When Izaia Perese went down with a knee-injury against England in Brisbane the entire rugby community felt the agony and disappointment for the Wallabies utility back.
For a young man who had already experienced the highs and lows of professional sport, the sight of seeing him leaving the Suncorp Stadium pitch on a stretcher in his first Test appearance on home soil was a sorry one.
Yet for Perese, who six years earlier was taken on a Spring Tour by Michael Cheika, the season-ending injury was a “blessing in disguise”.
“It [the injuries] has been frustrating, but I think towards the end of my season, I think it was the week of the second England Test, I was at breaking point,” Perese told The Roar.
Izaia Perese of Australia goes off injured during game two of the International Test Match series between the Australia Wallabies and England. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
In a year when Michael Hooper stepped away from the game, Perese, who was given a chance to reignite his career at the Waratahs after a drug-related incident threatened to end his journey in rugby before it had properly got off the ground, gives a raw insight into the emotional struggle of having to be away from his young family.
“Emotionally I would go and see my family, so I would drive from the Goldy to the Sunny Coast and emotionally I didn’t want to leave the Sunny Coast,” Perese said.
“I wanted to be there with my kids.
“It’s been a tough year in a sense going to and from Sydney and the Sunshine Coast, where my new-born boys are. I feel like I was emotionally out of it.
“I wanted to stay with my family, but I have a job to do. I had a kid ticking on.”
Perese has three children under the age of five, including twin one-year-olds.
“I wanted to be around there, so I was beating myself up in the head. Mentally weighing things up when I shouldn’t have been,” he said.
“When I got injured, it was a huge blessing in disguise [because] it allowed me to get right again. I was battling.
“I was managing a patella tendinitis for about seven years, so it was bound to go. But, also, it gave me quality time with my family and time to reset mentally. Just reset for the 2023 year ahead.”
Izaia Perese takes on the defence during an Australia Wallabies captain’s run at Suncorp Stadium on July 08, 2022 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Perese, 25, promises to be a trump card for Dave Rennie’s Wallabies in next year’s World Cup season.
The outside centre, who started his career on the wing, has appeared for the Wallabies on just three occasions but on the evidence of his debut against Scotland, as well as his form in Super Rugby for the past two seasons, he could yet play a significant role in 2023.
Strong in contact, Perese has been a tackle-busting machine for the Waratahs since heading south in 2021.
His explosiveness has offered the Waratahs a genuine point of difference.
With the Wallabies sweating on Samu Kerevi making a successful comeback from injury, with others like Lalakai Foketi and Hunter Paisami Test options but also injury-prone, Perese’s utility value and straight-running could be explored more and more by Rennie.
Perese is hopeful of being fit for the opening Super Rugby round against the Brumbies in Sydney on February 24.
If he is back, it will put him on a collision course with regular Wallabies outside centre Len Ikitau.
In a World Cup year, the contest has extra meaning – even if Ikitau is likely one of a handful of players who will already be pencilled into Rennie’s World Cup squad.
“It would mean a lot. I think just being there [the World Cup] would be a huge achievement,” Perese said.
“Getting on the field and playing 13 would be great. But, in saying that, Lenny has done an amazing job over the last two years now with the Wallabies. I just watch him and think, ‘frick, that’s the standard,’ so it’s a pretty high standard.
“At the end of the day, I just want to be a consistent player and do everything right for the team. Everything else, Wallabies or whatever is out there outside of the Waratahs, it will come if I perform but my main focus is getting on the field and being a part of this pre-season.”
Chivas
Roar Rookie
I know the feeling, but you cant beat the trolls. Most people know who you are and those that font can believe whatever they want.. But this guy isnt even coherent in his comments. The fact they started banging on about Israel Folau and religion and the Islands was enough to indicate he was a few sheep short in the top paddock. He doesnt represent christianity or polynesians. He makes a mockery of them. You have to let people be id10ts. You cant defend yourself against them. Its a waste of time.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Mac Hansen had a big run of injuries and did not play many games for the Brumbies, nothing to do with NRL players. From memory 9 games in three seasons and he played 9 games in Ireland in one season before his first cap.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I’m pretty sure you’re confusing your Izzies. Do keep up king
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Good wrap and I agree most of this is subjective. What is pathetic is the constant reference to a sky blue jumper being a pathway to gold. I’m sick of the parochialism. If Flook is the best reserve centre option on form in 23, I want him picked and I have little doubt his jersey won’t count against him
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
His offload game was average. He made a number of very good offloads last year and it’s no longer a weakness
SDRedsFan
Roar Rookie
There's 6 teams in the Sunny Coast comp. If you were going to drive to Redcliffe, wouldn't you just keep going to Ballymore?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Our islander brothers and sisters are wonderful.
jeznez
Roar Guru
He’s been making up stuff about me for two and a half years. Try not to engage too much but have to occasionally defend myself from his lies.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
When you realised that King of Kings comprehension skills were not up to it, why then did you engage.
KingofKings
Guest
Deflection and Deception doesn’t give much comfort to the Pacific Islander community Jez. A community I’m proud to embrace as our brothers and sisters
jeznez
Roar Guru
Ps. Worth noting that the Izzy in this article is Izaia Perese not Israel Folau. Try not to confuse them.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I too would be surprised if many Christians supported the positions hypothesised in those questions. It’s one of the ways you can tell they weren’t some kind of “cynical rant” “slamming” Izzy and other Christians. As you well know, Ethan and I were having a discussion on how religious belief and harmful concepts can clash. Not any of what you claimed above. Thanks for picking out some quotes that confirmed that.
Trevor Robertson
Guest
Matter of opinion. I wouldn’t personally have Perese in front of Paisami at all. Better at breaking tackles, yes, but that’s if. Foketi has played better at 12 for the Wallabies in their last couple of respective games but I don’t think there is much between the two. Paisami is the better 13. Even with Flook it is a subjective comment. IMO it’s clear that Flook is well down the pecking order as he hasn’t (to my recollection) been included in any Wallaby squads. Which is why I already commented that Perese was more likely to make the Wallabies sqaud. But I believe Flook has outperformed both Foketi & Perese when the Reds and Waratahs have gone head to head and has also performed very well against the Brumbies centres including in the Super AU final in 2021 - although I concede these things can be impacted by the standard of the rest of the players respective teams. He is the quickest of the 4 and is (IMO) a more skilful player and better decision maker than Paisami or Perese. He also has an outstanding work rate. Perese puts together great highlights with his tackle busts. He also misses tackles, has relatively poor catch pass skills, and isn’t the best at reading play. He is a competitive bugger though and was great for the Tahs last year. Meanwhile the Reds really missed Flook when he was injured. Jimbo is clearly a passionate Qlder, but whilst I disagree with his comment I don’t think labelling it as pathetic is warranted.
KingofKings
Guest
But on November 9th you did say in a cynical rant aimed at Izzy and followers of the Christian faith: Would you support someone promoting forced marriage of minors to adults, due to them finding it a matter of religion? How about ownership of slaves? Or. Advocating the slaughter of those that have different religious beliefs. ‘Eart to Jeznez’, not all Christians believe this nonsense, in fact I’d be surprised if any do. The fact that didn’t stop you throwing this grenade and probably realising those most hurt by it would be Izzy’s community :angry:
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Behind Ikitau, yes
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He’s nothing like anybody you named. He’s a tackle shredding machine who could do with some work on his defence
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
This thinking becomes more pathetic the further away we are from Cheika as head coach. You’re an adult male, time to act like one. Foketi and Perese are both better rugby players than Flook and Paisami, regardless of jersey colour
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
In attack maybe and only running with ball in hand. His offload game is average and he can’t pass. … defense was below par too.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I’d add Jordan P to that list too
jeznez
Roar Guru
Happy to correct you George. I said none of that.