Sydney Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii will depart the club for rugby when his contract expires at the end of 2024.
The development follows Danny Weidler’s report on Friday regarding Rugby Australia’s $4.8 million play for the prodigious teen.
With the three-year multimillion-dollar contract, Suaalii is set to become the highest-paid player in Australian rugby history – on a per-season basis.
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He will also be eligible to play for the Wallabies late in 2024 – in time for the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour the following year.
In a club statement released on Sunday afternoon, the Roosters confirmed Suaallii would switch codes.
“The management of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have informed the Sydney Roosters that he will be departing the club at the end of his current contract term,” the statement read.
“Suaalii is contracted to the Roosters until the conclusion of the 2024 NRL season.”
Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson was pleased with the fullback’s decision to see out his contract.
“Joseph has been transparent with the club and we respect his decision,” he said.
“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 is poised to play Super Rugby for the Waratahs.
In the statement, Suaalii also had grateful words for the Tricolours.
“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,” he 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.”
Suaalii was a schoolboy rugby star who met with former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie in 2021before electing to begin his professional career in the NRL.
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