ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Sunday Mar 26, 2023

A $1.6 Million Winger From The Roosters Isn't Going To Help You Beat The All Blacks

Rugby Australia announced Saturday the signing of Sydney Roosters superstar Joseph Suaalii has agreed to switch codes at the end of the 2024 season.

ADVERTISEMENT

19-year-old Suaalli is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the 13-man code, so his switch to Rugby Union is a significant coup for Rugby Australia. Remaining in Sydney, Suaalli will link up with the Super Rugby side, the New South Wales Waratahs.

Despite currently plying his trade in the NRL, Suaalli initially broke through as a highly touted Rugby Union player at King’s School in Paramatta.

Following months of speculation about the youngsters’ future, the move clearly didn’t come as a shock to anyone involved in either code.

Speaking yesterday, Suaalli’s Roosters teammate, Kiwi international Brandon Smith, joked about the move: “Super stoked for him, he’s an amazing talent, and rugby really got a gem there.”

Going further, Smith poked fun at the state of Union in Australia by saying: “A $1.6m winger from the Roosters isn’t going to help you beat the All Blacks.

‘Like [ARL Commission chair] Peter V’landys said, “go over, get that easy money and then come back to the real sport’.

ADVERTISEMENT

“That $1.6m could’ve been spent better on the grassroots of Rugby” Smith concluded.

For the new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, Suaalli’s signing is the first move in a much bigger plan to poach several league stars ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Speaking to Australian broadcasters channel nine, Jones said: “There’s a definite priority in there; the first thing we want to do is retain all the talent in rugby, then secondly we want to recruit back the guys who were in rugby and went to league.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    Former England Coach Eddie Jones Signs Long...

  • 27 WEEKS AGO

    Wallabies New Superstar Torches Wales For...

  • 28 WEEKS AGO

    Former Scottish Coach Under Fire For Controversial...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Marcos Kremer shown red card for reckless shot on Finn Russell

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

View All

Amateur

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Horrific footage has emerged of Mohamed Haouas attack on wife

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

View All