Rugby Australia has got its man with Sydney Roosters sensation Joseph Suaalii signing a blockbuster deal from October 2024 until at least the end of 2027.
RA hopes the 19-year-old will star for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in 2025 and at the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.
Suaalii, who was a schoolboys rugby standout, will also play for the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific.
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“Welcome back to rugby, Joseph,” RA chairman Hamish McLennan said.
The Roosters were first to confirm Suaalii’s NRL departure.
“Joseph has been transparent with the club and we respect his decision,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
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“He has made his commitment to the Roosters club for the next year and a half crystal clear, and we’re excited about the path we’re on.”
Suaalii was also quoted in the Roosters release.
“The Sydney Roosters have been great to me and my family since I got here and the club is always going to be a big part of me,” Suaalii said.
“There’s still a long way to go in my journey with the Roosters and my sole focus is on working hard every day to keep improving and performing my role for the team.”
Former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles said the lure of playing sevens at the 2028 and 2032 Olympics was likely another major factor for Suaalii.
“He’s got the ability to jump between sevens and XVs,” Hoiles said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven before the deal was confirmed.
“He did a lot of sevens training only a couple of years ago while he was at The King’s School. He was actually a year 11 boy training with the Aussie sevens and at that time, he was good enough to play in that team as a 16-year-old.
“So he’s a once in a sort of 10, 15, 20 year player and I’m happy rugby’s going for him.
“I’m also glad that the aggressive approach from Rugby Australia is towards people that know the game. So the on-boarding them or getting their skills back up to speed, it’s not going to take a long time.
“He’s played the game up until two years ago. He’s played it his whole life. So, I think he’d be a superstar and I think it’s a good approach from Rugby Australia.”
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