Joseph Suaalii South Sydney contract: Russell Crowe holds keys to teen’s future
‘He’s in a league of his own.’ To say Rugby Australia is super excited to land Joseph Suaalii would be an understatement, with some even seeing the 16-year-old as ‘the new Israel Folau’ (minus the controversy).
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Joseph Suaalii, set to become the richest Australian teenage athlete ever, wants to be an Olympian.
While representing the Wallabies is part of the attraction, the lure of playing for a gold medal at the Tokyo Games this time next year has 16-year-old footballer creeping closer to signing with Rugby Australia.
RA again rubbished reports that they had offered $3m to the schoolboy sensation — while those close to South Sydney maintain rugby union’s figure is around a $1m a year, way above their $550,000-a-season offer.
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What is irrefutable is that Rugby Australia have made the approach to the teen football phenomenon to help spark life into a game that has suffered immensely over the past 18 months.
There is a belief in the rugby hierarchy that Suaalii could bring more to the embattled code than just his brilliant athleticism. He will also attract some much-needed positive attention.
“He’s marketable, isn’t he?” said one Rugby Australia source.
“He’s in a league of his own.”
Ever since Israel Folau was sensationally sacked the game has been desperate for a superstar. There’s a feeling among the rugby hierarchy that Suaalii is the man – “the new Israel Folau” (minus the controversy).
Over the past four months, while South Sydney had been growing confident by the week that they would retain the freakish footballer they have been paying $60,000 a season to under a rookie contract, RA had been quietly hatching a plan to transition him from GPS schoolboys prodigy to Test player and Olympian.
Wallabies director Scott Johnson has led the fight for the teenager’s signature. Johnson has made a number of trips along the M4 to the Suaalii family home near Penrith to meet with the now 198cm, 94kg kid and his parents. Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has also been a leading figure in negotiations.
Gladiator holds key to $3m teen’s rugby future
While representing the Wallabies is part of the attraction, the lure of playing for a gold medal at the Tokyo Games this time next year has 16-year-old footballer creeping closer to signing with Rugby Australia.
RA again rubbished reports that they had offered $3m to the schoolboy sensation — while those close to South Sydney maintain rugby union’s figure is around a $1m a year, way above their $550,000-a-season offer.
Rugby Australia’s $3 million sensation, Joseph Suaalii, will be prevented from switching codes until October 31 next year unless he can secure a release from South Sydney’s two major shareholders — Russell Crowe and James Packer.
The revelation comes as Rugby Australia boss Rob Clarke vows to “fight’’ to secure Suaalii and believes the “global opportunities’’ his sport offers will prove enticing.
Suaalii is under contract at Redfern for 2021 on a rookie contract worth $60,000 a season.
Just 16-years-old, Suaalii could be forced to stay at Souths but, under NRL rules, cannot play first grade until his 18th birthday — August 1, 2021.
It means Suaalii might not be playing either code for the next 12 months.
News Corp can reveal Rugby Australia has asked Suaalii’s family to approach the Rabbitohs board about an early release so he can accept a three-year, $3 million contract with RA.
Souths haven’t been formally told Suaalii is heading to rugby union so haven’t yet considered a release.
If he does seek a release, Crowe and Packer — who own 75 per cent of the club — would have to determine whether to allow their young star to leave a year early.
It is unlikely Crowe and Packer would retain Suaalii against his wishes.
News Corp also reveal Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, then RA CEO Raelene Castle and RA director of rugby, Scott Johnson, visited Suaalii at the family home in Penrith in February.
The development comes as NRL clubs express shock and amazement at rugby union’s stunning $3 million offer. RA has denied the figure.
RA insists they actually offered less than Souths and that Suaalii has a preference to rugby union ahead of rugby league. The lure of representing Australia’s Sevens team at the Tokyo Olympics is another attraction for Suaalii.
While Rugby Australia has a debt of $20 million, it is understood wealthy third-party benefactors are prepared to inject big money to secure Suaalii.
There was speculation that former Wallaby coach Alan Jones was an influential figure in Suaalii jumping to rugby but he denied any involvement.
Clarke said the Suaalii deal was “not all about money’’.
“The Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, the touring British and Irish Lions and the Rugby World Cup are four premier events in the global calendar and it’s only our sport that provides athletes the opportunity to represent Australia and compete against the best in the world on a regular basis,” Clarke said.
“To be clear, whilst rugby cannot compete financially with our friends in the 13-man game here in Australia, many professional athletes choose to become part of our game because of the many other positive attributes and global opportunities it provides…it’s not all about money.
“We congratulate Joseph on his journey so far in rugby and we will continue to put our best foot forward, like we do with all our young talent, in the expansive opportunities that rugby can offer.”
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“In this instance, Joseph may decide to pursue opportunities elsewhere and should he choose to do so, we would wish him every bit of luck in the future.
“Rugby will stand up and fight to be part of this conversation though, and conversations with other prospects into the future.”
RA’s 192 professional players, currently on a 30 per cent pay cut due to COVID, are furious at having not been offered contracts for next year.
Souths officials say they want to give Suaalii and his family space and time to discuss his future
One rival NRL club CEO was stunned to read News Corp’s exclusive story about Suaalii’s jump to rugby union.
“Rugby union don’t have a competition, they don’t have a TV deal or an international program yet they are offering this kid the world,” he said, “This is the sort of desperate behaviour that explains why their sport is in the state that it is.
“They were teetering on insolvency and couldn’t get their annual accounts signed yet they’re trying to offer a 16-year-old a million dollars a year. Players have taken significant pay cuts and staff has been made redundant.
“What does it say to all those players that wanted to stay in Australia but Rugby Australia wouldn’t match the money they could attract in Europe.
“All those Wallabies that have left in the last two years, they might have played 80 Tests, and still have a great career ahead of them, but they don’t think they are valuable as a 16-year-old.”
Originally published as Joseph Suaalii South Sydney contract: Russell Crowe holds keys to teen’s future