‘It was a blessing in disguise’: How reserve grade helped Will Warbrick

Will Warbrick knows how tough it is to switch codes, which is why it’s perfect timing that he gets to play the rugby-bound Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Will Warbrick knows how tough it is to make the switch from rugby union to league. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

He took care of South Sydney’s lethal left edge last week, and now Will Warbrick is ready to run through the Roosters on a night that features a showdown with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who is aiming to do the complete opposite of what his Storm counterpart has achieved.

Warbrick is a hulking winger who shot to fame with the New Zealand rugby sevens side where he won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, but he wanted a new challenge and linked with the Storm where he had to bide his time before he was given a chance.

Will Warbrick got the better of Alex Johnston last week but things will get even tougher against the Roosters. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The 25-year-old has had a solid start to life in first grade but is coming off his finest 80 minutes where he ran over Alex Johnston to score a powerful try, while he also shut down South Sydney’s left edge to help the Storm eke out a crucial win.

He’s now preparing for another tough assignment on Thursday night against a Roosters side featuring Suaalii and Daniel Tupou on his edge.

Suaalii has passed every test he’s faced with flying colours, but as Warbrick has shown, switching codes isn’t a walk in the park, with the Roosters young gun set to encounter a very different style of play when he returns to union in 2025.

“Rugby union and league are different, but sevens and league are the complete opposite in terms of the contact where there are a lot more players involved,” said Warbrick, who suffered cramps during Friday’s win.

“In sevens, you get tackled and the ball gets spun out, whereas in league it’s slowed down a bit. Even playing 80 minutes (is new) because in sevens you play 14 minutes. I think some people don’t realise how much of a difference that is.

“Physically, my body had to get used to that, but also mentally I had to learn the game and get the confidence again.”

Joseph Suaalii will have to get used to a very different tempo when he returns to rugby union in 2025. Picture: NRL Photos

Suaalii won’t have to worry about learning the game given he played rugby union at school, and he also won’t have to bide his time in reserve grade, with the Waratahs and Wallabies desperate to get the best out of their new signing.

That’s a luxury Warbrick didn’t enjoy when he came to the Storm, with the sevens star forced to spend a year with the Sunshine Coast Falcons even though fans thought he’d slot straight in as the club went through an injury crisis in the backs.

Warbrick didn’t play any NRL in his first year at the Storm, with the winger adamant he still has more to offer after a solid start. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason,” he said.

“It probably wasn’t my time yet. Would I have liked to make my debut last year? Yeah, probably, but I think that’s just the nature of myself because I’m a pretty competitive person.

“I think that season – even though I was playing Q Cup – it was a blessing in disguise. It gave me experience, I was playing consistent footy and it gave me a good platform heading into this pre-season.

“I knew it was always going to be a challenge, and even in my first pre-season there were some doubts where I asked myself if I made the right choice or if I could really see myself playing first grade.

“I’m glad I stuck it out and I’m happy with the progress I’ve made.”