- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Noah Lolesio is set to be in France later this year. Although, it’s unlikely to be with the Wallabies but rather Top 14 club Toulon.
The Roar understands the 23-year-old Brumbies playmaker, who last year led the Wallabies to victories against England, the Springboks and Wales, is on the verge of signing a short-term with the French glamour club.
He’s not the only one exploring his options either, with Jake Gordon, who started last year’s two Bledisloe Tests under Dave Rennie, sniffing a role after falling down the pecking order under Eddie Jones.
Gordon has at least been selected by Jones in Jason Gilmore’s coached Australia A side that will take on Toutai Kefu’s Tongan side featuring a host of international stars including Charles Piutau and Israel Folau on July 14.
After missing Wallabies selection Noah Lolesio was left out of Australia A’s side to take on Tonga. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
That’s not the case for Lolesio, who has sensationally slipped out of Australia A contention to continue his unique entry into professional sport.
No other year encapsulates his whirlwind journey like 2022, which started with a dramatic promotion into the starting side against Jones’ England in Perth after Quade Cooper went down with a calf injury.
While he led the Wallabies to a superb come-from-behind victory, the playmaker failed to lead the side to victories in Brisbane and Perth and was left out for their Rugby Championship opener in Argentina.
Nor did Cooper’s season-ending Achilles injury see Rennie turn to Lolesio immediately either, with the former Wallabies coach turning to James O’Connor before dispensing with the utility back for the rest of the season.
Noah Lolesio is expected to sign a short term World Cup joker deal to spend a stint in France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Lolesio then led the Wallabies to a stunning victory over the Springboks in Adelaide before Bernard Foley was drafted in from the international wilderness after his head knock against the world champions a week later in Sydney.
Astonishingly, Ben Donaldson even started the final Test of the year against Wales before Lolesio came off the bench to help the Wallabies seal a memorable come-from-behind victory.
All along, former Wallabies attack coach Scott Wisemantel, who is acting as a consultant to Jones in 2023, encouraged Lolesio to continue to play flatter and impose himself more on the game.
“The one thing that we wanted from Noah was to be a bit more aggressive because he’s such a nice bloke,” Wisemantel said.
“I want him to be filthy if he’s not selected. I want him to come to me and go ‘why’? And ‘how are we going to do this and what are you going to do for me?’.
“It’s not being rude. In that role, as a player who touches the ball more than most players in the team, he has to have that authority and that command.
“You actually have to practise it daily. Talking in wants and needs. ‘I need you here, I want you here, if you don’t show up, there’s going to be consequences’. It’s aggressive language. And off the field, Noah is nothing like that. But that’s part of his development, controlling men.”
Wisemantel pointed to Lolesio’s part in Fraser McReight’s try after 62 seconds caught the Springboks napping in Adelaide.
“The most impressive thing for me was when we scored that first try with McReight,” Wisemantel said.
“If you go back two phases before and look where Noah is, he’s connected to the forwards … but the authority he had with telling them what he wanted, how he wanted it, and his organising, that to me was his most impressive part of his game.
“I enjoyed that, because whether you are right or wrong, if you are demanding things and commanding things, then blokes are going to show up for you.”
Those close to Lolesio believe the talented playmaker will benefit from an experience away from Canberra and the Brumbies.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.