Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey has thrown the floodgates open for more rugby league converts to join Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the 15-man game, declaring any raids on rival codes would not be a barrier for the next generation of rugby union talents to reach the top.

Rather it will loom as an incentive to perform or perish.

Grey and his squad — which featured Bull Sharks forward Harrison Usher — entered camp at Bond University this week before embarking for a two-game series against New Zealand on Friday.

The forthcoming clashes will give Usher and his teammates pivotal game time ahead of the World Championships in South Africa next month.

Sydney Roosters star Suaalii sent shockwaves through the NRL in March when he inked a three-year deal with Rugby Australia; reportedly worth around $5 million.

The move drew the ire of Wallabies legend David Campese, who told NewsCorp in March the poach sent the wrong message to the emerging crop of youngsters coming through the ranks where money could have been better spent in developing its pathways.

RA chairman Hamish McLennan has also been vocal of his desire to lure Ne South wales State of Origin stars Payne Haas and Cameron Murray to the code.

However Grey, as he began finetuning his blossoming squad towards Super Rugby honours, believes bringing a player of Suaalii’s status would only mean good things for the game.

He said the 19-year-old’s pay packet would not make him a walk-up starter at the top level, and he would — like any athlete pursuing the elite — been forced to battle with the best.

“If players want to come and play rugby then we’re more than welcome to have them. There was talk Suaalii was going to get kicked out of the Roosters and he’s actually eligible to play in this team so he’s still that young,” Grey said.

“If he came over we put him up against the best other players in his position and if he’s the best then he’ll be in the team.

“It’s just a matter of having the best guys come over and if they wanted to come play we would welcome them.

“Likewise if young guys that we deal with, if they get an opportunity to play rugby league and we can’t offer them a space then their development is the most important thing and they’re welcome to come back, as you see a little bit more of now.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson denied in May the possibility of Suaallii leaving the club before the end of his 2024 contract.

Having joined the Queensland Reds Academy upon his move to the Glitter Strip, Usher was relishing his first chance to don the green and gold on his Bull Sharks’ home turf.

The powerful forward will take on arguably the biggest challenge of his young career when he faces off against the Kiwis; a strong performance a chance to put himself on the Super Rugby radar.

However the 20-year-old said he was yet to give any thought to his future beyond the imminent Junior Wallabies tours, preferring not to rush his ascent and revel in this milestone occasion.

“Living out your childhood dreams is unreal and to be only 20 years of age as well, having the opportunity to represent my country, and also being able to train here at Bond – my home club – is also a special feeling,” Usher said.

“I’m fully focused on this camp for sure. The trip to New Zealand is at the forefront of my mind than my rugby career at the moment.

“We’ve got a job to do and have to make sure we do that. Then leading forward come back to the club season, hopefully make finals with (premier) grade and colts team and then we go forward from there.

“I’ve got no plans at the moment other than just to focus on what’s in front here and that’s to succeed with the Junior Wallabies.”

BREAKING DOWN THE JUNIOR WALLABIES

The son of a Wallabies legend will spearhead the under-20s outfit’s World Championship bid, however Teddy Wilson has already set about forging his own identity with the Gilbert in hand.

Named to captain the side, Wilson made his Super Rugby debut for the Warratahs last year and looms as the green and gold’s most crucial cog in taking down their New Zealand rivals.

The 20-year-old’s father, David, captained the Wallabies nine times in his 79-game career, and now his own prodigy is following in his famous footsteps.

“He had a great reaction, he was really happy for me and proud but he’s been in similar positions in his career,” Wilson said.

“It’s great to have him there, he was giving me advice before coming on to this camp knowing that I was captain.

“He was giving me a few pointers on what I should do and shouldn’t do, it’s great to have someone like him who’s experienced all this stuff so I can lean on him.

“It was an honour when Greysy let me know I was going to captain this side and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”

Wilson still recalls the last time the Junior Wallabies faced off against the Baby Blacks — conceding 11 tries in the 2022 Oceania Under-20s competition.

However the new skipper believes the green and gold jumper will be donned by a rival forward pack capable of matching the physicality they were met with.

“Last year their physicality probably just out matched us. They were just playing on top of us, at the start we started slow and then we were chasing our tails towards the end,” Wilson said.

“But we know how physical they’re going to be and we’re up for it. We’ve got some big boys in the pack, so those boys will bring that physicality and match it.”

Wilson admits he is unsure exactly why Grey chose him to captain this side, given the calibre of Super Rugby talent selected.

Reds utility back Taj Annan is expected to link up with the squad ahead of their Trans-Tasman trip, while Rugby 7s star Darby Lancaster will join them at the end of his World Series commitments.

“It’s huge, he’s a guy who’s played at a high level with the 7s and they’ve qualified for the Olympics ... and Darby has been an integral part of that,” Grey said of Lancaster.

“I’ve been in correspondance with him the whole time, he’s super keen to come and join the guys. He’s had a big workload so he’s having a bit of time at home then he’s coming over to join us in New Zealand.”

Recent Warratahs debutant Jack Bowen and Rebels forward Daniel Maiava are also in the mix.

Queensland fly-half Tom Lynagh, NSW fullback Max Jorgensen and Western Force front-rower Marley Pearce were originally chosen, however ruled out due to Super Rugby commitments.

However Wilson said the lessons he had taken working alongside Wallabies and Waratahs scrumhalf Jake Gordon had transformed his game over the years, enabling him to lead with his actions rather than his voice.

He said that was how he would skipper the side in the coming months as he sought to set the tone from the scrumbase.

“Jake’s been great from since I’ve come into the top squad when I was 17 he’s been one of the best mentors for myself,” Wilson said.

“He’s taught me a lot and he’s helped me a lot with the core basics of playing nine – box kicking, passing, whenever I need a hand he’s always there and he’s always very welcoming.

“It’s a great obviously every time you get to pull on that jersey you don’t take it for granted. “It’s been good getting a bit more opportunity for the Tahs and I’ve been taking a lot from it.

“I think there’s some great leaders (in this squad) that would do the job as being captain, but I guess I have a bit of different personality to some leaders.

“I like to lead by more my actions than words; we’ve got some leaders in the team that will have a say and have a talk, but I like to do my leading through my actions.”

Junior Wallabies Squad

Reds

Taj Annan (Souths)

John Bryant (Souths)

Ben Daniels (Brothers)

Nick Bloomfield (Easts)

Harrison Usher (Bond)

Jarrod Homan (Easts)

Tim Ryan (Brothers)

Nick Baker (GPS)

Trevor King (Souths)

Max Craig (Easts)

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Souths)

Rebels

Leafi Talataina (Endeavour Hills)

Mason Gordon (Wests Bulldogs)

David Vaihu (Wests Bulldogs)

Daniel Maiava (Wyndham Rhinos)

Brumbies

Liam Bowron (Royals)

Massimo De Lutiis (Wests)

Lachlan Hooper (Tuggeranong)

Klayton Thorn (Gungahlin)

Matias Jensen (Randwick)

Chris Mickelson (Uni-Norths)

Force

Ned Slack-Smith (Palmyra)

Jhy Legg (Wests Scarborough)

AU Sevens

Darby Lancaster

Waratahs

Jack Barrett (Randwick)

Ollie McCrea (Eastern Suburbs)

Teddy Wilson (Eastern Suburbs)

Jack Bowen (Eastern Suburbs)

Henry O’Donnell (Northern Suburbs)

Jackson Ropata (Southern Districts)

Tom Morrison (Sydney Uni)

nick.wright@news.com.au