Rugby Australia president Hamish McLennan has confirmed a massive push to poach Sydney Roosters star Joseph Suaalii, with the 18-year-old star seen as a top priority for the Wallabies.
Foxsports.com.au revealed a fortnight ago that Suaalii was on Rugby Australia’s “hit list” of NRL players the Wallabies hope to convince to switch codes ahead of the 2027 World Cup, with Bulldogs gun Matt Burton also in the sights.
Suaalii was an excellent schoolboy rugby prospect before quitting rugby to join the Roosters in a massive deal, with the NRL changing its rules to allow his senior debut before turning 18.
He has become a shining light for the club in just his second season, earning a place in the NSW Blues Origin squad this year too.
McLennan has now told The Australian that Suaalii is top of the Wallabies’ wish list.
“We were sad to lose Joseph to the league, but there is an incredible pathway to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, if he and others want it,” McLennan said.
“We have to do the private equity deal, get money in the bank, but yes, we will go to the stars of the league.”
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Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters runs the ball during the Round 16 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters at BlueBet Stadium on July 1, 2022 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Suaalii has been stuck on the Roosters’ right wing but has made it clear he hopes to become the club’s full-back of the future, despite club captain James Tedesco and Kiwi international defender Joey Manu standing in the way his way
“I’m happy to do whatever for the team, whether it’s on the wing, centre-back, full-back, even five-eighth, I’ll play anywhere,” Suaalii said a week ago. “I’m behind two of the best full-backs in the game in Tedesco and Joey, so it’s going to be tough to play at full-back.”
But asked about the possibility of swapping clubs to play full-back, Suaalii replied: “I love it here, and if I could I would stay here forever – I love this club.”
However, despite having two years to run on his deal with Sydney, Suaalii’s contract includes a release clause at the end of each season, allowing him to swap clubs or codes.
And with the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour and the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, Rugby Australia hopes Suaalii can spearhead a repeat of the Wallabies’ 2003 World Cup, in which a number of league stars went jump for the tournament at home. .
In that tournament, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers all appeared for the Wallabies, having been poached from the NRL.
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Sailor told The Australian Suaalii is a no-brainer for the Wallabies.
“I’ve seen what he’s done this year for the Roosters and he’s just a level weapon,” Sailor said.
“Yeah, I just think like anything, rugby union, (has) got to be very smart who they go after … but I think Suaalii, it’s a no-brainer.
“He will play anywhere in that Wallabies backline … You could build a team around him and he could be there for a long time in either code.
“But obviously the Wallabies, we shouldn’t have lost against England this year, but if you’ve got someone like (Suaalii) in there, he’s your X-factor. You pay your money for your X-factors. He’s already proven himself , made the New South Wales origin team as an 18-year-old.”