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‘I needed change’: Lukhan Salakaia-Loto eyes first Wallabies Test since 2021

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto poses during an Australia Wallabies Portrait Session on June 26, 2024 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for ARU)

In-limbo Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is happy to put his country ahead of club as he fights for a Wallabies recall following a three-year “soul-searching” career change overseas.

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Salakaia-Loto is in the running for a first Test start since 2021 after returning from an English Premiership stint with Northampton and earning a spot in Joe Schmidt’s maiden Wallabies squad.

The 27-year-old didn’t blink when asked if he thought his Test-playing days might be over after he left the Queensland Reds at the end of 2022.

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“No, not at all,” the 30-Test stalwart said ahead of the Wallabies’ first match of the year against Wales in Sydney on Saturday.

“I knew that time of my career, back in 2021, I needed a change.

“I’d spent a big part – all of – my career up in Queensland and I got to the point where I needed change and needed to do a bit of soul searching and overseas was the place for that.

“So I left knowing that I was going to come back at some stage.

“Probably not as quick as it probably happened but I knew that, if I had gone away and worked and chipped away on my craft, that coming back I’ll be a better player for it.”

Salakaia-Loto was gushing in his praise for the help he received at Northampton from English great Courtney Lawes.

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But, ultimately, he credits family life for his new perspective and approach.

“Had a family, got two kids now with my partner. Just in life in general, it’s made me a better person,” he said.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
4
Draws
0
Wins
1
Average Points scored
32
28
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
60%

“And that flows on to being a better player.

“Coming back a bit more older and mature, it’s something that I definitely haven’t taken for granted.

“I’m just taking each day as it comes and it’s good to be back with the boys that I’ve got a lot of time for and played a lot of rugby with in the past.

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“Hopefully I can make my time this time around better.”

Salakaia-Loto’s bid for a Wallabies recall comes amid much uncertainty around his club career after Melbourne Rebels’ axing from the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

The lock hasn’t played since breaking a foot in April, but insists he’s “fit and ready to go” and only focused on the Wallabies.

The Sydney-born-and-raised talent is an obvious candidate to join the Rugby Australia-owned NSW Waratahs but is remaining coy about where he may end up in 2025.

“I’m right where my feet is and that’s in camp and that’s what I’m focused on,” Salakaia-Loto said.

“Once I have an answer, I could probably give you a bit more clarity on that.

“But, you never know, NBA is a pretty cool sport to get into.

“All options are open at the moment.”

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Tom 21 minutes ago
Will Bristol's daredevil 'Bears-ball' deliver the trophy they crave?

Also a Bristol fan and echo your sentiments.


I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.


I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.


Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.


“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

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