Trent Robinson angry at Rugby Australia’s classless pursuit of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii

Roosters coach Trent Robinson says Rugby Australia is handling the pursuit of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii all wrong, though the fiery mentor also had some criticism for his own organisation.

Trent Robinson (inset) has spoken out in defence of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has taken a swipe at Hamish McLennan, claiming the Rugby Australia chairman’s comments about Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s future at Bondi lack ‘class’.

Robinson was also quick to shut down talk he would release the star outside back early after speculation the club was considering offloading the teenager.

Earlier this week McLennan suggested ‘salary cap issues’ at the Roosters could force Suaalii to leave before his current deal expires at the end of 2024.

“He’s (McLennan) doing that for certain reasons,” Robinson said.

“I couldn’t imagine the rugby people are excited about the way that’s been handled either.

“Usually there is a bit more class in the discussions.

“I really don’t want to get into it. I have a job to do here. I’m not focused on it constantly. I have already discussed it a couple of times in different conversations. I don’t have any interest in continuing the discussion to be honest.”

Trent Robinson (inset) has spoken out in defence of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Suaalii signed a lucrative deal worth around $1.6 million a season to join the rival code from 2025.

But Robinson wasn’t willing to entertain the idea that Suaalii was no longer wanted at the club.

“He won’t be,” Robinson said when asked if Suaalii would be handed an early release.

“Those reports haven’t come from inside this club. That’s been speculation outside, it hasn’t been discussed inside this club.”

Suaalii’s form has dropped off since signing a mega $5 million dollar deal with Rugby Australia.

While Robinson conceded Suaalii’s form isn’t where it needs to be, the coach said it was unfair to place undue pressure on the youngster with speculation about his future.

“We play a game that is televised and we get to do what we do because people have opinions on it,” Robinson said.

“So that scrutiny is on him, he has to perform and we have to perform. As far as putting pressure about whether he is going to be here or not is unfair. That hasn’t come from inside these walls. But it applies a blow torch to all of us that I need to coach him better and he needs to play a bit better.”

GOLDEN AMBITION REVEALED AMID SUAALII EXIT RUMOURS

- Jamie Pandaram

New Rugby Australia president Joe Roff believes Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii could help Australia win an Olympics gold medal if granted an early release by the Sydney Roosters.

While Suaalii has signed to rugby from 2025, and the Roosters have denied reports they’ll release him early at the end of this season, speculation persists that the Bondi club could move him on to create more salary cap space.

That would make Suaalii potentially available for the 2024 Paris Games.

“Wouldn’t we all love to see Joseph Suaalii play in the Olympics next year, that’s a global stage,” Roff said.

Wallabies Taniela Tupou, David Porecki and Angus Bell with Rugby Australia President Joe Roff.

‘It’s almost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, our Sevens team — both men’s and women’s — are doing incredible things on the world circuit at the moment.

“If you inject a bit of that star power, and that athleticism into a Sevens team at an Olympics level, do you know what, in sport there are few things that are higher than reaching for a gold medal and pursuing it.

“If that opportunity presents itself, certainly if I had that opportunity as a player I wouldn’t have to think twice about something like that.”

Wallabies legend Roff, who played Sevens himself before winning the Bledisloe Cup, World Cup, and British & Irish Lions series, welcomed the prospect of RA signing more NRL stars to compete in these tournaments.

Joseph Suaalii celebrates a try earlier this year against the Warriors.

“Next year, if there were NRL players, or anyone, next year there’s an Olympics, and then to play against the British & Irish Lions series (in 2025), and then two years later to play in the third largest sporting event in the calendar in the world, at home, they’re global opportunities that not even rugby players get to experience sometimes in their career,” Roff said.

“From a quality of your professional sporting life, these are opportunities that I’d really be surprised to see people pass over.”

Roff dismissed the notion that current Wallaby players would be annoyed at having to compete for their spots against league recruits.

“You strive to be a Wallaby because you want to pit yourself against the best,” Roff said. “If you don’t consider yourself the best, you don’t deserve the wear the jersey.

Leigh Halfpenny of the British and Irish Lions races clear of Wallaby Will Genia.

“Everyone who puts on the gold thread wants to pit themselves against the best both in opposition, and in terms of your own position within the landscape of Australia. The more competition for spots there is in Australia, the better. And we always enjoyed that competitiveness of fighting for your spot against players.”

Roff made his first appearance as RA president on Wednesday, at Parramatta’s Commbank Stadium to launch the 2023 home Test season, with the Wallabies to face Argentina at the venue on July 15.

They’ll have their first Test match under new coach Eddie Jones the week prior, against South Africa, in Pretoria.

Injured props Taniela Tupou (Achilles) and Angus Bell (toe) are confident of being fit for the World Cup, and perhaps even playing in The Rugby Championship.

The pair are rehabbing together and Tupou has been up to his usual tricks.

Joe Roff, Ben Tune and Stephen Larkham of Australia celebrate victory over France in the Rugby World Cup Final in 1999.

“The other day he poured freezing water from the ice bath straight on my back at 7am in the morning when I was completely naked on the toilet,” Bell said.

“It’s going well, he’s a funny guy, very different to me but I feel we complement each other quite a bit.

“Stuff he struggles with, I do pretty well, and stuff I struggle with, he does exceptionally well.

“It’s good to have that training partner, we spend half the week in Brisbane, half the week in Sydney.

“All the right stuff has been put in place for us to succeed, get back and play good footy.”

Bell is eyeing a return to club rugby in July.

“My timeline is a lot shorter which is really positive news, hopefully I’ll be back for the Argentinian Test, or the South African Test depending on how much club footy I play and whether Eddie wants to pick me,” he said.

Tupou is hoping to also return through club rugby, but is more of a chance to return to the Wallabies set-up in their final warm-up match against France before the World Cup begins on September 8.

Originally published as Trent Robinson angry at Rugby Australia’s classless pursuit of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii