Noah Lolesio says simply seeing his name back in the Wallabies’ environment was his highlight of 2024, but as he approaches his sixth year in Super Rugby, the blossoming playmaker admits he’s got to “weigh up” the value of the gold jersey as he attempts to plan out his future.
At 25, Lolesio is not yet halfway through his career, but time never stands still for international playmakers, who are always sought after because teams are often defined by the men pulling the strings.
Only one year ago Lolesio’s career was at a crossroads.
After being looked over by Eddie Jones, a “pissed off” Lolesio, like several other recognised Wallabies, wasn’t sure where he stood in the pecking order.
It’s why Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, one of the greats of Australian rugby, chose to back Lolesio to the hilt.
“We played him in as many games as possible last year with the sole aim of trying to develop him into the number one ten in the world,” Larkham told The Roar.
Noah Lolesio made the Wallabies’ No.10 jersey his own in 2024. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
He finished playing 11 of the 13 Tests and starting on ten occasions.
While the jury remains out on the rising No.10, Larkham said the improvement in Lolesio’s game was clear.
“Off the back of the Super Rugby season, he got a lot of game time with the Wallabies, which has given him the opportunity to develop into a much better player than he was at the start of the season last year,” the former World Cup-winning playmaker said.
“We’ve already seen that, the way that he’s come back, he’s in really good condition physically, mentally in the right space, and making really smart decisions on the field, playing with a lot of confidence, driving the standards in and around the place, [and] his skill set as gone to a new level as well.
“Having chatted to him and Joe [Schmidt] about the Wallaby program, it really suited Noah and gave him a great opportunity to develop.”
Lolesio said Schmidt empowered him to go out and express himself.
“He’s such a good coach,” the 29-Test playmaker told The Roar. “He’s very clear on what he wants as a coach, as a head coach especially.
“He just told me to back myself. That’s probably the one main thing. Like, every single week there’s all these game plans and that, but then before every single time I run out, he’s just told me to back myself in anything I do. Hearing that before I run out just gives me a massive boost in confidence.”
Reflecting on his season of growth, Lolesio revealed his highlight of the season wasn’t the Wallabies’ stunning breakthrough win at Twickenham or back-to-back victories to start the year but simply returning to the side.
“I didn’t really get a time to probably sit down and reflect until the time off that we had over Chrissy,” Lolesio said.
“I think just being back in the Wallabies set up again, once reading that first squad list last year really hit home.
“Just being away from the environment for a whole year and then being back into it, you don’t realise how precious it is until you’re away from it.”
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says he’s been impressed by Noah Lolesio’s development. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
Having signed a one-year extension ahead of last year’s international season, Lolesio finds himself back considering his future.
Although he was backed in last year by Schmidt, the New Zealander is off by the end of The Rugby Championship.
It means that regular Wallabies under Schmidt like Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau and Tom Wright, who were looked past by Jones and in-and-out under Dave Rennie, understand that what one head coach sees in a player can be something completely by another.
Then, of course, remuneration comes into the equation – and leaving midway through a World Cup cycle rather than at the end of the four years when a flurry of players generally enters the market can be seen as advantageous.
Although Lolesio is the preferred candidate under Schmidt, nor is Rugby Australia ensuring that they wrap him up through to the World Cup by offering him a strong deal that screams that they value him.
Indeed, at present RA is having a bet each way by offering him a deal closer to $400,000.
It’s not laughable, but it’s left the door open for clubs in Japan and France to chase a fly-half who has improved, capable of steering a side around the park, is a proven goal-kicker, and someone who is likely a year or two away from entering his prime having been handed a Test debut years before he was ready.
So how is Lolesio feeling about his future?
“Oh, you definitely have to consider it (overseas deal),” he said.
“I think we’d all like to be playing rugby until we’re 50 or 60, but that’s not realistic. Our rugby careers are very short.
“My main focus at the moment is just putting my head down and then my agent will do the best job he can to sort that out, whatever happens after the season.
“Again, finances and all that, you obviously have to weigh that up as a player, because the rugby career isn’t the longest, so you’ve got to make the most of it.
“But at the same time, you’ve got to weigh up the Wallaby jersey as well, if it’s there.
“There’s a lot of things to consider, not just myself, obviously a few boys on the same boat. I’m sure we’ll all make the best decision for ourselves and our families.”
And is it spoken about much?
“No, everyone’s pretty much keeps to themselves about it, and everyone respects that as well,” he says.
Noah Lolesio shouts instructions during the Wallabies’ narrow loss to Ireland at Aviva Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Dublin. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Larkham, who played in an era where players rarely moved overseas until the end of their careers, said the relative success of the Brumbies’ program over the years was built on continuity, but added that he was hopeful the Super Rugby franchise could keep onto his proven internationals to push for a third title.
“The Brumbies’ success over the years has been a really good program that’s been consistent, and I think the cornerstone of that is that we keep our squad together, not just through the season through good management, but from season to season,” he said.
“It’s massively important for us to keep those players, particularly when you’re talking about world class players, and I genuinely feel like some of our players are world class players, and can they make a difference between winning and losing a competition, definitely.”
Lolesio was up regularly before 6am during the summer break to ensure he kept himself primed for a big 2025.
While he knows he’s the incumbent, past experience has told him never to be comfortable – and it’s why confidence from a moving year in gold only goes so far.
“Obviously, I played the majority of the Test matches last year, which was good. But at the same time, I can’t get complacent and do nothing either,” he said.
“I’ve got to get better again physically, and on the field as well.
“My main focus in this pre-season block is just getting my body right and ready to rip in with the lads here at Brums so I can put my best foot forward.”
And does it make it easier returning to Super Rugby after being the Wallabies’ main man last year, where he regularly played in front of packed houses in the United Kingdom and Ireland
“I wouldn’t say it makes it easier, I would just say that I’ve been at Brumbies for a while now and know the system inside and out,” he said.
“Myself, Lenny and Wrighty, we’ve all come through the system at a very young age and together. So we’ve been around each other for a while now.
“Our main goal is to take it to the grand final and finishing it off because previous years we’ve fallen short in the semi-finals too many times than we’d like.
“We also know that we’re not far off at all as well.
“There’s a reason why we’ve made it in the top four in the last three or four years. It’s because we’re a good footy side. We’ve just got to seize the moment when it comes.”
Christy Doranhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/02/13/have-to-consider-it-lolesio-opens-up-on-future-and-why-larkham-believes-wallaby-has-gone-to-a-new-level/‘Have to consider it’: Lolesio opens up on future – and why Larkham believes Wallaby has ‘gone to a new level’
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