NRL 2023: Joseph Suaalii sprung in secret meet-up with Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan
Just days out from one of the biggest games on the NRL calendar, superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii met with rugby officials. Now the Roosters have had their say on the shock meet-up.
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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s loyalty to the Sydney Roosters has been questioned after the boom teenager was spotted at a meeting with Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan on Wednesday morning.
The pair met at the trendy Luxe cafe on Woollahra over coffee to discuss his move to rugby union on a $5 million contract in 18 months’ time.
Rugby Australia board member and former Wallaby Phil Waugh was also there.
“The meeting went for at least an hour,” said a customer, who contacted us via email.
Publicly Roosters coach Trent Robinson says he is unconcerned.
He texted us to say: “No issue from my side.”
The coach has all along been comfortable with Suaalii’s decision to defect to rugby.
Others at the Roosters are not so relaxed about it, especially in the build to a crucial game.
The 19-year-old superstar is preparing for the Roosters’ Anzac Day match against the St George-Illawarra Dragons on Tuesday.
He has struggled to make an impression in the Roosters’ two straight losses to the Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm in the last fortnight.
News Corp reached out to McLennan about the meeting.
“Geez you’ve got spies everywhere,” McLennan said, “We were just catching up.”
In fairness the Roosters players were on a day off on Wednesday.
Not that the club would be expecting him to spend his down time with a future employer – and arch rival - from 2025 onwards.
News Corp is seeking comment from Suaalii’s manager, Isaac Moses.
The glamour team is under huge pressure and needs every player focused and fully switched on.
On Tuesday they axed young halfback Sam Walker to reserve grade as part of a major shake-up to their spine, with Joseph Manu moving from centre to five-eighth to partner Luke Keary in the halves.
Representative back-rower Angus Crichton returns to the Roosters’ line-up for the first time in 2023, having played reserve grade for North Sydney against Newtown at Henson Park last weekend.
It comes after Crichton sought professional help for bipolar disorder. Roosters officials are confident he is ready for the rigors of NRL, naming him to start in one of the biggest games of the year — an Anzac Day clash with St George-Illawarra.
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Joseph Suaalii sprung in secret meet-up with Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan
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