British media predict Joseph Suaalii will transform Wallabies and lure new generation of Aussie kids to rugby
Former NRL star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had the UK’s rugby media fawning and their supporters suddenly worried after his man-of-the-match performance on debut for the Wallabies.
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“The birth of a star”.
Former NRL gun Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had the UK’s rugby media fawning and their supporters suddenly worried after his man-of-the-match performance on debut for the Wallabies at Twickenham.
The hype lived up to the billing as 21-year-old Suaalii made a statement at the home of rugby, and now has millions of British & Irish Lions fans wondering if their tour to Australia next year might not be the walkover many were predicting.
With all eyes on the $5 million man playing his first professional rugby game, Suaalii set up Australia’s first try, made several offloads, won three kick-offs and completed a sensational catch-and-pass off a chip kick to announce himself as the real deal.
The Times columnist Stuart Barnes wrote: “Earlier this week, very few England watchers would have known the name of the Wallabies’ No 13, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, but here we were, a little short of 40 minutes on the clock and thousands at Twickenham were producing a collective gasp of relief as England finally managed to bring down the 21-year-old debutant. The home crowd had recognised the birth of a star.”
Fellow Times analyst Stephen Jones wrote: “But what they did have was Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, playing his first game of senior rugby union after being poached from rugby league in Australia. He should have been a panicky old sight, he should have been hounded to destruction. Instead the young man played gloriously, made a try out of a breathtaking pop pass out of a tackle and all in all played magnificently. Almost all the converts to union from rugby league in Australia has been useless, but here is a man that may well be worth the monster fee that has been paid for him.”
Former England playmaker Andy Goode said on X: “This guy Joseph Suaalii is a rock star! Skills from another planet!”
Shot of the day from Twickenham, this guy Joseph Sua’ali’i is a rock star! Skills from another planet! pic.twitter.com/Jg1TFsFoYg
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) November 9, 2024
Dylan Coetzee wrote for Planet Rugby: “There were question marks when Schmidt picked the million-dollar man but he produced the goods. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, remember that name because today a special Wallaby was born.”
The Times’ rugby correspondent Alex Lowe said the result was a bonus for the Lions series. “Nobody wants to build up a Lions tour that everyone expects the Lions to win 3-0, you want there to be jeopardy and a challenge,” Lowe said.
“And if Australia have uncovered in Suaalii a new global superstar then that’s just brilliant for the game. He’ll bring rugby league fans into union, he’ll attract other league players to come back, he’ll attract the schoolboys who like him play union and league to choose union, that’s why they’ve spent $5 million on a three-year deal for this guy.”
Veteran rugby writer Alex Spink wrote for Planet Rugby: “In Suaalii they saw a superstar to lure eyeballs from the NRL, the AFL, the baggy greens and Matildas and back to a sport which, according to a recent report, ranks only ninth in popularity in Australia.”
The Daily Mail’s rugby correspondent Chris Foy said: “Suaalii is going to light up this code”.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who had received criticism for playing Suaalii just four weeks after he’d joined camp, said the risk paid off.
“Joseph obviously got a few kick-offs back for us, he’s a bit of an aerial freak but at the same time it was a good learning experience for Joseph as well,” Schmidt said.
“I know there were some doubts expressed about him being selected and the risk. I think people would now see the opportunity of involving a young man like that. Particularly the way he prepared during the week, I thought he was really professional.
“He certainly has a rugby pedigree, albeit having played a few years of professional rugby league, which has made him a really professional young man.
“He is incredibly diligent around his preparation. That diligence pays off in the way that he performs. He’s still probably finding his feet in the game. There are subtleties that are very different, but with that diligent work ethic, that professionalism and the athleticism that he possesses, I thought it was a really confidence-boosting debut.”
Adam Kyriacou wrote for Planet Rugby: “The former rugby league man was outstanding with and without the ball as he demonstrated his skill-set all afternoon, showing no signs of nerves on the big occasion. Joe Schmidt and Rugby Australia have got themselves a gem and if this is his first game we can’t wait for more.”
And Mike Henson on BBC Sport said: “Schmidt’s big gamble of thrusting new rugby league recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii into midfield for his first union game since his schooldays paid off handsomely.
“The 21-year-old jigged across Twickenham’s turf barefooted before the warm-ups, getting the size of the stage, and looked completely at home as he set up Tom Wright’s try with the most delicious finger roll this side of a sushi platter.”
Originally published as British media predict Joseph Suaalii will transform Wallabies and lure new generation of Aussie kids to rugby