Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii breaks silence in first interview since shock code switch

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has opened up in his first interview since he confirmed he would make a dramatic switch of codes at the end of next season.

Joseph Suaalii.

Sydney Roosters superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii says he is committed to the club and wants to win a premiership with his teammates before he leaves rugby league to take up a lucrative deal with Rugby Australia.

Suaalii, 19, informed the Roosters in late-March that he would be departing at the end of 2024, a decision that rocked not just the club but the game of rugby league.

Suaalii was the hottest property in either code. The Roosters had no desire to lose him and his decision to accept a mega-offer from the Australian Rugby Union left them dumbfounded.

Many felt he owed the Roosters - and to a lesser extent the game of rugby league - some loyalty given they had made him one of the richest teenage athletes in Australian sport.

Suaalii has kept his head down since. He hasn’t uttered a word. More than two months later, he is now ready to speak and explain his decision.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii says he is committed to the Roosters. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

In his first interview since he confirmed he would make a dramatic switch of codes at the end of next season, Suaalii says he hopes people will understand why he made his call, in particular the Roosters supporters who may feel he has let them down.

He says he won’t rule out a return to the club at some point in the future. For the moment, he is committed to finishing next season with the Roosters and his focus is on helping the club to a title.

“The goal is to win a premiership,” Suaalii told this masthead.

“I think that is the only thing I have looked at. That is something I feel we can do. That’s my goal and that is the team’s goal.”

The switch

From the moment Hamish McLennan took over as chair of the Australian Rugby Union, Suaalii became the code’s priority target. The arrival of Eddie Jones prior to Christmas only amplified the chase.

When Rugby Australia landed their man in March on a three year deal from 2025, believed to be worth in excess of $5 million, it rocked rugby league to its core.

Suaalii was caught in the crossfire. He insists that the opportunity to play against the British and Irish Lions in 2025 was too tempting, as was the chance to play at the 2027 World Cup on home soil.

“It was a hard decision for me to leave,” Suaalii said.

“I always chase my dreams and that has always been in my heart. It is going to be hard to leave the Roosters in a couple of years but my heart and my dreams always come first.

“The Lions tour was one of my first encounters with union. It has been something that has always been a goal.

“A home World Cup - playing in Australia - I think it speaks for itself.”

Suaalii started out playing rugby league in Sydney’s west but he says he kept an eye on rugby union and began playing the sport in year five, the year before he moved to King’s School.

He went on to become a schoolboy rugby union prodigy before rugby league again came calling.

“I always loved both games,” he said.

“I always had visions when I was younger of playing in both codes. It was something I always visualised and saw in my life.”

Suaalii is eyeing a home world cup in the futue. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Greed

Suaalii’s decision to switch codes shocked many at the Roosters. It was a decision that prompted claims that he had been disloyal, not just to the club but to the code that made him a wealthy young man.

The other accusation was that he was motivated by greed. Suaalii won’t say it publicly, but he could have moved to rugby union next season and earned more than he will receive at the Roosters.

That would have been the greedy options. Instead, he took up his option early with the Roosters for 2024 because he felt he owed the club another year.

“Money has never been my main factor,” Suaalii said.

“Obviously it plays a part but the World Cup, Lions tour, Bledisloe Cup - I have always seen that as a bigger factor. Traveling the world is another key factor as well.

“I have taken up my option. All my focus is on playing for the Roosters this year and next year. Everyone at the club knows I want to be here for the remainder of my contract.”

As for comparisons with another former Rooster Sonny Bill Willlams, Suaalii insists he is blazing his own trail.

“I am doing what I want to do with my life,” he said.

“There is respect for Sony Bill but … I am not trying to copy anyone else.”

Suaalii says money wasn’t the key motivation for his switch. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The Roosters

Suaallii won’t rule out a return to the Roosters one day. He makes it clear that he loves the club and he appreciates everything they have done for him.

Above all, he has deep respect for coach Trent Robinson and chair Nick Politis. Robinson, he insists, will always be in his life regardless of what code he is playing.

“I was really clear with Robbo throughout the process of signing my deal with union,” Suaalii said.

“We were clear and honest with everyone. I still look to Robbo for advice off the field and on the field.

“He still is and always will be a mentor. I feel like Robbo and I have a great connection. He is someone I look to for advice - he is the sort of man I aspire to become one day.”

As for the prospects of a return to the Roosters and rugby league, Suaalii hasn’t given it a lot of thought.

“You never know one day I could come back,” Suaalii said.

“I am not closed to anything. I am not sure what my life is going to look like after I finish with union. I don’t look too far ahead.

“I love this club and I wouldn’t rule anything about. The club has given me a lot. They have helped and included my family and myself from day one.

“I have a lot of people I look up to in the club. I will always see this club as home. Ever since I stepped through the doors they have opened their arms to me - the older boys, Cathy King, Nick.

“Everyone has been a big help to me. I think everyone in the club has been welcoming given I was a young 17-year-old coming in.

“Not many people knew what to expect. They have all guided me to where I am now. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Could Suaalii return to the Roosters? Picture: NRL Photos

Form

Suaalii concedes his form hasn’t been where he wanted it to be this year. His season reached its nadir recently when he was suspended for his running style, heaping more misery on Suaalii and the Roosters as they struggle to get their season on track.

“I have been pretty hard on myself,” Suaalii said.

“I haven’t been where I want to be playing. It has been an up and down year. I am sticking to the process of putting my head down and training hard.

“I have never lost my work ethic or anything like that. It is about putting some performances together.”

Asked whether the pressure and attention had taken a toll, Suaalii said: “You could say a little bit. Not overly. I put the most pressure on myself for form.

“I don’t really listen to the external stuff. I listen to my coaches and teammates.”

Eddie

Suaalii is reluctant to talk about rugby union. Right now, he is a rugby league player and his allegiance is to the Sydney Roosters. It is a stance that has the support of Jones, who has told Suaalii to focus on his duties with the Roosters.

“Eddie is a great dude,” Suaalii said.

“All he said to me was focus on playing for the Roosters. That’s what I want to be doing - focusing on the Roosters.”