Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to play rugby union from 2025

Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii is on the cusp of switching rugby codes in a deal worth $1.6m — but there’s another factor which has been crucial in the timing of the deal.

NRL superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is poised to quit the Roosters and take up a $1.6 million deal with Rugby Australia in 2025.

The sought-after teenager is close to agreeing to switch codes, putting him in line to play for the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions in two years’ time.

While Suaalii signed a one-year contract extension with the Roosters until the end of 2024, his agent Isaac Moses has been in direct negotiations with RA chairman Hamish McLennan about the deal for 2025.

Roosters insiders are resigned to losing the talented outside back.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will play rugby union from 2025. Picture: NRL Images.

The length and terms of the rugby deal are still being worked out, but sources indicate Suaalii has made a commitment to play union in 2025.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was coy when asked about the impending signing on Friday.

“I’ve got no idea, mate. I’m only worried about this World Cup,” Jones said.

“The only thing I’m worried about is this World Cup, so I’ve got no thought pattern past October 28. Zero. And I can’t afford to.

“Firstly, I’m not a general manager, so I don’t contract players. That’s not in my realm. The main thing is that we want to make sure the young players coming through are given the opportunity to be the best player they can be.”

RA sent a request to the Rugby Union Players’ Association last week asking them to urgently approve the agent’s accreditation for Moses, who’d lost it around the time he was deregistered as a player manager by the NRL in 2021 over false evidence in relation to an investigation into the Parramatta Eels.

He’s since regained his NRL accreditation and is managing Suaalii.

The addition of Suaalii would be a major marketing boost for rugby, as Australia prepares to host the Lions for the first time since 2013.

Rugby league powerbrokers are resigned to Suaalii to rugby. Picture: Getty Images

Given the fact the Lions tour Australia only every 12 years, Suaalii only has one shot to participate in the historic series, and that is a key driver for him.

But the huge money on offer is the other carrot, with no NRL club able to match the deal. Suaalii, 19, is earning $700,000 a year at the Roosters.

Suaalii was determined to wear the fullback jersey for the Roosters, but that option has seemingly disappeared after the club re-signed captain James Tedesco for another year – until the end of 2025 - meaning Suaalii would have had to wait until 2026.

Instead, he’s set to cross codes and become the latest big-name NRL stars turned rugby players, following Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers.

Incredibly, Suaalii was offered to Rugby Australia as a 16-year-old rising schoolboy star three years ago for $200,000 but was rejected. That led him to pursue a rugby league career with South Sydney Rabbitohs.

In late 2020, rival club the Roosters poached Suaalii from Souths, and he has since gone on to score 17 tries in 27 first grade games, as well as star for Samoa at last year’s Rugby League World Cup.