Wallabies news: Why Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be a worse signing for Australia than Eddie Jones

If you thought Australia’s World Cup campaign was bad, brace yourself. And the signing of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be even worse than that of Eddie Jones, writes Robert Craddock.

Eddie Joe Suaalii online art

Strange but true. Roosters back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is on track to be a worse signing for rugby union than Eddie Jones.

And it has nothing to do with his playing ability or the fact that he might play 20 or 30 Tests in his three-year term which starts in 2025.

It’s the damage his $5.3 million bolt-from-the-blue signing could do that’s the worry for crisis stricken rugby union officials who started a contract war with a brazen single shot across rugby league’s bow but may soon find themselves dodging tank fire whistling back in their direction.

Jones signing was an unmitigated disaster for rugby union but at least he was in and out in 11 months with no costly payout.

The Wallabies went from very average to something worse but they were on course to have a bad World Cup anyway.

After being appointed earlier this year, Jones steered Australia to its worst-ever World Cup finish, before quitting. Picture: Getty

When you fall to bare earth from one of the bottom rungs of the ladder the pain should never be acute.

Initially, most rugby judges (John Connolly apart) felt Jones was a gamble worth taking. And for all the drama about “Crazy Eddie’’ and his constant backflips and tantrums there was one thing the Jones debacle did achieve – it got people talking about rugby and caring about it in a “I hope those people in the car crash are OK’’ sort of way.

But the decision to hand the richest contract in Australian rugby – $1.7 million a year – to Suaalii could prove a disaster on two fronts.

Rugby league is gearing up for a revenge raid featuring salary cap concessions for rugby stars which will make rugby’s top talents ultra-appealing in an era when yet another expansion club is only a few years away.

Rugby may have a British Lions series on the horizon but, with new salary cap exemptions, league offers to players like star wing Mark Nawaqanitawase, who is meeting with Roosters officials this week, will be immense.

Suaalii is a tremendous young talent – but his signing could trigger a fresh code war between the NRL and Rugby Australia. Picture: Getty

League doesn’t have to win every battle. But if you put enough lines in the water eventually they will get a strike.

As former QRL boss Ron McAuliffe cheekily offered after league’s recruitment of Wallaby Chris Roche in the 1980s “it’s just feels nice to pluck one of their fellows from time to time.’’

Any NRL poaching success will be a huge blow for the Wallabies who desperately need every bit of star power they can hold on to at a time when their highest profile players – Quade Cooper and Michael Hooper – didn’t even make the World Cup squad.

The other potential landmine with Suaalii’s signing is the size of his deal that has thrown the entire contract system out of whack and will surely prove the adage that jealousy is a curse.

Suaalii hasn’t yet played Origin, or in a grand final, but he’ll be earning a premium contract in rugby union. Picture: Getty

At time when rugby has to fight for every penny, lashing out in such a reckless way has the potential to create massive disharmony.

How many times over the next two years do you reckon these three sentences will be uttered in a row?.

Senior player: “So if Suaalii is worth $1.7 a season before he has played a Test surely I have to be a seven-figure player as well.’’

Rugby Australia contract negotiator: “Yes but part of his fee is that he is a drawcard and a big name …’’

Senior player: “Really? He’s never played State of Origin … and he’s a winger for god’s sake. He is a very good player, not a great one.’’

And even if he was, his signing may prove more trouble than it’s worth.

Originally published as Wallabies news: Why Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be a worse signing for Australia than Eddie Jones