He gave up his jersey and made other Wallabies look like stars. They voted him MVP

2 days ago 4

The skill and selflessness of Wallabies star Len Ikitau in an outstanding season has been recognised by his peers, who have named the centre as the winner of the John Eales Medal.

Ikitau claimed rugby’s highest honour at the Rugby Australia awards in Sydney on Friday night, in a ceremony that also saw Tabua Tuinakauvadra recognised as the Wallaroos’ player of the year and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii named rookie of the year.

The John Eales medal is based on votes from Wallabies players after every Test match – and as the men in the arena, they rarely get it wrong.

Ikitau’s season was comfortably his best since he debuted for the Wallabies in 2021, and it came after the 27-year-old had been shifted from his regular position at outside centre by Joe Schmidt, to accommodate hyped new signing Suaalii on the Spring Tour last year.

Moving to inside centre for the first time, Ikitau quickly adapted his game from elusive ball-runner to a highly effective playmaker. He famously earned the nickname “Lenny Flickitau” when he delivered an audacious backhanded flick pass to Max Jorgensen for the match-winning try against England at Twickenham last year.

Ikitau was dominant against Wales, too, and he even shifted his game further this year and became a go-to ball carrier in tight channels, to help the Wallabies get momentum against the Lions, and in the Rugby Championship.

The Len Ikitau flick pass for the Wallabies’ match-winner against England.

His ability to produce no-look try-assists and line-break assists in traffic also became critical, and he set up three tries against Argentina in Townsville, including the matchwinner for Angus Bell, deep into extra time. He ended up top of the try-assist tally for all of the Rugby Championship.

Ikitau accepted his award from England, where he has moved for a sabbatical season with Exeter. He is expected to link up with the Wallabies for three Tests in November, during the international window, and cheekily said in his video message at Sydney Town Hall: “Say hi to Uncle Eddie for me.”

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.

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.

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.

George Smith and Tui Ormsby were inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame and Australian women’s Hall of Fame respectively.

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