How tomorrow's Wallabies turned the tide against their neighbours and rocketed Noah Lolesio from one state to the next
Noah Lolesio entered 2020 without a single Super Rugby cap to his name.
When the new season kicked off, however, the 20-year-old was thrust immediately into the spotlight – and quickly helped guide the Brumbies to five wins from six matches.
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has refused to rule out cutting an Australian Super Rugby team due to budget constraints:
As fast as he swings the ball out to his midfield runners, Lolesio was fast to pass the credit onto his teammates.
“I didn’t find it as challenging as I was expecting at all thanks to all the great players around me,” Lolesio told RugbyPass. “I’ve just been doing my job for my team and enjoying my footy.”
It’s not just the way that Lolesio has been performing that’s so impressive though, it’s the fact that until recently, the Brumbies pivot played almost exclusively in the midfield.
That hasn’t stopped Lolesio from defying his age and looking like one of the calmest operators in this year’s now suspended Super Rugby season.
And while the Brumbies were cruising along nicely prior to the coronavirus-induced roadblock, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing throughout Lolesio’s career.
Three years ago, Lolesio represented the Australia Schools side in their annual clash with their New Zealand rivals.
NZ have had always had the upper-hand in the age-grade battles between the neighbouring nations, but 2017 was an especially disheartening result for the men in gold.
“We got thumped,” Lolesio accurately said of the 34-11 loss.
New Zealand ran in six tries in the spanking with the likes of Etene Nanai-Seturo, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Danny Toala all touching down for scores.
Australia’s sole try came through prop Darcy Breen.
It may have become widespread in Europe, but for the Southern Hemisphere-bred folks like Matt Giteau, this little convention is still a bit of a mystery… @giteau_rugby #rugbyhttps://t.co/iTJAmKhL0L
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) March 31, 2020
Lolesio – who was alongside current Super Rugby players such as Will Harrison, Angus Bell and Jordan Petai – doesn’t remember the game fondly.
“I just think we were pretty filthy on ourselves in schoolboys. We were pretty heartbroken after that New Zealand game.”
Two years later, and a number of those same players were back in Wallabies colours for the Under 20 campaign.
As with the schoolboys side, the Junior Wallabies had not had much luck in recent years; between 2012 and 2018, Australia’s best placing at the Under 20 World Championship was 5th, which they ‘achieved’ on three occasions.
They turned things around completely for 2019, however.
In the Oceania Cup, the warm-up to the World Championship, they secured their first-ever victory over the New Zealand Under 20 side in 12 attempts, 24-0.
“In that Oceania Cup we really wanted to make a statement that we’re not a pushover team, we wanted to win the whole World Cup,” Lolesio said.
“We were definitely up for the game against the Junior ABs and it’s good that we brought that momentum forward through to the World Cup and just, unfortunately, fell a bit short in that grand final but I’m sure we made everyone back home pretty proud.”
A 1-point loss in the final to France was nothing to shake a stick at and bodes exceptionally well for Australia’s future.
But what caused the massive change in fortunes, given that a similar side was thumped two years prior?
“Probably mentally and physically we were just much better,” suggested Lolesio.
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“The academy pathways over all the franchises helped our skills. I thought Gilly [coach Jason Gilmore] did an awesome job, picking the right shape and game plan for the players that we had.
“We were a pretty tight group as well; I reckon that’s probably what got us up over a bunch of teams. There weren’t any cliquey groups or anything. I’d say that’d be a major factor.”
While Lolesio had Harrison playing alongside him at 10 in both campaigns, Reds star Isaac Lucas joined the Under 20 side in 2019 as another playmaking option. All three men have started at first five for their respective Super Rugby sides this season – something which Lolesio is exceptionally proud of.
“It’s good to see the mates that you grow up with playing footy do well outside of school,” Lolesio said. “Harro and Zaccy, they’re awesome players and deserve every bit of it.”
There’s naturally still plenty of development room left for the young first five – development he hopes to continue at the Brumbies, despite growing up on the Gold Coast and being schooled at The Southport School.
“All I wanted to do after school was go to uni and play footy,” Lolesio said.
“I had a couple of offers in the Gold Coast and in Queensland too but the Brumbies came up with a uni scholarship and an academy spot and I probably wanted to experience something different as well, I didn’t want to just get stuck in Queensland.
“So, I basically just booked a one-way ticket to Canberra.”
Queensland’s loss is the Brumbies’ gain, with the Auckland-born playmaker now thriving in ACT colours.
Whether we’ll bare witness to any further Super Rugby this year is still up in the air – but if the Brumbies do take the field once more, you can bet that Lolesio will have a large say in the side’s future performances.
Comments on RugbyPass
Nasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
6 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
6 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
6 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
6 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
6 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
6 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
46 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to comments