Better than Brad Thorn and Sonny Bill Williams? Australian coach makes staggering claim about Wallabies’ new 5 million dollar recruit
Ex-All Black and rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams, and new Australia recruit Joseph Suaalii.
Australia’s cross-code recruit Joseph Suaalii has been backed to be the “greatest” convert to rugby union by his former coach.
The 21-year-old has agreed a lucrative contract with Rugby Australia, thought to be around AUS$5.35 million, which will keep him in the sport until at least the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Suaalii has signed for the Waratahs and will join them ahead of the 2025 season, but he could make his Test debut before his Super Rugby Pacific bow.
The speedster, who represented the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, recently let slip that he would be going on the Wallabies’ end-of-year tour.
He could therefore be displaying his talents in November and his ex-coach Matt Parish has told rugby union fans what to expect.
‘They got him cheap’
“I’ve got no doubt, no doubt whatsoever he’ll be the greatest league convert to union,” Parish told Wide World of Sports. “And I’m not the sort of person that exaggerates.
“I know union well and I think they got him cheap.”
Parish coached Suaalii when he chose Samoa over Australia ahead of the Rugby League World Cup, which took place in England in 2022.
However, the talented back will play for the Wallabies in union and he has been backed to be better than the likes of former NRL stars Brad Thorn, Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau.
“I know this is a big statement and this isn’t taking anything away from the other great players that have gone from league to union,” Parish said.
“But he’s an exceptional talent and one of the best young human beings I’ve ever been associated with.
“They’re getting a great player whose best football’s in front of him, has great character and his preparation is second to none. And I’ve got no doubt that his habits and what he does away from the field will only rub off on the other guys in that Wallabies squad.
“They should be very excited about the player they’re going to get.”
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‘Big, athletic young man’
Suaalii has all the athletic traits to succeed, according to Parish, while he also has experience of the 15-a-side code having played for Australia’s U18 team.
“He’s always been a big, athletic young man and you could tell he would be something special,” he said.
“But you see so many good kids at that age and a lot of them don’t fulfil the ability that they’ve got.
“Joseph is both one of the most talented and hard working players I’ve seen. Off the field, his attention to detail and training is phenomenal.”
The Wallabies squad for the northern hemisphere tour has yet to be confirmed, but Parish insists that Suaalii is ready for Test rugby despite never playing union professionally.
“They’d be crazy not to take him,” he added. “I’ve got no doubt he’d be starting to prepare himself and getting his skill set ready to do that.
“If they take him on that Spring Tour, he’ll play Test matches.”
