Rugby Australia steals Joseph Suaalii from NRL, Rabbitohs in $3 million deal
The hottest talent in the NRL has reportedly backflipped on the richest deal ever offered to a teenage NRL player to sign with Rugby Australia.
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The hottest young talent in the NRL Joseph Suaalii has reportedly backflipped on the richest deal ever offered to a teenage NRL player to sign with Rugby Australia in a $3 million bombshell.
It was only last month that South Sydney trumpeted the news that the club had agreed to terms on a three-year, $1.7 million deal that could not be registered until Suaalii turns 17 on August 1.
However, in a huge coup for Rugby Australia, it was reported on Tuesday afternoon that Suaalii has instead signed a record $3 million deal with the 15-a-side game.
The Daily Telegraph first reported Suaalii’s deal with Rugby Australia will tie him to Rugby and the Wallabies for at least three years after signing on the dotted line until the end of 2022.
Suaalii is now on course to potentially play for Australia in the Rugby Sevens at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and for the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
It is a bitter blow for the NRL with Suaalii previously being compared to Greg Inglis and touted as a future superstar.
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It was reported last month South Sydney was prepared to list Suaalii on its top-tier squad, despite the Sydney high school student only eligible to play in the NRL from his 18th birthday in August next year.
Rabbitohs legends Sam Burgess and Craig Wing recently spoke about the freakish talent with Wing describing Suaalii as a combination of Sonny Bill Williams and Inglis.
“The thing that really stands out with Joseph is he’s got the physique of a 19-year-old already,” Wing told foxsports.com.au in February.
“When he moves he’s really well balanced, he’s got a great running technique and he glides across the ground.
“If I was to sum him up I would say he’s like a combination of Sonny Bill Williams and Greg Inglis, if you put those two together.”
Rabbitohs great Burgess also praised Suaalii’s courage while training alongside the South Sydney first-grade squad during the recent off-season.
“Look, I hate rapping young kids, but I‘ve seen him first-hand, training with the first team, and forget his athletic ability — what I saw inside Joseph Suaalii that day, I saw (how) we took him to the edge of the cliff and he hung on for dear life and he had the courage of a 25 to 28-year-old man,” he said.
“In the pre-season we tested him out with a bit of physical stuff and he responded,” Burgess said.
“He was ripping in with all the contact drills with the big boys. He’s got courage you don’t normally see in kids until they grow up.”
Bunnies coach Wayne Bennett this year also described Suaalii as a “special kid” that reminded him of Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga.
New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie reportedly attempted to sign Suaalii in February this year, but was initially beaten by the Rabbitohs’ recruiters.
In the end Rennie — and his massive chequebook — got their way.
Originally published as Rugby Australia steals Joseph Suaalii from NRL, Rabbitohs in $3 million deal