Wallabies’ multi-million dollar recruit issues confident message to Joe Schmidt as Rugby Australia’s ‘saviour’ set for rare feat
The Wallabies’ newest recruit Joseph Suaalii insists that he will not be burdened by the expectation that comes with his hefty price tag.
A superstar in the NRL when still just a teenager, former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan went all out to get the youngster.
McLennan and the governing body, despite their well-known financial issues, offered a multi-million dollar deal to bring him to rugby union from the 13-a-side code.
The contract is thought to be worth around AUS$5.35 million over three years which could rise – if reports are correct – to AUS$9 million if he stays an extra two seasons.
Big expectation on Suaalii
For someone that is just 21, who was seen by the previous RA regime as a potential ‘saviour’, it can add to the pressure, but not for Suaalii.
“Not really, I’ve always just been excited,” he told reporters. “I made the decision about a year-and-a-half-ago. It’s come quick, but just very excited to get playing.”
Suaalii was a schoolboy rugby superstar before he turned his attention to league, where he displayed his significant talents as a teenager.
When he reached his 20s, he was already considered one of the best in the NRL and he will look to take those qualities to the 15-a-side code.
The 21-year-old has plenty of experience of union but he has never played it professionally and it could take time for him to adapt.
With the expectation high, patience might be thin for some supporters, but Suaalii will not try to rush things and is instead embracing the “process”.
“I’m ready for that,” he said. “I feel like a young kid coming through the NRL, I feel like I had a lot of eyes on me coming through. It’s no different.
“I’m just keeping things simple, just sticking to the process of training every day, getting better every day and just learning from my teammates and just trying to be the best player I can be.”
Suaalii let slip in a previous interview that he was going to be included in the Wallabies’ squad for the end-of-year tour, but it is one thing being part of the wider group and another to actually play.
Should he be involved then it means that a Test match would be his first taste of professional rugby union, which is both a rare feat and a daunting prospect.
Joe van Niekerk famously donned the Springboks jersey before playing in either the Currie Cup or Super 12 and Suaalii is following a similar path having not yet featured for the Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific, but he is nothing if not confident.
“If they throw me in, I’m ready to go,” he said. “I’ve always backed myself playing footy, I’ve always backed myself going against anyone. I’m very confident in my abilities to play.”
Joe Schmidt and his union position
Whether he plays and what position that is in is very much down to head coach Joe Schmidt, who took over as head coach from Eddie Jones at the start of the year.
Most feel that Suaalii could play anywhere from 11-15, given his staggering athletic qualities, but the ex-NRL star does not have a preference.
“I met Joe yesterday,” Suaalii said.
“Honestly, we just spoke about family. We’re just getting to know each other basically, I haven’t really spoken about footy. It’s just been about getting to know each other and getting to know the boys.
“I feel like anywhere, honestly, wherever Joe [Schmidt] puts me [I’ll be ready]. I’m just putting my head down and just learning as much as I can and just play footy. At the end of the day, it’s just a game of footy, nothing else.”