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This weekend, the Roosters exited the 2024 NRL competition, going down to a rampant Melbourne outfit.
As most rugby supporters will recognise, this also heralds the conclusion, for the moment, of the NRL career of a certain rugby-bound Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
The signing of the Roosters prodigy has certainly generated headlines, as well as polarising rugby types. Some of them, quite rightly, point to the mammoth deal as a huge gamble by a penniless national body, akin to Rugby Australia taking their credit card to the casino for one last hurrah.
Other supporters, and I fall into this group, are excited to see him finally arrive. I accept he’ll need to justify his selection, but I don’t think it will take particularly long.
Joe Schmidt’s comment this weekend about the Wallabies backline being “solid but not spectacular” initially seems like a throwaway line, but is actually quite the stinging backhander. I suspect a few Wallabies will not be able to sit comfortably this morning after reading that.
Joe is right, though. We have some handy players but nobody with genuine X-factor. We probably haven’t since Israel Folau.
Folau, for his detractors, was over a number of years the only Wallaby we could point to as being truly world class, and the only guy that could generate genuine apprehension amongst our Kiwi brethren.
Joseph Suaalii is tackled. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Suaalii invites comparisons. He’s an inch taller, of similar speed, and a weapon under the high ball. To be fair, Folau had reached greater heights in rugby league before he transitioned and was marginally heavier.
Joe has some advantages, though. He’s three years younger than Folau when he transitioned (21 compared to 24). He’s played rugby already, and he’s got a very decent boot. Kicking was a prominent weak spot for Folau, comically so given his time as a paid professional Aussie rules player.
The AAGPS rugby competition in Sydney is certainly no proxy for professional rugby. History is littered with the names of boys who dominated at schoolboy level but never went on with it.
However, history has also shown that the AAGPS competition has been the most fertile pathway for future Wallabies in all of Australia. Suaalii debuted for the Kings School 1st XV in year 9 as a 14-year-old.
Granted, boys of Pasifika heritage are known to physically mature early, but if you’re not impressed by a 14-year-old playing 1st XV, then you’re a tough audience.
He followed up that initial promise by debuting in the NRL at 17, and debuting at State of Origin level (briefly) as a 20-year-old. On that occasion he blew his chance to be part of a stirring NSW series victory, and nearly torpedoed the whole series, sending Reece Walsh into a parallel dimension for a period of time.
But the physicality and sheer animal intent of the hit would have not have escaped Schmidt’s notice.
Should he be selected early or will he need to go through an apprenticeship? I’m in camp A.
I have no doubt Schmidt would like him settled in well in advance of the British and Irish Lions tour, which begins in July. The Wallabies only have four Tests left until then.
Israel Folau did make his international debut in 2013 against the Lions, and what a debut it was, but I’m betting Schmidt won’t wait that long.
I expect Suaalii will spend time with the squad but be picked in the Australia A team to face England A on November 18. He could then have time to be picked for the final two Wallabies matches against Scotland and Ireland.
Some might argue he needs to prove his mettle at Super Rugby level first. Really? Is that a great yardstick? And do we have the time for that? If you’re the coach, if he does have a breakout SR season, would you be happy handing him his debut against the Lions?
The odds of him being a success combined with the amount of coin that he is being paid indicate he’ll be wearing gold before too long.
Joseph Suaalii is sent off by referee Ashley Klein. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Where would you put him? Most people agree putting on the wing would be a waste. Plenty of people see him as a destructive 12 or 13. He would perhaps excel in those positions but I see him as a born fullback. What attributes would he lack to play there? I can’t see any. Solid defender? Check. Ability to chime into the line near the edges? Check. Good under a high ball? Check. Ability to roost a decent clearing kick? Check.
I’m generally a Tom Wright fan, and it begs the question what to do with Tom if Suaalii is picked at 15. I don’t know. That’s for Joe to work out. This would be what’s known as a ‘good problem to have’.
His goal kicking ability is also interesting. At 76 per cent success, this doesn’t categorise him as a sharpshooter, however, it’s in the ballpark of Noah Lolesio’s 78 per cent.
Noah has polarised supporters as well, and it’s often advanced that his selling point is his kicking accuracy. Schmidt has his own reasons for picking Noah, but if these include that particular aspect, it gives him freedom to consider other options.
I wish you well, Joe Suaalii.
Don’t prove me wrong!
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