'There's not much longer left for me': Award-winning Kellaway reflects on his rookie road

Wallabies winger Andrew Kellaway was named Rugby Australia Rookie of the Year on Friday, but sounded like he felt nearer the end of his career than the start.

Kellaway was thankful and humble in accepting the award, but clearly also felt it a little strange to be receiving it as a 26-year-old.

The Rookie of the Year is awarded to the player deemed to have been the most outstanding in Australia in the last 12 months, having made their debut for the Wallabies, Wallaroos or Australian Sevens teams on or since the opening game of the respective season.

Kellaway’s recognition is part of a week-long celebration of the Rugby Australia Awards. That will culminate in the 2021 John Eales Medal being announced on Sunday.

Kellaway wasn’t in Dave Rennie’s plans at the start of the Test season but came into the team via an early injury and performed outstandingly, scoring nine tries in 13 Tests.

Kellaway said being a Wallabies bolter last year eased the pressure on him when the surprise call came against France.

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“I was quite lucky in a sense that I didn’t have anything to lose,” Kellaway told reporters. “As Dave said, I wasn’t in the plans. Being called in was good enough at that point. Expectation was slim to none.”

Kellaway admitted he struggled when first breaking into Super Rugby with the Waratahs, before leaving to play overseas.

“If I was thrust in at 21, in hindsight I probably was thrust into the Waratahs team that was absolutely stacked with Wallabies, so one could argue it was not too far off,” Kellaway said.

“I look back and I look at the performances and how involved I was in those games, and I was a bit of a passenger. I was happy to be there rather than happy to compete.”

He feels at a different stage, six years on.

“I look now, and the clock is ticking. There’s not much longer left for me. I might be getting rookie of the year, but I’m still 26 going on 27.

“In terms of your rugby timeline, that’s definitely ticking for me.”

The Rebels back said his late arrival as a Wallaby meant he had the maturioty to make a better go of it.

“They’re always good circumstances to try to perform when nobody expects anything of you, and you’ve got a little bit of a chip on your shoulder and trying to prove people wrong,” he said.

Kellaway said he was focussed on performing well for the Rebels in a bit to entrench himself in the national team.

“If we’re honest, (we’re) probably serial underachievers,” Kellaway said of the Melbourne team.

“We’ve had, at least from where I see it, a pretty decent roster for the last four years and haven’t quite been able to crack the consistency we need to play finals footy.”

A former Junior Wallabies captain, Kellaway returned to Australia last year and linked back up with the Melbourne Rebels having spent time in both the UK and in Japan.

He made such a big impact he was a finalist in the 2021 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.

The other nominees for the 2021 Rookie of the Year award were, Tia Hinds (Australian Women’s Sevens), Len Ikitau (Wallabies), Samu Kerevi (Australian Men’s Sevens) and Jade Te Aute (Melbourne Rebels – Super W).

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said in a statement: “This award is great recognition for Andrew’s outstanding debut Test season last year.

“He has a strong all-round skillset and a genuine ability to beat defenders which made him an integral part of our starting XV throughout 2021.

“Andrew’s had a unique journey to the Wallaby jersey and his experience and maturity has allowed him grab his opportunity at Test level with both hands.”

Rugby Australia also announced the 2021 Try of the Year with winger Marika Koroibete’s effort against South Africa in Brisbane – set up with a no-look offload from Taniela Tupou – being named No.1.

Meanwhile, the Reds have named eight uncapped Super Rugby players for their first trial of 2022, against the Force.

The squad also boats Wallabies Liam Wright, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Fraser McReight and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

“We’re back playing footy this weekend for the first time in eight months,” coach Brad Thorn said in a statement.

“After a solid pre-season there’s a handful of guys who have put their hand up for selection tomorrow night. They’ve been working hard at training and deserve the opportunity.

“It’s also important to recognise the Force. It’s a big ask on the players and staff to be away from their families and we thank them for flying over and making this trial game possible.”

Wright, who is back as co-captain after injury wrecked 2021 for him, said: “It’s been a very unusually long pre-season, a good one in which we’ve achieved a lot so we’re looking forward to this season but there’s only so much training you can do so they boys are keen to rip in.

“We feel like we’re putting out two competitive teams which has been great for our training the last few weeks now we have numbers to do team-on-team with COVID and everything.

“There’s plenty of depth and guys pushing for selection and fortunately we in a position to put a lot of guys in and get them that game time, wanting to wear that Queensland jersey for the first time.”