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How a schoolboy midfielder transformed himself into the Wallabies' most promising long-term 10 option
Depending on whether a Wallabies supporter was the type of person that sees the glass as half full or half empty, they would have entered 2020 with very different expectations for the new season.
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Bernard Foley, Christian Lealiifano and Quade Cooper all left Australia’s shores at the end of 2019.
Has Matt Giteau played his last game of professional rugby?:
Regardless of how highly you rated that trio, they collectively shared 401 Super Rugby caps and over 160 appearances for the national team.
That’s a lot of experience to shed from one year to the next.
The pessimist would have entered 2020 anticipating ample losses across the board for the Australian Super Rugby sides and without too much hope for the Wallabies either.
The optimist, however, would have looked upon the new season as a new dawn for Australian rugby. Yes, the nation has lost three experienced, practised operators – but that brings with it the opportunity for fresh young talent to thrive.
While it hasn’t necessarily been smooth sailing across the park, two young five-eighth talents have stood out in particular: the Waratahs’ Will Harrison and the Brumbies’ Noah Lolesio.
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That pairing, combined with Reds’ utility Isaac Lucas, shared the playmaking duties for Australia’s 2019 Under 20 side which came within a whisker of snaring the World Championship title.
In last year’s final, Harrison started at 10, Lolesio lined up in the midfield and Lucas operated from fullback.
It wasn’t a dissimilar set-up to New Zealand’s 2011 title winning side, which used Gareth Anscombe at first receiver, Lima Sopoaga at 12 and Beauden Barrett at fullback.
All three of those New Zealand players have now gone on to play international football in the 10 jersey.
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Tellingly, Harrison, Lolesio and Lucas all started at first five in the opening round of Super Rugby.
While Lucas has since spent time at fullback and on the bench, Harrison and Lolesio started every match of the abandoned season at first receiver.
Harrison’s elevation to the 10 jersey is hardly surprising given his success in the Junior Wallabies but it’s Lolesio’s run with the Brumbies which is a bit more curious.
How does a man who spent all his schoolboy years – as well as his representative rugby – at 12, suddenly get thrust into arguably the most important position on a rugby field and not just survive but excel?
From Lolesio’s point of view, it’s been an easy transition.
“Obviously, I’ve got a great forward pack in front of me and that helps a lot,” Lolesio told RugbyPass. “The go-forward ball I get gives me all the time in the world and I just have to pick the right options.
“I felt pretty comfortable sliding straight into that 10 position. I’ve got great players outside me; the backline is just unreal and full of smart footballers like Irae [Simone], Tevita [Kuridrani] and Banksy [Tom Banks] in the back, which brings constant chatter.
“I didn’t find it as challenging as I was expecting at all thanks to all the great players around me. I’ve just been doing my job for my team and enjoying my footy.”
Although Lolesio was quick to offload the praise onto the rest of the players around him, it still takes incredible talent to handle the playmaking duties for a Super Rugby side at just 20 years of age – talent which was well-spotted by Brumbies coach Dan McKellar when Lolesio was barely out of school.
“I had a chat to Dan because I did half a pre-season with the Brums straight after school,” Lolesio said.
“He just asked me what position I prefer and I said I was pretty easy, I didn’t mind playing 12 or 10 but he basically told me after one training season ‘I reckon you’re a 10, mate’. That was at the end of 2017.”
Better never stops for Samu Kerevi – even if he's no longer eligible for the @Wallabies. #SuperRugby #TopLeague https://t.co/yrKA6ecYFz
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) March 25, 2020
It wasn’t just McKellar who saw the potential, however.
Wallabies centurion Matt Giteau recently attended a Brumbies academy session and thought Lolesio had enormous potential.
“He was playing 12 at the time and just the way he could play with confidence, attacked the line, the things he saw… I just thought that he was step above most of the kids at that training session,” Giteau revealed to RugbyPass.
“So, I was pretty pleased to see him going well this year and obviously stepping into Christian Lealiifano’s shoes. He did so much here for the club and in the area, it’s obviously pleasing that Noah’s doing well.”
Lolesio himself says Lealiifano played a big part in his development.
“I’m forever grateful to be in that 10 jersey with so many good players having played in that jersey – obviously Christian and Stephen Larkham and all that stuff,” Lolesio said.
“I’m just trying to do my part for the team and make that No. 10 jersey prideful from all those past players.
“When Christian was there last year, he was a dominant presence and such a good leader. He’s helped me so much – I probably hung around like a bad spell.
“He gave me heaps of guidance, on and off the field. He was an instrumental role-model to me.”
Beyond the likes of Lealiifano and Larkham, there have been a number of players that Lolesio has looked up to – some more surprising than others.
“I just loved to watch guys like Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams,” said Lolesio. “Obviously, during school, I was playing inside centre.
“They’ve got the whole package, they can run, pass, kick, defend. I just tried to base my game around that.
“These times now, I still look at players that are playing in the No. 10 jersey that are just killing the game at the moment like Richie Mo’unga and George Ford – just how they control the game.
“I’m always willing to learn, always looking for different ways to enhance my game.”
And what does the future hold for the Brumbies’s newest playmaker?
“I set a goal for myself before this year to start every game in the number 10 jersey,” Lolesio said. “Hopefully, when the season comes back on, I can keep doing that.
The absence of Lealiifano, Foley and Cooper means that there’s also opportunities in the national set-up.
Even Australia’s glass half-empty fans will have taken note of Lolesio’s impressive performances to date – but the 20-year-old himself isn’t looking too far ahead.
“Dave Rennie came down for one pre-season training session and he talked to us as a group, saying that he’s looking for new blood to come through the Wallabies system,” said Lolesio.
“I haven’t had much to do with him yet but hopefully, in the future I do.
“It’s very exciting. I can’t ignore the noise but I’m always focussing on the Brumbies, that’ll always be my number one priority at this time. Hopefully, my performances here impress the coaches there.”
Watch the latest episode of The Season with Brisbane Boys’ College here.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments