With the Eddie Jones disaster behind him, ‘pissed off ‘ Noah puts overseas move on ice

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Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio has put the bitter disappointment of missing the World Cup behind him by signing an extension with Rugby Australia and the ACT Brumbies.

In a boost to the Brumbies ahead of this weekend’s semifinal against the Blues, Lolesio has signed to the end of 2025 with a one year extension to his current deal.

Lolesio has started all but one match for the Brumbies on their run to the semis. He’s currently goal-kicking at 84% and sitting in the top three for try assists across the competition.

Lolesio was snubbed by Eddie Jones for the World Cup with the former coach opting for Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson as his No.10s on that doomed campaign.

Told he didn’t “attack enough” by Jones, Lolesio never got a look-in under him.

“I was pretty pissed off,” Lolesio told The Roar in December. “Just at the whole situation, really.

“During that time, when I found out that I wasn’t going to be in the Wallabies going for the World Cup, it was very disappointing. I was very disappointed but happy for all the Brumbies boys that made the team.”

Instead of being tarnished by the World Cup disaster, Lolesio went to play as a tournament cover for Toulon in France’s top competition.

He played seven times and enhanced his reputation. It also opened his eyes to the potential of leaving Australia for overseas.

 “It was definitely something I needed. Who knows. I’d love to go back there. Whether it’s next year or in five years, we’ll see what happens,” Lolesio said.

“Obviously, with all the Wallabies stuff that’s happened over the last 11-12 months, it’s a really uneasy time,” Lolesio added in December.

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

“I’m sure all players are feeling it, it’s a very uneasy time with regards to who the Wallabies coach is going to be, with what’s going on with the merger with Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby clubs. There’s a lot of unknown factors, but hopefully all those variables are sorted before the season starts, so the boys can just focus on the footy.”

The stars are aligning for Lolesio to regain the crown as Australia’s starting flyhalf.

Joe Schmidt has replaced Jones and Lolesio is most pundits’ pick as the man most likely to wear the gold No.10 this year.

The 24-year-old is a product of the Australian Rugby pathway system, educated at the Southport School on the Gold Coast before being selected and named vice-captain of the 2017 Australian Schoolboys side.

He moved to Canberra in 2018, joining the Tuggeranong Vikings in the John I Dent Cup and the Canberra Vikings in the National Rugby Championship.

In 2019 he was named in the Australian Under 20s side for the U20 Rugby World Cup in Argentina, starting at inside centre as the team fell agonisingly short in the final to France.

He made his Super Rugby debut in the COVID-19 affected 2020 season – steering the Brumbies to the Super Rugby AU title in his first professional season.

Lolesio’s form was rewarded with selection in the Wallabies squad later that year, going on to earn his Test debut against New Zealand in Sydney.

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(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The following year Lolesio started all three matches at flyhalf as the Wallabies defeated France in a three-Test series on home soil and has since gone on to pull on the gold jersey on 17 occasions.

“I’m grateful to have my future sorted for next year and want to thank the Brumbies and Rugby Australia for their ongoing support,” Lolesio said on Wednesday.

“Canberra has been home for me since moving from Brisbane to join the Brumbies Academy in 2018. It’s a place that has continued to helped me grow as a person on and off the field.

“The next period in Australian Rugby presents some once in a career opportunities and I’ll be working hard to give myself the best possible chance to be a part of them but for now my focus is on finishing off the Super Rugby Pacific season in a positive fashion.”

Rugby Australia Director of High-Performance Peter Horne said: “It’s pleasing to see Noah re-commit to Australian Rugby as we continue to build toward the pinnacle events coming up in the next few years here in Australia.

“He’s been very consistent for the Brumbies this year and we wish him and the team well ahead of this weekend’s semifinal.”

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