NSW Waratahs star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii suffers knee injury ahead of debut

Superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s hotly anticipated debut in the NSW Waratahs jersey has been cruelled by an injury.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii missed the trial match through injury. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s hotly anticipated debut in the NSW Waratahs jersey was cruelled by a knee injury, but he is expected to resume training on Wednesday in preparation for the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific.

NSW coach Dan McKellar said it was a “minor” issue and has little doubt his $5 million man will suit up for the Tahs when they host the Highlanders on February 14 to kick off their campaign.

The 21-year-old Suaalii failed to make the trip to Bowral with his Tahs teammates for the trial match against the Brumbies, leaving the 4000 fans who turned up to Eldridge Park disappointed.

“Honestly it’s a minor issue, he just pulled up a little bit sore, it’s a trial game,” McKellar said.

“We didn’t need to risk him, so we let him stay at home and ice it up. (From now it’s) just rest, recovery, physio treatment and we’re hoping he’ll train Wednesday.”

The news was broken to fans just before kick-off.

Suaalii suffered the injury at training this week, and woke up sore.

He phoned the team bosses early on Saturday morning and was at the physio by 8.30am, with the NSW team bus departing Sydney an hour later without Suaalii.

But Suaalii will travel with the Tahs squad to a bonding camp in the mid-north coastal town of Gloucester, before they return to Sydney on Tuesday.

Asked if he would now reconsider Suaalii playing fullback given he missed their final trial - Max Jorgensen was shifted to start at fullback, while Darby Lancaster started on the wing – McKellar was noncommittal.

“We’ll see how he goes at training and nail down his position over the next couple of weeks,” McKellar said.

The Tahs and Brumbies had a 36-all draw. Picture: Harry Magripilis/NSW Waratahs

The Tahs had another scare when captain and halfback Jake Gordon limped off with a back injury after just 12 minutes, but McKellar also expects him to be fully fit by round one.

“He just jammed up his back, so nothing major, just sore through his lower back, that’ll turn around quickly,” McKellar said, adding they’d be near full-strength for round one.

“Obviously (lock) Fergus Lee Warner got injured up in Japan, he’d be the only one that’s unavailable.”

The Tahs and Brumbies had a 36-all draw, with Langi Gleeson, Lalakai Foketi and Lancaster performing well for NSW.

All tied up at full time in Bowral 🤝 Big thanks to all the supporters for turning out 💙 pic.twitter.com/6zvuuk2Ukh

— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) February 1, 2025

Nevertheless, it was a clunky performance against a Brumbies team that rested Wallabies stars Rob Valetini, Noah Lolesio, Tom Wright, Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper.

“I thought defensively we were exposed quite easily at times, so that’ll be the tidy up, and then just a little bit of clunkiness in attack,” McKellar said.

“We looked and played like a team that was full of energy and effort, but a little bit clunky off the back of only two weeks’ preparation time together.”

WARATAHS 36 (tries; Darby Lancaster 2, Andrew Kellaway, Felix Kalapu, Jack Grant, Triston Reilly) drew BRUMBIES 36 (tries; Luke Reimer, Liam Bowron, Ollie Sapsford, Declan Meredith, Austin Anderson, Ryan Lonergan).

Originally published as NSW Waratahs star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii suffers knee injury ahead of debut