SONNY BILL WILLIAMS (Dual international All Black and Stan commentator)
What position will he play? I am not too sure. He played the game growing up, so he could play in the midfield. He could also play in the outside backs. He is good under the high ball.
He has the skill set. It is not like he is coming off playing five years in the NRL. My main thing is time. We want him to do well, but we just have to give the brother time.
In rugby league Joseph Suaalii played 44 games at centre, 30 on the wing and 7 at fullback.Credit: Getty
The good thing is he is in that space now, so he is rubbing shoulders with the game’s best in Australia. We just have to give him time.
MORGAN TURINUI (Former Wallabies centre and Stan Sport commentator)
Wing is the spot to start. It is really simple in coming across from league: to be a success, you’ve got to play on the edge – so back three/wing you’ve got to have played rugby before and you have to come across when you’re relatively young.
So he’s perfectly set up to be one of the best, if not the best, cross-code convert there has been in Australia. The guys that came across the early 2000s were coming into a more settled team. So it was easier for them.
Wing is the easiest, quickest and best way for him to come into it. Long-term he’d probably evolve into a 15, with a more roving role, which would make him more influential.
TIM HORAN (Two-time World Cup winner and Stan Sport commentator)
The place to start him is on the wing. Moving forward, he has the potential to be a 13. He has played the game before so he understands the defensive pressures at 13, so that’s a potential. But Len Ikitau is a wonderful player so he’d have to be playing well to replace [him].
Len Ikitau runs with the ballCredit: Getty Images
I will say this: we need to see a bit more from Joseph. Even though he is being paid a lot of money, and is one of the biggest recruits we have ever had, he has to earn the right to 1) be on the bench and 2) and get into the starting team, and obviously be earning the right to be looked at.
His goal-kicking might be important, as far as 50-50 selection calls in the future.
MICHAEL HOOPER (Former Wallabies captain and Stan Sport expert)
Physically he looks like he can play anywhere from 12-15 – I have no idea. I just haven’t seen him play enough, only his obvious athleticism. So I am very excited to see how it unfolds.
MICHAEL CHEIKA (Former Wallabies coach)
“I think fullback’s his go,” Cheika told the Roar. ”The more room to move, great under the high ball. You can orchestrate him coming to catch high ball and attacking plays as well. His room to move, his defence back there and the way he’d organise, he’d just need to learn a little bit about the movements in the backfield because that’d be very different to anything he would’ve experienced at league.”
DAN McKELLAR (Waratahs coach)
“I’ve got a bit of an idea. He could play No.13, wing, fullback – he could probably play at 12 as well. He is a special athlete. He brings a real point of difference, he’s a big body, he’s got good skill and he’s got a grounding in rugby and the basics. Now it’s teaching him how to play the game at a professional level.”
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