Days after going under the knife, injured Wallaby Noah Lolesio says he’s thankful for the support following a “couple of crazy days” that will see the playmaker “out for a while”.
Lolesio was crushed in a tackle in the 60th minute against Fiji and was stretchered off on a medicab.
Although the rising playmaker was initially discharged from Newcastle Hospital, specialists later determined that Lolesio’s injury needed immediate attention.
The Roar understands that Lolesio will be out for a minimum of six months, with his return to play to be determined by how he responds following the surgery.
In a social media post, Lolesio thanked the medical team, especially Doctor Tony Tsahtsarlis, for going “above and beyond for me”.
“For now, I’m surrounded by my loved ones back at home and will be out for a while,” he said.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, who has been pivotal in the flyhalf’s development, said that the entire Super Rugby franchise was thinking of their outgoing playmaker.
“Obviously, we’re thinking about him,” said Larkham, following the Brumbies 36-24 loss against the Lions on Wednesday night.
“We’ve been thinking about him over the past couple of days and sent him a couple of messages, and I guess it’s that rehab process now and we’ve got to make sure we give him every chance to come back fully fit.
“I don’t know the prognosis, I don’t know if that’s been reported yet. We just wish him all the best. He’s typically a pretty good healer.”
Lolesio’s injury has robbed Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt of his first-choice No.10.
The Japan-bound playmaker had started in 12 of 14 Tests under Schmidt, with Ben Donaldson starting on two occasions – against Georgia and Argentina – in 2025.
Elsewhere, the Wallabies have a couple of options, albeit inexperienced ones.
Noah Lolesio was injured during the Wallabies’ narrow win over Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium on July 06, 2025. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Tom Lynagh, who made his Test debut last year, hasn’t started yet for the Wallabies. While Tane Edmed got a couple of minutes against Ireland in the Wallabies’ final Test of 2024.
Larkham, arguably the Wallabies’ greatest playmaker and featured in the opening two Lions Tests in 2001 before succumbing to injury, said national selectors would have to weigh up the balance between providing opportunities to the next generation and winning the series.
“The British and Irish Lions comes around every 12 years and you certainly want to have your best team on the field to win,” the long-time Brumbies mentor said.
“I think our guys in Super Rugby have been playing well. You’ve got Tom Lynagh, Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, I’ll miss names out here, but you’ve got guys around Australia, who have been performing in Super Rugby. You’ve got James O’Connor, who was with the Crusaders and he was performing well. There’s options there.
“Part of me would see development for the future in that space, but, equally, I’d prefer to beat these guys.”
The Wallabies name their squad to take on the Lions on Friday afternoon.
Christy Doranhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/07/11/prefer-to-beat-these-guys-lolesio-set-to-miss-rest-of-2025-as-larkham-weighs-in-on-wallabies-replacement-for-lions/‘Prefer to beat these guys’: Lolesio set to miss rest of 2025 as Larkham weighs in on Wallabies replacement for Lions
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