The forgotten man of Australian rugby has a golden opportunity to reassert himself as the country’s premier playmaker following Carter Gordon’s shock defection to the NRL on Wednesday.
Noah Lolesio played 17 Tests under former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie but fell out of favour during last year’s Eddie Jones train wreck.
A stint in France with Toulon last year proved the perfect refresher and Lolesio has been rock solid in the Brumbies No.10 jersey under Stephen Larkham’s tutelage this season.
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The 24-year-old’s one-year contract extension with Rugby Australia on Wednesday was completely overshadowed by the Gordon bombshell but is hugely significant for new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
Lolesio is the favourite to start against Wales and Georgia in July although Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh are also in the mix.
A strong performance in Friday’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Blues, in Lolesio’s birth city of Auckland, could seal the deal.
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Schmidt was asked about Gordon’s NRL flirtation in May.
“I had a chat with Carter much earlier in the season and Carter is competing for a Wallabies spot – just like a number of the other 10s,” Schmidt said.
“There are a number of 10s – Tom Lynagh did really well last week, Ben Donaldson’s been going well and Noah Lolesio is the most consistent of the kickers, certainly at goal.
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“I’d love Carter to stay and to be in the mix for the Wallabies but if he doesn’t then I’m excited about working with whoever we do select in that position.”
All Blacks great Mils Muliaina had been impressed with Lolesio’s mental fortitude.
“I’ve really enjoyed the way Noah’s played off the back of disappointment, from missing out on the Rugby World Cup squad,” Muliaina told Stan Sport’s The Call Up.
“It’s not easy for a player of his class and I thought he was a bit hard done by, not being part of that. But to come back and really take control shows experience and maturity. He’s really led that side around the park and his partnership with Ryan Lonergan has been really crucial to the way the Brumbies have been able to steer the ship and use their big forwards up front.
“But coming over to Eden Park is another stepping stone in terms of his development as a player.”
Lolesio told reporters that he was “50-50” about his future in Australian rugby at the start of the season but a 12-2 record with the Brumbies in 2024 had restored the good vibes.
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The one big blemish was against the Blues at Eden Park, where they were hammered 46-7 in round nine.
“They were smashed,” former Wallabies loose forward Stephen Hoiles said on The Call Up.
“It was probably their worst loss in a number of years and it was their inability to slow the ball down. The Blues were just getting quick ball after quick ball and then that led to discipline issues. That’s not difficult to turn around because it wasn’t anything they did from a strategy or a system point of view.
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“It was just players not fronting up.”
Hoiles added that 2024 was Lolesio’s best ever season of Super Rugby.
“But there’s not much fanfare about him and it’s almost like that shifted to Carter Gordon. We’re always looking for the next kid off the block, especially in that position. But you don’t lead a side to third place and a home quarter-final if your No.10 hasn’t had a quality season.”