‘Don’t let the door hit you on the arse’: Gould’s stunning Suaalii rant amid rugby exodus

Phil Gould has called on the NRL to show Joseph Suaalii the door immediately and is furious about one detail of the star’s $5 million code-hop.

Joseph Suaalii and Phil Gould.

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has called on the NRL to cut ties immediately with teenage superstar Joseph Suaalii after his mega-money deal to join rugby union from 2025.

Suaalii has inked a contract with the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia to join the 15-man code for three years on a deal worth over $5 million.

The 19-year-old still has over a season and a half with the Sydney Roosters before his departure, but the veteran coach, administrator, and pundit says the teen tyro should be sent packing immediately.

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“Every time he scores a try. Every time he does something in our game people are going to refer to the fact that he’s going to rugby,” Gould said on Nine’s 100% Footy.

“Why do we need that? Go now. Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out. Go. Go now. Gone. He’s made his decision. You sign a contract for rugby 18 months before his league contract ends.

Joseph Suaalii will switch to rugby in 2024.

“You can’t sign with any other rugby league club in that time. He can only sign somewhere else.

“He’s made his decision. I have nothing against the kid. I’ve loved having him in the NRL. He’s a tremendous athlete and is great for the game. But he’s decided to be a rugby player. Bye bye. Off you go.”

It’s the latest barb in a wild war of words between league and union since Suaalii’s deal was announced Saturday.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys claimed Suaali’i would be “paid twice the money for doing half the work,” adding he would become ‘terribly bored’ in union and eventually return to league.

Phil Gould called on Suaalii to leave now.

Roosters teammate Brandon Smith - a Kiwi - delivered a hilarious press conference full of cheeky digs at rugby, saying: “a $1.6 million winger from the Roosters isn’t going to help (the Wallabies) beat the All Blacks.”

Rugby Australia chair Hamish McLennan then hit back at the critics, labelling them a “bunch of cry babies.”

Originally published as ‘Don’t let the door hit you on the arse’: Gould’s stunning Suaalii rant amid rugby exodus