All Blacks greats divided on ‘dangerous’ Joseph Suaalii’s best position despite him being ‘above and beyond everybody else’
Waratahs and Wallabies outside back Joseph Suaalii.
High-profile code hopper Joseph Suaalii has received praise from All Blacks greats Justin Marshall, Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina after shining on his Waratahs debut at the weekend.
Suaalii made his Super Rugby Pacific bow in an entertaining encounter against the Highlanders at the Allianz Stadium on Friday and the match went down to the wire with the Waratahs eventually clinching a narrow 37-36 victory.
The 21-year-old was forced off the field in the 68th due to cramp but delivered a fine performance at full-back as he was solid under the high ball and impressed on attack as he gained 73 metres after completing 11 runs which included two clean breaks and three defenders beaten.
All Blacks legends impressed by Suaalii
And the rugby league convert certainly caught the eye of former All Blacks backline stars Marshall, Wilson and Muliaina.
Speaking on The Breakdown, Muliaina said he has been impressed with how Suaalii, who made his Wallabies debut against England last November before playing Super Rugby, has adapted to rugby union.
“His influence on the game at the moment, both in Australia and how big he’s been, a lot of talk around the international window in November,” he remarked.
“He comes back. He’s in the fold, and he starts for the Waratahs.
“But even here in New Zealand, I mean, being able to have eyes on this guy, and rugby in particular, in a year that we really need to actually strive, I think it’s fantastic.
“And the scenes that you see after the game, when he’s in the stands with the kids, with his former rugby league teammates. I tell you what, the Wallabies and Australian rugby are doing a good job of recruiting NRL players if they can keep doing that.”
The show’s host Kirstie Stanway said: “I’d argue that he’s (Suaalii) the biggest superstar in the game right now, across Australia and New Zealand, known by multiple people, not just rugby fans.”
Marshall agreed and replied: “Absolutely. And his skill set demands that. Like, his aerial skills are next level. And that’s exciting when you see a player that competes in the air, that has this ability to be above and beyond everybody else.”
While he impressed at full-back for the Waratahs, Suaalii shone for the Wallabies at outside centre during last year’s Autumn Nations Series. And despite singing Suaalii’s praises, the All Blacks legends were divided on which position suited him best.
“You know, the key for me, is exactly which jersey he’s going to fill,” said Marshall. “When you see him at fullback, as you have both played, you get more vision within being able to get yourself into the game.
“Centre, you’re flatter. I think from fullback, he can just see more and he can come as a first, second receiver, and equally they can use him for cross-kicks.
“I like him at fullback. I think centre’s tough for him.”
‘All of the attributes you need in a fullback are there’
Wilson agreed and said: “100% because ultimately, I’m looking at him learning the game and all of the attributes you need in a fullback are there.
“We should have done this with (fellow code hopper and ex-All Blacks centre) Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. I’m not going to go there, because to learn the game, seeing it from that dimension, from the backfield, with a little bit more time, for me, he’ll develop his skills, they’re there.
“But what I don’t agree with the Waratahs’ tactics early on. Go out in the wing and chase a few kicks for us. How about get the ball in his hands? I think he’s dangerous.
“And I don’t want to spend my time watching him defend most of the game. Get him on attack, he can do that better from fullback.”
However, Muliaina disagreed and said he prefers to see Suaalii returning to a midfield role.
“No, I think he’s a centre. I honestly do. I think the skill set that he has, he’s already learned,” he said. “You put him out the international window against England, and how did he play? Man of the match.
“In Super Rugby, better teams will kick him out of the game. They’ll contest, they’ll put him out of the game, get him on the ground. He won’t have that time.
“At centre, he’s a little bit flatter. Ok, he has to tackle a bit more. That’s what you have to do.
“But I think he’s got the physique to be able to tackle. Plus, he gets to influence a lot more in Super Rugby – I think he’s an out-and-out centre.
“I know what you mean about Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck). I don’t think that was his preferred position. But I think, for Suaalii, he is an out-and-out centre for me.”
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