Suaalii the greatest cross-code star of all? Watch this space, says Tuqiri

Dual international Lote Tuqiri has made the bold declaration that future Wallaby Joseph Suaalii has the potential to be a better rugby player than Israel Folau and every other cross-code star who has gone before him.

“He could get to Israel Folau status,” Tuqiri said. “He probably could be better. He could be better than all of us rugby league converts. Joseph Suaalii could be a force to be reckoned with.”

That’s why Tuqiri would have no qualms if Roosters back Suaalii was parachuted into a Wallabies squad for next year’s European spring tour without playing a Super Rugby match.

Suaalii is off contract after next year’s NRL season and is eligible to link up in November with the Wallabies.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said this week that Suaalii would “hopefully” go with the Wallabies on the spring tour, which Tuqiri believes could cause some angst among the playing group despite what he described as a “terrible” showing from Australia at the recent World Cup.

Tuqiri made the switch to rugby after the 2002 NRL season but had the benefit of a year at the Waratahs before make his debut for Australia in 2003.

Joseph Suaalii could be the best of the code hoppers, says Lote Tuqiri, even better then Israel Folau.Credit: Getty

“There would be a chance [of player unrest],” Tuqiri said. “I actually feel a bit sorry for the kid. He’s just doing the best for himself. There always will be a bit of conjecture. On the whole, if you play in a team environment, you want success and the best players. He’s not going back to rugby because he’s a dud. I think the players will get around it.

“I think there was a little bit [of blowback] when I was coming through … and I get that because guys have been playing rugby their whole life. You’ve just got to be good enough.

“At the end of the day, we weren’t good enough [at the World Cup]. We picked blokes to go to the World Cup who we thought were good enough but weren’t. That quality was terrible.

“You’d be silly not to take him. They’ve made a big investment. He’s been playing at a high level with the Roosters. I think you try and fast-track him in. Whether he plays or not is another question. What we saw in the World Cup is not having enough experience. I think just being away with blokes will stand him in good stead going into 2025.”

Code hoppers Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers with Lote Tuqiri (right) in 2005.Credit: Tim Clayton

Melbourne Storm speedster Marika Koroibete went on the 2016 spring tour without playing a Super Rugby match but did not make his Wallabies debut until the following year.

When Tuqiri came across to rugby two decades ago, the code was thriving and about to host a home World Cup.

Australian rugby is in a very different place following the disastrous World Cup campaign, where the Wallabies bowed out before the knockout stage for the first time.

Eddie Jones, who signed a five-year deal in January, quit after the World Cup following revelations in this masthead of a secret interview with Japan before the tournament.

Tuqiri, who scored a try in the 2003 World Cup final against England, said the state of the code might be playing on Suaalii’s mind.

“If I’m him, I would have some doubts if I made the right decision,” Tuqiri said. “He’ll have another 12 months to see where the game goes. It can only go up in Australia. He’s a young bloke who’s signed for a lot of money in a game where he can actually play. He seems very level-headed and mature for a 20-year-old kid.”

Tuqiri is still coming to terms with the Wallabies’ poor performances and disagreed with Jones’ call to blood inexperienced players at a World Cup.

“Fiji helped me recover a little bit better. I got on their train once I knew the Wallabies were gone,” Tuqiri said. “The only way is up. We definitely have the players to do it.

“You can see what Eddie was trying to do, but it was probably the wrong time to do it. You’ve got to have a bit of cohesion going on. Confidence was down. Hopefully we can build it back up.”

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