Rugby convert Joseph Suaalii says former international Israel Folau is his mentor

Rugby convert Joseph Suaalii has revealed one of his biggest mentors and it might ring some alarm bells for the sport.

Joseph Suaalii has turned to Israel Folau as he prepares to make his Wallabies debut. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

One of his first Wallabies memories involved Israel Folau’s Australian debut and NRL convert Joseph Suaalii says his relationship with the “great man” is helping guide his own much-hyped entrance to international rugby.

Suaalii, who signed the biggest contract in Australian rugby history after a four-year stint with the Sydney Roosters, is unmoved by expectations he could replicate the deeds of dual-code international Folau, on the field at least.

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The 21-year-old said he’s known Folau, who was sacked by Rugby Australia over a homophobic social media post, since he was a teenage rugby phenom.

Back then he was invited into Wallabies camp by former coach Michael Cheika and introduced to some players who are now his teammates.

But Folau has proven to be a sounding board for Suaalii and a “great mentor” as he eyes off his Wallabies debut on the upcoming spring tour of the UK.

“I met Israel when I was 14, looked up to him when I was younger,” Suaalii said as the Wallabies’ special jersey for next year’s blockbuster series against the British and Irish Lions was revealed.

Joseph Suaalii has turned to Israel Folau as he prepares to make his Wallabies debut. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

“I felt like I really wanted to ask him a lot of questions, I feel like that’s been one of my strengths, always learning.

“Israel was someone I could look up and ask questions. Every now and then I do catch up with him, he’s a great mentor

“Izzy doesn’t speak a lot. It’s more of his actions. He’s a great man, first of all, and I feel like that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned, always be a great man outside of footy.”

Suaalii said he was more than ready to shoulder the expectation that comes with his multimillion-dollar contract, and the Folau comparisons, given he too looms as a backline star for coach Joe Schmidt, who hasn’t confirmed which position Suaalii will play when he makes his Wallabies debut.

“I’ve been training everywhere – wing, centre, fullback. Just like league,” he said.

“I’ve got no clarity of what position I’ll be playing. I’ll just train all positions and learn as much as I can.

“I feel like as a 17-year-old kid coming into NRL, I was talked about a lot and it’s no different now.

“I feel like I have grown a lot, I’m 21, still act like a kid sometimes but have grown into a man, feel like I have learned a lot from experiences and at the end of the day, it’s just a game I am playing.”

Folau has been Suaalii’s inspiration.

Suaalii said he was not getting lost in looking forward to the Lions tour next year but knows watching the Wallabies, and Folau, take them on in 2013 helped fuel his dream to wear the gold jersey, steadfast he never wavered in his mind once he’d decided to swap codes.

Folau made his Wallabies debut against the Lions on their last tour of Australia in 2013, scoring two tries in the first Test in Brisbane.

“I didn’t have one doubt in my mind that I was coming over, I knew what I was doing straight away,” he said.

“No matter what anyone said, nothing was going to change my mind

“I watched the 2013 Lions tour and I still remember to this day Israel Folau made his debut and Kurtley (Beale) having a kick to win and he slipped.

“The memories of watching that on TV, it’s always been a dream of mine to put the Wallabies jersey on.

“I feel like everyone has their opinion, which is respected, but I’m on my own path. I’m living the life I want to live.”

Originally published as Rugby convert Joseph Suaalii says former international Israel Folau is his mentor