Runners after missing out on selection to face the Highlanders. At Super Rugby level, Kailea came off the bench in five straight appearances before starting at loosehead against the Fijian Drua in Round 10.

Kailea “played a couple games” for Randwick but was still chosen in the Australia A squad. The 25-year-old packed down alongside Matt Faessler and Rhys Van Nek as Australia A defeated the Japan XV 71-7, with Darcy Swain and Tim ‘The Junkyard Dog’ Ryan both crossing for doubles.

“Coming off such a big year, it’s pretty easy to just buy into everything that everyone’s saying. Probably taken me a year to mature a bit,” Kailea said.

“I know I can play and hopefully this year I get to prove that a bit more than I did last year.

“When you know you can perform at that next level, no disrespect obviously to all the other clubs but you definitely want to be playing at that level. If you don’t play, then you obviously don’t go on to higher honours.

“That was frustrating. I definitely wanted to build on what I had the year before but I guess it’s just another learning for me. Bigger year this year, hopefully.

“It was probably definitely a wake-up call,” he added.

“Just thought everything was going to fall right into place, similar to how it did in Melbourne that last year. I felt like, honestly, I could do no wrong. I was so confident. On the field and off the field, I just felt really good.

“Everything just happened to work out for me. Last year, definitely a big learning curve. I think it was probably something that I needed, more so just as a person than a rugby player.”

Fast-forward to December 11, when the Wallabies unveiled a squad made up of Australia-based players for a training camp in the Harbour City. Highly-rated prospect Massimo De Lutiis from the Queensland Reds was the only uncapped player selected.

Kailea was one of seven Waratahs representatives chosen, with Pete Samu the other forward. Jake Gordon, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Harry Potter and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii were the backs selected, 22 months before a home Rugby World Cup.

“Honestly I wasn’t really expecting that but it’s good to know that I’m still in and around the picture I guess. That was a little confidence boost going into this year,” Kailea explained.

“From the top down, the coaching staff, there’s a lot of communication between the Wallabies and the Waratahs about everyone really. They just want to see me play and get that confidence back I had in 2024.

“That was pretty much it. They just said, ‘we want to pick you, you just have to play and perform’.”

With a Rugby World Cup on home soil just around the corner, “it’s a bit hard to not think about it,” as Kailea noted. The Wallabies kick off their campaign against tournament newcomers Hong Kong China on October 1, 2027, before facing the All Blacks and Chile.

Arch-rivals the Wallabies and All Blacks will meet in a Rugby World Cup pool match for the first time, with Sydney’s Stadium Australia hosting that fixture on October 9. The Wallabies round out their Pool A fixture against the Chileans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

“I’d be lying to say I wasn’t thinking about it.

“I kind of think you need to be in the picture a year before and that’s when they really start solidifying the team.

“I understand there’s probably a bit more pressure for myself to make first the Waratahs and then onto the Wallabies, but like I said, I’ll be taking it a week at a time.

“If I happen to get picked, then I get picked.”

Kailea will feature for the Waratahs in their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season opener against the Queensland Reds in Sydney, with coach Dan McKellar selecting the prop on the bench along with other capped Wallabies Folau Fainga’a and Angus Blyth.