Eddie Jones says Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii signing has put rugby back on the market
Eddie Jones says Rugby Australia has “bought relevance” as much as a skilled player in its signing of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after the Rooster signed a three-year deal with Rugby Australia from 2025.
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Eddie Jones says Rugby Australia has “bought relevance” as much as a skilled player in its signing of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
After endless swirling rumours about the Roosters star leaving the NRL to return to the code he dominated as a junior schoolboy, Rugby Australia (RA) confirmed last week it had signed the 19-year-old to a three-year deal from 2025.
RA will fork out almost $5 million for the matchwinning back but Jones believes it’s already paying off, with rugby back in the headlines.
Jones, who named the first Wallabies squad of his new tenure on Sunday afternoon ahead of a World Cup in five months’ time, said he admired the bullish moves of chairman Hamish McLennan and CEO Andy Marinos in chasing Suaalii.
“As the CEO and chairman they’ve been aggressive,” Jones said, praising the move.
“What have we bought? We’ve bought some relevance back in the market.
“We’re back competing as a major sport - and that’s what it’s done, people are now talking about rugby.
“So we’ve bought relevance and we’ve bought a highly skilled player - he is a highly skilled player.”
Jones may be a fan of the young gun but said he may not get the opportunity to coach him.
“I’d be honoured if I get the opportunity to coach in 2025 but coaching is a results based game and if you don’t get the results, you don’t stay in the game.
“I’m not counting my chickens before they hatch.
“But in terms of buying relevance in the market and buying highly skilled player, I think it’s a great move by Rugby Australia. Fantastic.”
There have been suggestions Suaalii, who will play Super Rugby for the Waratahs, could push emerging backline talent such as Max Jorgensen out.
But Jones put paid to that suggestion, including the 18-year-old - who has also played both rugby codes and was reportedly being eyed as a “revenge signing” by the NRL - in his squad and saying he had not been included just for experience.
“I don’t think it’s ever about age, it’s about whether they’re good enough,” Jones said.
“And whether they’re good enough is whether they’re tough enough or whether they’re robust enough to handle it.
“And what I’ve seen so far is the answer to that for Max is yes but we’ve got an opportunity to test drive him around the circuit at (the Wallabies’ training camp at) Sanctuary Cove and see if he’s got the qualities to play Test rugby - but certainly at the moment, the answer to that is yes.”
The Suaalii signing ignited a war of words between the codes, with McLennan firing back at “thuggish” behaviour of some in league, although Roosters boss Nick Politis said he harboured no ill feeling towards the prodigy, while Sonny Bill Williams - himself a former Roosters star and dual rugby international - hailed his signing.
Williams also backed the King’s School product’s likely support of his family through the rich deal.
“He’s a young Pasifika Islander man, and if he’s like me like the majority of us, he doesn’t come from much,” Williams said in commentary during the Roosters-Eels clash.
Jones backed that sentiment, saying it also stood for players such as highly-rated Wallabies stalwart Samu Kerevi, who is among overseas players that will connect to the April 17-19 camp via Zoom, although with a “TBC” next to his name, the coach is keen to check on his commitment to Australian rugby.
Kerevi recently re-signed to with his Japanese club, rejecting a move back to Australia and a RA contract that would have made him a fixture in a gold jersey rather than one of the players relying on a Giteau Law exemption.
“I think Sonny Bill Williams made a great comment about players’ responsibilities to their family (in talking) about Rugby Australia signing Suaalii,” Jones said.
“You can’t put yourself in the position of those young players. The responsibilities they have and in some families, the responsibility for an extended family.
“But we need to sit down with Samu (Kerevi) and work out what his responsibilities are to his club and what his commitment is to Australia.
“And once we’ve done that and we can sort that out, then we’ll have a decision.”
FLYHALF BOLTER ROCKETS INTO JONES’ WORLD CUP CALCULATIONS
Flyhalf Carter Gordon has bolted into contention for the World Cup, named in a 33-man Wallabies squad as Eddie Jones names his first group since returning as head coach, ahead of a three-day camp on the Gold Coast, with 22-year-old flyhalf Gordon named ahead of Noah Lolesio and James O’Connor as an option at no. 10.
Young Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh was not considered due to injury but
Gordon has been among the form players in Super Rugby but was widely considered to be too young to make the leap to the World Cup squad this year.
But Jones rubbished that talk, saying every player selected would have their chance to press claims to be in France this year.
“Everyone who’s selected is in the World Cup plans,” Jones said.
“Australia’s got a talented group of players but a small group of players … so they’re all in contention.
“The players who aren’t selected have numerous opportunities over the next six or seven weeks in Super Rugby to press their claims.”
Jones likened his team’s first training camp of the year to Formula One pre-season testing.
“Every pre-season testing in Formula One is a fresh start,” said Jones. “New ideas, new cars, new drivers, new support staff. It’s the same for us.
“This is a new squad, with new standards and new expectations for a new challenge. I hope the players who have this first chance understand the privilege, have their tyres pumped up and they’re ready to go.”
Jones has named six uncapped players in the group, including youngsters, Josh Flook, Carter Gordon and Max Jorgensen who have all been named in their first Wallabies squad.
Brumbies prop Blake Schoupp and Rebels backrower Brad Wilkin also find themselves in the national set up for the first time, while Melbourne hooker Jordan Uelese returns, having last been in the group in 2021.
A clean slate 🦘
— Wallabies (@wallabies) April 2, 2023
Your first #Wallabies squad under Eddie Jones. @etoro_officialpic.twitter.com/8hxMwSFNeU
Ryan Lonergan joins ACT teammate Nic White as one of two scrumhalves in the squad, with Queensland winger Suliasi Vunivalu also named in the group.
“It’s no secret what I’ve been looking for,” he said, “and in the players selected for this first camp they’ve delivered on work rate, effort and intent.”
“What they haven’t delivered on in Super Rugby is winning, particularly against New Zealand teams. Competitive doesn’t cut it. We will build a winner’s mindset in the Wallabies players, and we will win games. That will come from confidence and belief that comes through effort and sacrifice.
“I’ve said it a million times. We have the talent in Australia but not the team. This first camp and this first squad is the first step to building a winning team.
“This is not the squad for Rugby World Cup. It’s the first squad for the first camp. If you are in it, the challenge is to stay in it. If you are not in it, how do you get in it? Players select themselves.
“Going to win a Bledisloe Cup and a Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies is a rare privilege in a player’s career. Thousands try, few succeed.
“We saw a first-class game last night between the Brumbies and Waratahs with players really working hard for each other on both sides. It was encouraging. All I’ll say is, let’s see more of that and let’s see it every week. No excuses. Make it impossible for me to leave you out.”
Originally published as Eddie Jones says Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii signing has put rugby back on the market
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