Ikitau astonishingly missed selection in Eddie Jones’ squad for the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
“It’s been an awesome journey. This is probably one of the best years that I’ve enjoyed in the Wallabies jersey, in terms of the way we’ve been playing. You know, the way that we want to play. It’s just been exciting,” he said.
“That (England) game [was] the turning point for us. We were coming off pretty much a poor rugby championship and we wanted to start fast. That was a crazy game to be a part of. And then, we kind of just built some momentum off the back of that.”
Len Ikitau tries to charge through the Lions defence.Credit: Getty Images
Ikitau said he’d been initially nervous to move to No.12, after only ever considering himself an outside centre. But with a new role that involved him being “an extra backrower” in the attacking 22, he relished the ability to influence games.
“I prefer a try assist over a try, to be honest. I’m not lying there,” he said. “I celebrate a lot more when I set someone up, and I think it feels better than scoring a try.”
Missing selection in 2023 provided fire in the belly after years of being a first-picked No.13, Ikitau said.
Rob Valetini’s run of two consecutive John Eales medals came to an end, after the big backrower missed most of the Australian winter with a calf injury.
Others who came into contention for the award were skipper Harry Wilson and flanker Fraser McReight.
Suaalii was named rookie of the year after an impressive first year with the Wallabies.
Tabua Tuinakavadura poses with the Wallaroos Player of the Year Award.Credit: Getty Images for Rugby Australia
Orange-raised back-rower Tabua Tuinakauvadra was recognised as the best player in the Wallaroos, after strong campaigns in the Pacific Four series and the Rugby World Cup, where Australia made the quarter-finals.
Western Force flanker Carlo Tizzano won the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year title, and Waratahs centre Georgina Friedrichs claimed the Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year.
Faith Nathan and James Turner won the Shawn Mackay awards for the best women’s and men’s sevens players, and Aussie sevens rookie Mackenzie Davis won the junior women’s player award. Aden Ekanayake and Sid Harvey couldn’t be split and were joint winners for the junior men’s award.
Loading
George Smith and Tui Ormsby were inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame and Australian women’s Hall of Fame respectively.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.